A6M2 (USA)

▃A6M2

▃A6M2

USA

III Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
3.7	3.7	3.3

Class:

PREMIUM

Fighter

Naval aircraft

Purchase:Bundle or Gift

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This page is about the Japanese fighter A6M2 (USA). For other uses, see A6M (Family).

Description

The ▃A6M2 Reisen is a premium rank III American fighter with a battle rating of 3.7 (AB/RB) and 3.3 (SB). It was in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27. A captured Japanese A6M2, this vehicle performs identical to its origin counterpart.

General info

Flight Performance

Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.

Characteristics
Stock
Max Speed (km/h at 4,400 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
487	477	10300	17.9	18.1	10.2	10.2	175
Upgraded
Max Speed (km/h at 4,400 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
533	510	10300	16.7	17.0	20.6	13.3	175

Details

Features
Combat flap	Take-off flap	Landing flap	Air brakes	Arrestor gear
✓	✓	✓	X	✓

Limits
Wing-break speed (km/h)	Gear limit (km/h)	Combat flap (km/h)	Max Static G
			+	-
0	310	510	~18	~10

Optimal velocities
Ailerons (km/h)	Rudder (km/h)	Elevators (km/h)	Radiator (km/h)
< 310	< 420	< 410	> 220

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
3,360 m	935 hp	1,055 hp

Survivability and armour

• No armour
• Fuel tanks in wing roots

Armaments

Offensive armament

The A6M2 (USA) is armed with:

• 2 x 20 mm Type 99 Model 1 cannons, wing-mounted (60 rpg = 120 total)
• 2 x 7.7 mm Type 97 machine guns, nose-mounted (680 rpg = 1,360 total)

Usage in battles

The Zero's lightly loaded, high lift wing and low weight make it a dream to fly at speeds below 400 kph, with an ability to execute wild gyrations and zoom climbs at the whim of the pilot. However, the Zero is hard to handle as it approaches speeds of 480 kph.

Force an enemy pilot into a dogfight at 370 - 400 kph and below 6,000 meters. At this speed and altitude, no enemy fighter can out-manoeuvre or out-climb you. Jump on cruising enemy aircraft from above. Fasten onto the tail of the bandit, use your superior manoeuvrability to match his evasive moves, and put enough rounds into him to bring him down. Use your machine guns first to "bore-sight" the enemy - once you get hits on him, finish him off with your cannons. Below 480 kph you can fling the Zero all over the sky to get on an enemy's tail or to shake off all but the most determined attacker. Climb away from most enemy aircraft, hanging on your prop in a near-vertical climb. Manoeuvres like the Immelmann are easy, and heavier fighters can't stay with you. The Zero rolls faster to the left than to the right. Roll left to tighten your turn and get onto the enemy's six. Don't dive away from attackers - your plane doesn't have the power or weight to out-run most fighters. To exploit your plane's best performance, force the enemy lower and slow down the pace of the engagement.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Controllable	Controllable	Controllable	Controllable	Separate	Not controllable	Not controllable

Modules

Tier	Flight performance		Survivability	Weaponry
I	Fuselage Repair	Radiator		Offensive 7 mm
II		Compressor	Airframe	New 7 mm MGs
III	Wings Repair	Engine		Offensive 20 mm
IV		Engine Injection	Cover	New 20 mm cannons

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Excellent turn and roll rate
• Superior climb rate up to 4,500 m
• Extremely manoeuvrable
• Decent cannon armament
• Very good at catching enemies off guard
• Can out turn most enemies
• Tailhook enables it to land on carriers
• Very short takeoff distance

Cons:

• No armour and no pilot protection
• Limited 20 mm cannon ammunition
• 7.7 mm machine guns don't really do any significant damage
• Guns have different trajectories, you need to targets get really close to being effective
• Attacking bombers is one of the worst jobs for the Zero, as it can easily be damaged by their gunners
• Slow
• Strictly limited to the air-to-air role, although it performs exceptionally in it
• No self-sealing fuel tanks and the plane is littered with fuel tanks, will ignite and burn to smithereens quite often
• Can easily be countered by just doing simple Boom & Zoom as the Zero lacks adequate energy retention
• Low dive speed, and easily compressed in a dive
• Has lots of bars inside the cockpit, limiting visibility

History

Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/ History" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History) and add a link to it here using the main template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <ref>, as well as adding them at the end of the article. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under === Encyclopedia Info ===, also if applicable).

In-game description

"Mitsubishi A6M2 Type 0 Model 21 (Akutan Zero, Koga's Zero) single-engine carrier-based fighter

A single-seat carrier-based all-metal cantilever monoplane fighter with an enclosed cockpit and a retractable landing gear system.

The aircraft was developed by the Mitsubishi Company's design bureau. A prototype model made its first flight on April 1, 1939. Full-scale production began in June 1940. The plane was accepted for service with the Imperial Japanese Navy under the designation of Navy Type 0 Model 11 Carrier Fighter.

During World War II, the first Zero captured by the Americans in flyable condition was the A6M2 (Model 21), more commonly known as the Akutan Zero (after the name of the island that the plane crash-landed on) or Koga's Zero (after the pilot's name).

In June 1942, while preparing to capture Midway Atoll, the Northern Force of the Imperial Japanese Navy was operating in the area of the Aleutian Islands. The plan was to create a diversion and attack the US Navy base at Dutch Harbor, on the island of Unalaska.

On June 4, 1942, during the raid on Dutch Harbor, the A6M2 fighter with serial number 4593 was launched from the aircraft carrier Ryujo and its oil line was damaged in battle. Tadayoshi Koga, the Flight Petty Officer 1st Class who piloted the aircraft, attempted a forced landing on the desert island of Akutan. The pilot mistook swampy tundra for hard soil, and the plane nosed over upon landing, killing the pilot. About a month later, the plane was discovered by an American Catalina flying boat. Inspection showed that it had been minimally damaged upon landing.

The Americans transported the Akutan Zero away from the island and sent it to Naval Air Station North Island, California, where it was completely restored.

The restored Akutan Zero made its first flight from NAS North Island on September 20, 1942. The trophy was extensively tested, its weak points were revealed, and the tactical manoeuvre was developed, allowing American fighters to gain an advantage over the Zero. The Akutan Zero was subsequently used to imitate the enemy during combat training for American pilots. Some experienced pilots were given the opportunity to fly the A6M2 in order to make an objective assessment of its strong and weak points. Air duels were simulated between the Akutan Zero and main Navy fighters, such as the F6F and the F4U. Later, similar simulated air duels were performed with army fighters, such as the P-38, the P-39, the P-40, and the P-51.

The Akutan Zero was destroyed in February 1945 when it collided with an SB2C Helldiver dive bomber while taxiing for takeoff."

Media

Skin and Camouflages for the A6M2 (USA) in Warthunder Live.

See also

Related development

• Nakajima A6M2-N
• Nakajima A6M3
• Nakajima A6M5

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Brewster F2A Buffalo
• Curtiss-Wright CW-21
• Fiat G.50
• Grumman F4F Wildcat
• Grumman F6F Hellcat
• IAR-81
• Macchi C.200
• Nakajima Ki-43 Oscar
• Supermarine Seafire
• Hawker Sea Hurricane

External links

• [Wikipedia] Akutan Zero