The Mitsubishi A5M4 is an early monoplane fighter from the interwar period found in the Japanese aviation tech tree. Known as the world’s first low-wing carrier-based fighter to enter service and the predecessor of the famous Mitsubishi A6M Reisen, the A5M4 features a respectable maximum speed and great agility. This fighter can pose a serious threat to biplanes and even other early monoplanes if you know how to utilize it to its full potential. A variant of this fighter, Hagiri’s A5M4, flown by the Japanese pilot Matsuo Hagiri, is found in the premium part of the tech tree.
| Pros | Cons |
| Decent maximum speed. | No armour protection. |
| Great agility. | Limited close air support capabilities. |
| Can land on aircraft carriers. | Weak offensive armament. |
Survivability:
One of the first things players will notice when flying the A5M4 is the fact that this airplane is not very durable. As a matter of fact, this is a trend with most Japanese aircraft, which trade armour and survivability for agility and range. Lacking any armour and featuring four fuel tanks in the wings near the cockpit which are not self-sealing, players must be careful when piloting the A5M4 and avoid being hit. Another aspect that players should look out for is the open canopy, which exposes the pilot to enemy fire.
Flight Performance:
Overall, the A5M4 is an easy airplane to fly. It is small and light and has good control at low speeds. Its maximum speed is quite competitive, mainly against biplanes and early monoplanes like the I-16 type 5. With the A5M4, you are capable of outrunning most of the opposition, which consists of biplanes whose maximum speed is limited by their engines and wing configuration. However, you won’t be able to catch up with faster monoplanes like the Bf 109 B-1 or the P-36A.
That being said, the A5M4's maneuverability is far superior, so you should use it to your advantage by engaging faster opponents in a turn fight, the type of aerial combat in which most Japanese planes perform the best. The turn time can be reduced even further by employing combat flaps, giving you an edge over other agile fighters. Keep in mind, however, that biplanes can turn faster than you. Against them, Boom and Zoom should be employed.
The A5M4's airframe will begin to shake when going at more than 600 km/h and parts of the aircraft such as the wings, rudder and landing gear will be torn apart. Combat flaps, takeoff flaps and landing flaps are destroyed at speeds of around 570, 510, and 330 km/h, respectively.
Armament:
Offensive Armament:
The A5M4's offensive armament consists of two 7.7 millimeter Type 89 machine guns with a total of 1000 rounds of ammunition and four different belts. Using the Tracers belt is not advised due to the lack of amour-piercing and incendiary bullets. Instead, it is recommended to use either the Universal or Stealth belts on the A5M4. Due to the fact that you have to rely on two low-calibre machine guns, it would be wise to aim for weak spots such as engines, pilots or wings in order to efficiently and easily bring down enemy aircraft without wasting much ammunition.
Suspended Armament:
The A5M4 can equip two 60 kg Navy Type 97 Number 6 ground bombs for use against ground or naval targets. Unfortunately, the bombs are rather weak, performing better against targets with little or no armour, such as light tanks or SPAA. To destroy heavier targets, pilots have to be accurate when dropping the bombs in order to destroy the enemy vehicle. Truth be told, the A5M4 is not the best aircraft for close air support, so not equipping the bombs, which impact the flight performance negatively, and using it solely as a fighter is the better choice.
Usage In Battles:
Air Battles:
In air battles, the A5M4 should take on the role of a fighter, using its agility and speed to outrun slow opponents and out-turn faster ones. Most of the enemies you will face when flying the A5M4 consist of biplanes, which are slower than you but more agile, and early monoplanes which rival you in speed. When dealing with opponents who have superior agility, avoid turn fighting them. Examples of such opponents are biplanes like the I-15 WR or the I-15bis. Instead, try to attack them when they are distracted by using tactics such as Boom and Zoom. Position yourself higher than the enemy, dive and shoot it down. Do not follow the enemy plane if it turns away! Regardless of whether you succeeded or not, gain altitude again to avoid being chased and repeat the process.
Boom and Zoom is a tactic in which an airplane dives from a higher altitude to attack an enemy at high speed, then quickly climbs back up to avoid a counterattack. It is especially effective against agile aircraft that rely on turn fighting to engage enemies.
When encountering monoplane fighters such as the aforementioned Bf 109 B-1 and P-36A, a new approach is needed. These airplanes are faster than the A5M4, making Boom and Zoom unlikely to work and forcing you to adopt a different strategy. Against such opponents, the primary strength of Japanese aircraft, maneuverability, becomes crucial, making turn fighting the best course of action. Try to bait them into attacking you and then use your maneuverability to position yourself behind them. Avoid being hit when baiting them!
Attacking bombers and strike aircraft is not recommended due to the A5M4's poor armament and survivability since it can’t afford to receive damage from enemy defensive gunners. However, if the bomber or strike aircraft is small and poorly protected, it can make for an easy prey. Examples of such aircraft are the Swordfish Mk I, the Hs 123 A-1 and the V-11.
Mixed Battles:
The A5M4 has little use in mixed battles. As mentioned in the armament section, it can only carry two 60 kg bombs which are not very effective against large, armoured targets. That being said, it is not impossible to destroy enemy vehicles with them. Vehicles with very light armour or exposed crews such as the SU-5-1, the LVT (A) (1) and the Tetrarch I can be destroyed with said bombs. Open vehicles can even be strafed with machine gun fire. It is also possible to destroy some tanks with the bombs, but they require precise drops in order to be destroyed.
