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#Post#: 11957--------------------------------------------------
Plane of the Week: the Mitsubishi A6M Zero
By: vonofterdingen Date: July 28, 2020, 4:29 pm
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We have had a number of planes of the week now. Some are
interesting in their very obscurity, and some are true aircraft
icons of the period. The Mitsubishi A6M Zero falls into the
latter category. Certainly the best fighter in the Pacific
Theater at the start of the war, one of the best air superiority
fighters anywhere in 1940, the Zero dominated its enemies in the
skies over the pacific and southeast Asia. Its remarkable
maneuverability, range, and armament overcame its
limitations…for a while. By mid-1943 the hunter was being hunted
and its lack of armor and self-sealing fuel tanks became tragic
liabilities.
From Wikipedia:
The Zero is considered to have been the most capable
carrier-based fighter in the world when it was introduced early
in World War II, combining excellent maneuverability and very
long range. The Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service (IJNAS) also
frequently used it as a land-based fighter.
In early combat operations, the Zero gained a reputation as a
dogfighter, achieving an outstanding kill ratio of 12 to 1, but
by mid-1942 a combination of new tactics and the introduction of
better equipment enabled Allied pilots to engage the Zero on
generally equal terms. By 1943, due to inherent design
weaknesses, such as a lack of hydraulic ailerons and rudder
rendering it extremely unmaneuverable at high speeds, and an
inability to equip it with a more powerful aircraft engine, the
Zero gradually became less effective against newer Allied
fighters. By 1944, with opposing Allied fighters approaching its
levels of maneuverability and consistently exceeding its
firepower, armor, and speed, the A6M had largely become outdated
as a fighter aircraft. However, as design delays and production
difficulties hampered the introduction of newer Japanese
aircraft models, the Zero continued to serve in a front-line
role until the end of the war in the Pacific. During the final
phases, it was also adapted for use in kamikaze operations.
Japan produced more Zeros than any other model of combat
aircraft during the war.
The A6M is usually known as the "Zero" from its Japanese Navy
type designation, Type 0 carrier fighter, taken from the last
digit of the Imperial year 2600 (1940) when it entered service.
In Japan, In the official designation "A6M", the "A" signified a
carrier-based fighter, "6" meant that it was the sixth such
model built for the Imperial Navy, and "M" indicated Mitsubishi
as the manufacturer.
The official Allied code name was "Zeke", in keeping with the
practice of giving male names to Japanese fighters, female names
to bombers, bird names to gliders, and tree names to trainers.
"Zeke" was part of the first batch of "hillbilly" code names
assigned by Captain Frank T. McCoy of Nashville, Tennessee
(assigned to the Allied Technical Air Intelligence Unit (ATAIU)
at Eagle Farm Airport in Australia), who wanted quick,
distinctive, easy-to-remember names. The Allied code for
Japanese aircraft was introduced in 1942, and McCoy chose "Zeke"
for the "Zero". Later, two variants of the fighter received
their own code names. The Nakajima A6M2-N floatplane version of
the Zero was called "Rufe", and the A6M3-32 variant was
initially called "Hap". General "Hap" Arnold, commander of the
USAAF, objected to that name, however, so it was changed to
"Hamp".
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The first Zeros (pre-series of 15 A6M2) went into operation
in July 1940. On 13 September 1940, the Zeros scored their first
air-to-air victories when 13 A6M2s led by Lieutenant Saburo
Shindo attacked 27 Soviet-built Polikarpov I-15s and I-16s of
the Chinese Nationalist Air Force, shooting down all the
fighters without loss to themselves. By the time they were
redeployed a year later, the Zeros had shot down 99 Chinese
aircraft.
At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor, 521 Zeros were
active in the Pacific, 328 in first-line units.[21] The
carrier-borne Model 21 was the type encountered by the
Americans. Its tremendous range of over 2,600 kilometres (1,600
mi) allowed it to range farther from its carrier than expected,
appearing over distant battlefronts and giving Allied commanders
the impression that there were several times as many Zeros as
actually existed.
