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Japan's Mitsubishi A5M fighter1,2
Mitsubishi Type 96 Carrier Fighter4
Allied Name: "Claude"1,2
Mitsubishi A5M, "Claude" fighter: |
Mitsubishi A5M, Type 96, "Claude" fighter: |
Mitsubishi A5M, Type 96, "Claude" fighter: |
Mitsubishi A5M4, "Claude" fighter: |
Mitsubishi A5M4K, Type 2, "Claude" fighter: |
Design
The Mitsubishi A5M met a 1934 strict specification, the 9-Shi, that requested a fighter that could fit on an aircraft carrier, and was fast and manoeverable.1 Mitsubishi came forward with the Ka-14 prototype.1 The design team was led by Jiro Horikoshi.3
Unique Features
For its time, the Type 96 had unique features incorporated into its design.4 It had flush rivets throughout and had washout type wings.4
Cockpit
The A5M's cockpit was open allowing for an excellent field of view for the pilot.1,2
Fuselage
The fuselage of the A5M was a metal framework with aluminum stressed skin.1
Undercarriage
The undercarriage of the A5M was fixed.2
Wings
This was the Japanese Navy's first monoplane fighter.2,4
Prototype
A total of nine prototypes were finished in January 1935.4
The Ka-14 prototype first flew on February 4, 1935 at Kagamigahara.1,2
Japanese Army
The Ki-18 and Ki-33 prototypes were built for the Japanese Army in 1935 - 1936.2 The Army choose to go with the more maneuverable Nakajima Ki-27.2
Production
The A5M1 was built at the Sasebo Naval Factory with 1,094 produced until 1940.1 The A5M4 started production in 1938.2
- Ka-14: 62
- Ki-18: 12
- Ki-33: 22
- A5M1, A5M2, A5M3, A5M4, A5M5: 9822
- A5M4-K: 1032
- Produced by Dai-Nijuchi until 1944.2
- Total: ~1,0004, 1,0941,2
- Produced by Mitsubishi until 1940, Watanabe until 1942, and Dai-Nijuichi until 1942.2
Variants
- Ka-14: Initial prototype.1 Had Nakajima Kotobuki 5 radial engine (600 HP).2 It had an inverted gull wing, but all following models had straight wings.2
- Ki-18: Prototype built for Japanese Army.2
- K-33: Prototype built for Japanese Army.2
- A5M:
- A5M1a: Had 2 20 mm Oerlikon cannons.1
- Type 96 Model 14: Had Kokobuki Improved Model 2 engine (460 HP).4
- A5M2:
- Type 96 Model 2.14: Had Kokobuki Model 3 engine (600 HP).4
- A5M2a: More powerful engine.2
- Type 96 Model 2.24: Larger fuselage with an enclosed cockpit.4
- A5M2b: More powerful engine.2 Used three bladed propellar.2 Could carry small bombs or drop tanks under wings.2
- A5M3: Experimental model.2 Had Hispano-Suiza V 12 engine.2 Had 20 mm cannon firing through propeller hub.2
- Type 96 Model 44: Had Kotobuki Model 4 engine (680 HP).4
- A5M4: Main production model.2 Had a 42 gallon / 160 liter drop tank.1
- A5M4-K: Trainer.2 Two seat.2
Usage
First entered service in early 1937.1,2
The A5M did have some landing accidents on rough air strips.1 However, in the air they were extremely sturdy and one made it back to base with 1/3 of its port wing gone.1
China
The A5M provided air superiority in the second Sino-Japanese war of 1937 - 1940.2
The first victories of the A5M was against Curtis Hawks of the Chinese Air Force.1
Aces
A total of seven A5M pilots became aces, with Lt. Tetsuzo Iwamoto at the top with fourteen kills.1
Carrier Operations
The A5Ms were used from aircraft carriers against Malaya and the Dutch East Indies.1
Training
After May 1942 the A5Ms were sent back to Japan to be trainers.1
Kamikaze
Some A5Ms were used in kamikaze attacks.1
| Mitsubishi A5M2 | Mitsubishi A5M-12 | Mitsubishi A5M2a2 | Mitsubishi A5M2b2 | Mitsubishi A5M41,2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Carrier fighter2 | Carrier fighter1 | |||
| Crew | 12 | 11 | |||
| Engine (Type) | Nakajima Kotobuki 2 KAI2 | Kotobuki 2 KAI 3A2 | Kotobuki 32 | Nakajima Kotobuki 411 Nakajima Kotobuki 41 KAI2 |
|
| Cylinders | Radial 92 | Radial 91 | |||
| Cooling | Air1 | ||||
| Net HP | 6302 | 6902 | 7152 | 7101, 7852 | |
| Propeller blades | 22 | 22 | 32 | 21, 32 | |
| Fuel capacity - drop tank | 42 gallon1 160 liter1 |
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| Dimensions | |||||
| Span | 36' 1"2 11 m2 |
36' 1"1 11 m1 |
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| Length | 24' 9.75"2 7.56 m2 |
24' 10"1 7.57 m1 |
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| Height | 10' 8.75"2 3.27 m2 |
10' 9"1 3.27 m1 |
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| Wing area | 192 ft2 1 17.8 m2 1 |
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| Weight | |||||
| Empty | 2,675 lb1, 2,784 lb2 1,216 kg1, 1,263 kg2 |
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| Loaded | 3,751 lb1, 4,017 lb2 1,705 kg1, 1,822 kg2 |
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| Performance | |||||
| Speed | 270 mph1 440 kph1 |
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| Speed @ 9,845' / 3,000 m |
270 mph2 434 kph2 |
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| Climb | 2,790'/minute2 850 m/minute2 |
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| Climb to 9,800' / 3,000 m |
3 minutes 35 second1 | ||||
| Climb to 9,840' / 3,000 m |
3.6 minutes2 | ||||
| Service ceiling | 32,150'2, 32,200'1 9,800 m1,2 |
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| Range | 750 miles1 1,200 km1 |
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| Range with drop tanks | 746 miles2 1,200 km2 |
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| Armament | |||||
| Upper fuselage | 2: 7.7 mm MG2 | 2: 7.7 mm Type 89 MG1 | |||
| Bombs - under wings | 2: 66 lb2 2: 30 kg2 |
2: 66 lb1,2 2: 30 kg1,2 |
Sources:
- Aircraft of World War II, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
- A6M Zero in Action, Shigeru Nohara, 1983
- Japanese Naval Aces and Fighter Units in World War II, Ikuhiko Hata, Yasuho Izawa, 1989