That being said, the A5M4 is not an ideal plane for close air support. Instead, it is better to use aircraft like the B5N2, the D3A1 or the Ki-32, which are dedicated bombers. However, the A5M4 can be used to shoot down enemy ground attack aircraft, thus contributing to the safety of your teammates on the ground.
The Vehicle’s History:
Design and Development:
The Mitsubishi A5M, also known as the Type 96 Carrier Fighter, was Japan’s first modern carrier-based fighter. Entering service in 1936, it was the world’s first low-wing monoplane specifically designed for aircraft carriers. Agile and fast for its time, the A5M laid the groundwork for its more famous successor, the Mitsubishi A6M “Zero.” During the Pacific War, the Allies referred to it as “Claude.”
In 1934, the Imperial Japanese Navy set ambitious goals for a new fighter, requiring a top speed of 350 km/h (220 mph) and the ability to climb to 5,000 meters (16,000 feet) in just over six minutes. Mitsubishi assigned the task to Jiro Horikoshi, who would later design the iconic A6M Zero. Horikoshi’s team developed the Ka-14, a sleek, all-metal monoplane with an inverted gull wing and fixed landing gear. While retractable landing gear could have offered a slight increase in speed, its added weight wasn’t considered necessary.
Powered by a 600-horsepower Nakajima Kotobuki 5 radial engine, the first prototype flew on February 4, 1935, and exceeded expectations, reaching a speed of 450 km/h (280 mph). A second prototype incorporated a more conventional wing design, and after refinements to enhance maneuverability and reduce drag, the aircraft was approved for production as the Mitsubishi A5M.
Variants:
Type 9 single-seat fighter (Ka-14): The initial version of the aircraft was designed with an inverted gull-type main wing. For the modified No. 1 model, the cowling was reworked into a smaller, more compact shape with a noticeable hump. A cover was added to create a smoother transition between the cowling and fuselage, and a dorsal fin was incorporated just ahead of the vertical stabilizer.
The No. 2 unit abandoned the inverted gull wing design and was powered by a direct-drive Juzo-type engine. Units 3 and 4, along with the remaining two, were fitted with a Koichi-type direct-drive system.
Type 96 No. 1 Carrier-Based Fighter (A5M1): The first mass-produced version was powered by the Kotobuki Type 2 Kai 1 engine and armed with twin 7.7mm machine guns.
Type 96 No. 1 Carrier Fighter Improved (A5M1a): An experimental version of the Model 2-1 fitted with an Oerlikon FF 20mm cannon on each wing.
Type 96 Model 2 Carrier-Based Fighter (A5M2a): The engine was upgraded to a Juzo type, and the propeller was replaced with a three-blade design. Early versions featured a low dorsal fin, while later models had a taller dorsal fin and omitted the protective bar.
Type 96 Model 2 Carrier-Based Fighter (A5M2b): The early version had a bulkier fuselage and included cowl flaps and a sealed windshield to help regulate engine temperature and reduce wind pressure on the pilot. In later models, the enclosed windshield was removed due to visibility concerns, and a taller dorsal fin was added for better pilot protection. Another improvement was the introduction of a more flexible control system for the elevator, making handling smoother.
Type 96 No. 3 Carrier Fighter (A5M3a): This experimental aircraft was fitted with a 20mm Hispano-type motor cannon and a Hispano 12Xcrs water-cooled engine. Only two units were produced.
While tests revealed that it was the fastest version of the Mitsubishi A5M, the IJN Command noted that, despite its impressive performance, the aircraft lacked maneuverability. Additionally, they were reluctant to depend on foreign-made engines.
Type 96 No. 4 Carrier Fighter (A5M4): The engine was upgraded to the Kotobuki Type 41. This became the most widely produced version, with around 1,000 units built.
A5M4-K: A two-seat trainer version of the A5M4, with a total of 103 units built by Naval Ohmura Arsenal.
Operational History:
The Mitsubishi A5M entered service in early 1937 and quickly saw action over China during the Second Sino-Japanese War. It replaced the older Nakajima A4N1 biplane and proved to be far superior to most of the enemy aircraft it encountered. Although it was lightly armed with just two 7.7 mm machine guns, the A5M stood out for its excellent maneuverability and sturdy build.
One of its main adversaries was the Soviet-built Polikarpov I-16, flown by Chinese and Soviet pilots. The aerial battles between the A5M and I-16 were some of the largest dogfights of the time, particularly on April 29, 1938, when nearly 100 aircraft engaged in combat over China.
As time went on, Mitsubishi made improvements to the A5M, with the final version, the A5M4, featuring a drop tank to extend its range. A two-seat training variant, the A5M4-K, was also introduced and continued to be used for pilot training even after the fighter was retired from frontline service. While most A5Ms had open cockpits, a closed cockpit version was tested but ultimately rejected by pilots. The aircraft retained its fixed landing gear with wheel spats on standard models, while the training versions had simpler, uncovered wheels.
When the United States entered World War II in late 1941, some A5Ms were still in service, though they had been mostly replaced by the newer A6M Zero. Some were involved in early Pacific battles, including a dogfight on February 1, 1942, when A5Ms shot down three American Douglas SBD dive bombers. Their last major combat engagement was during the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942.
By the war’s final months, with Japan running out of aircraft, remaining A5Ms were used in kamikaze missions, marking the end of their service in a desperate attempt to slow the advancing Allies.