The Zero quickly gained a fearsome reputation. Thanks to a
combination of unsurpassed maneuverability – compared to
contemporary Axis fighters – and excellent firepower, it easily
disposed of Allied aircraft sent against it in the Pacific in
1941. It proved a difficult opponent even for the Supermarine
Spitfire. "The RAF pilots were trained in methods that were
excellent against German and Italian equipment but suicide
against the acrobatic Japs", as Lt.Gen. Claire Lee Chennault had
to notice. Although not as fast as the British fighter, the
Mitsubishi fighter could out-turn the Spitfire with ease,
sustain a climb at a very steep angle, and stay in the air for
three times as long.
Allied pilots soon developed tactics to cope with the Zero.
Due to its extreme agility, engaging a Zero in a traditional,
turning dogfight was likely to be fatal. It was better to swoop
down from above in a high-speed pass, fire a quick burst, then
climb quickly back up to altitude. A short burst of fire from
heavy machine guns or cannon was often enough to bring down the
fragile Zero. These tactics were regularly employed by Grumman
F4F Wildcat fighters during Guadalcanal defense through
high-altitude ambush, which was possible due to early warning
system consisted of Coastwatchers and radar. Such
"boom-and-zoom" tactics were also successfully used in the China
Burma India Theater (CBI) by the "Flying Tigers" of the American
Volunteer Group (AVG) against similarly maneuverable Japanese
Army aircraft such as the Nakajima Ki-27 Nate and Nakajima Ki-43
Oscar. AVG pilots were trained by their commander Claire
Chennault to exploit the advantages of their P-40s, which were
very sturdy, heavily armed, generally faster in a dive and level
flight at low altitude, with a good rate of roll.
Another important maneuver was Lieutenant Commander John S.
"Jimmy" Thach's "Thach Weave", in which two fighters would fly
about 60 m (200 ft) apart. If a Zero latched onto the tail of
one of the fighters, the two aircraft would turn toward each
other. If the Zero followed his original target through the
turn, he would come into a position to be fired on by the
target's wingman. This tactic was first used to good effect
during the Battle of Midway and later over the Solomon Islands.
Many highly experienced Japanese aviators were lost in
combat, resulting in a progressive decline in quality, which
became a significant factor in Allied successes. Unexpected
heavy losses of pilots at the Battles of the Coral Sea and
Midway dealt the Japanese carrier air force a blow from which it
never fully recovered.
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In Game:
I know IL-2 is just a game, or just a sim if you want, but I
tend to feel uncomfortable fly as a German or Japanese pilot due
to what those nations stood for at the time. When I have flown
the Zero it was certainly fun and formidable, as long as my
opponent does not set me on fire. The tendency of the Zero to
ignite is the biggest weakness as far as I am concerned. Most of
my experience with the Zero though is as an adversary. I like
early war scenarios and while flying a Brewster Buffalo in
Singapore, a P-40 in Papua New Guinea, a Hawker Hurricane in
Burma, or a P-39 in the Solomon Islands, I will inevitably come
across the A6M. You learn boom and zoom tactics quickly or die.
You just can’t successfully dogfight a Zero in any plane I have
ever tried. But they do have their Achilles heel: a few rounds
to the junction of wing and fuselage will ignite them every
time. Good luck getting that shot though!
#Post#: 11962--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plane of the Week: the Mitsubishi A6M Zero
By: larsresult Date: July 29, 2020, 5:47 am
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I once had a chat with an Aussie veteran soldier who was
stationed at Guadalcanal as adviser to the US Marines. He told
me of a B17 that outfought a Zero! He swears it flew rings round
it and eventually shot it down. I tried to point out it was
impossible physically and aerodynamically to do that but he
insisted it happened as he saw it with his own eyes. I can only
surmise the Japanese pilot was wounded early on or his plane was
badly damaged, otherwise the B17 could not have dogfought the
Zero.
#Post#: 11963--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plane of the Week: the Mitsubishi A6M Zero
By: JG51_Ruski Date: July 29, 2020, 7:17 am
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Thank You Von..Always enjoy reading your POW articles ,,I'm
tempted to grab a printer and print them out and put them in a 3
ring binder
#Post#: 11966--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plane of the Week: the Mitsubishi A6M Zero
By: cafs Date: July 29, 2020, 9:12 am
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[quote author=JG51_Ruski link=topic=1720.msg11963#msg11963
date=1596025049]
Thank You Von..Always enjoy reading your POW articles ,,I'm
tempted to grab a printer and print them out and put them in a 3
ring binder
[/quote]
Oh yes, and great idea too! :D :D :D
#Post#: 11967--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plane of the Week: the Mitsubishi A6M Zero
By: DHumphrey Date: July 29, 2020, 12:41 pm
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Another excellent subject for the PoW Von ... well done !!! :)
#Post#: 11978--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plane of the Week: the Mitsubishi A6M Zero
By: Gacek Date: July 30, 2020, 2:34 am
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A historical curiosity is the fact that the purchase of the
A6[font=Verdana]M was interested in Sweden - a neutral and
European country. The talks were said to be far advanced, but
the USSR refused the transit - remembering that the Swedes
supported Finland during the "Winter War".[/font]
[font=Verdana] Hence my "alternative history" scenario: Nazi
Germany attacks Sweden (Bf-109, Ju-87, He-111 etc.) and the
pilots of King Charles Gustav are resisting the A6M, Re-2000,
Cr-42 ...[/font]
In this way, in my computer, Zeke is fighting on the side of the
Allies - but it's just fiction ...[font=Verdana][/font]
#Post#: 11981--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plane of the Week: the Mitsubishi A6M Zero
By: cafs Date: July 30, 2020, 5:52 am
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[quote author=Gacek link=topic=1720.msg11978#msg11978
date=1596094458]
Hence my "alternative history" scenario: Nazi Germany attacks
Sweden (Bf-109, Ju-87, He-111 etc.) and the pilots of King
Charles Gustav are resisting the A6M, Re-2000, Cr-42 ...
[size=2]In this way, in my computer, Zeke is fighting on the
side of the Allies - but it's just fiction ...
[/quote]
It will be interesting to do, Zeros with winter camo, and true
Swedish summer camouflage.
Now I'm in the middle of a template for another Japanese
aircraft, poorly represented in game and with wrong panel lines
and access hatches.
#Post#: 11990--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plane of the Week: the Mitsubishi A6M Zero
By: vonofterdingen Date: July 30, 2020, 3:02 pm
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Which plane is that, Cafs?
#Post#: 11993--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plane of the Week: the Mitsubishi A6M Zero
By: cafs Date: July 30, 2020, 4:22 pm
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Ki-15 Babs, a mod almost devoid of detail, besides some windows
and the cockpit. :o :o
After 2 dozen layers she still looks boring. >:( >:( >:(
[img width=1024
height=576]
HTML https://i.postimg.cc/Z5GYCKjx/2020-07-30-21-15-52.jpg[/img]
[img width=1024
height=576]
HTML https://i.postimg.cc/26mz7csq/2020-07-30-21-16-11.jpg[/img]
[font=verdana]I'll try a more colorful camo, if she keeps the
boring looks I'll left the template "in the dugout".[/font]
#Post#: 12008--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plane of the Week: the Mitsubishi A6M Zero
By: cafs Date: July 31, 2020, 12:37 pm
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Little better now:
[img width=1024
height=576]
HTML https://i.postimg.cc/Znz3fFDR/2020-07-31-17-32-08.jpg[/img]
I'll try some skins. ;) ;)
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