Difference between revisions of "A6M3 mod. 22Ko"
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{{About | {{About | ||
| about = Japanese fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}''' | | about = Japanese fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}''' | ||
− | | usage = other | + | | usage = other variants |
| link = A6M (Family) | | link = A6M (Family) | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | {{Specs-Card | ||
+ | |code=a6m3_mod22ko_zero | ||
+ | |images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}} | ||
}} | }} | ||
== Description == | == Description == | ||
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of and the creation and combat usage of the aircraft, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the aircraft in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --> | <!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of and the creation and combat usage of the aircraft, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the aircraft in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --> | ||
− | + | The '''A6M3 mod. 22Kō''', designated as the '''Type 0 Carrier-based Fighter Model 22A ({{Annotation|零式艦上戦闘機二二型甲|Rei Shiki Kanjō Sentōki, Ni Ni Gata Kō}})''', was a minor modification of the [[A6M3 mod. 22]], having the same fuselage, engine, and wings with the difference being a switch of main guns. The Model 22Kō comes with 20 mm [[Type 99 Model 2 (20 mm)|Type 99 Model 2]] cannons instead of [[Type 99 Model 1 (20 mm)|Model 1]]. | |
− | + | ||
− | + | It was introduced in [[Update 1.37]]. The Model 22Kō has a different main armament than the previous one, which makes a significant difference in combat. The main improvements of the Type 99 Model 2 over the Model 1 are a longer barrel, a longer chamber, and a longer cartridge, which increase the muzzle velocity from 600 m/s to 750 m/s. The Model 22Kō performs similarly to other models with full-sized wings, but has a more accurate and higher velocity main armament, which has less bullet drop and hits targets quicker, delivering the same lethal ammunition. | |
+ | |||
+ | ;Nicknames | ||
+ | * IJN Pilot nickname: ''Reisen'' (零戦) / ''Zerosen'' (ゼロ戦) <small>(Abbreviation of 0 - {{Annotation|戦|Fight(er aircraft)}})</small>. | ||
+ | * Allied reporting name: ''Zeke / Zero''. | ||
== General info == | == General info == | ||
=== Flight performance === | === 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.'' | + | {{Specs-Avia-Flight}} |
+ | <!-- ''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.'' --> | ||
− | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | + | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%" |
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics | ! rowspan="2" | Characteristics | ||
! colspan="2" | Max Speed<br>(km/h at 6,000 m) | ! colspan="2" | Max Speed<br>(km/h at 6,000 m) | ||
− | ! rowspan="2" | Max altitude<br>( | + | ! rowspan="2" | Max altitude<br>(metres) |
! colspan="2" | Turn time<br>(seconds) | ! colspan="2" | Turn time<br>(seconds) | ||
− | ! colspan="2" | Rate of climb<br>( | + | ! colspan="2" | Rate of climb<br>(metres/second) |
− | ! rowspan="2" | Take-off run<br>( | + | ! rowspan="2" | Take-off run<br>(metres) |
|- | |- | ||
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB | ! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB | ||
|- | |- | ||
! Stock | ! Stock | ||
− | | 522 || 509 || rowspan="2" | | + | | 522 || 509 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 15.9 || 16.6 || 10.2 || 10.2 || rowspan="2" | 288 |
|- | |- | ||
! Upgraded | ! Upgraded | ||
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==== Details ==== | ==== Details ==== | ||
− | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | + | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%" |
|- | |- | ||
− | ! colspan=" | + | ! colspan="5" | Features |
|- | |- | ||
− | ! Combat flaps !! Take-off flaps !! Landing flaps !! Air brakes !! Arrestor gear | + | ! Combat flaps !! Take-off flaps !! Landing flaps !! Air brakes !! Arrestor gear |
|- | |- | ||
− | | ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || X || ✓ | + | | ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || X || ✓ <!-- ✓ --> |
|- | |- | ||
|} | |} | ||
− | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | + | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%" |
|- | |- | ||
! colspan="7" | Limits | ! colspan="7" | Limits | ||
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! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! - | ! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! - | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | {{Specs|destruction| | + | | 660 <!-- {{Specs|destruction|body}} --> || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || 397 || 368 || 220 || ~14 || ~6 |
|- | |- | ||
|} | |} | ||
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|- | |- | ||
| < 270 || < 420 || < 410 || > 335 | | < 270 || < 420 || < 410 || > 335 | ||
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|- | |- | ||
|} | |} | ||
=== Survivability and armour === | === Survivability and armour === | ||
+ | {{Specs-Avia-Armour}} | ||
<!-- ''Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.'' --> | <!-- ''Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.'' --> | ||
− | + | ||
+ | * No armour Protection | ||
+ | * No self-sealing fuel tanks | ||
+ | |||
+ | === Modifications and economy === | ||
+ | {{Specs-Economy}} | ||
== Armaments == | == Armaments == | ||
+ | {{Specs-Avia-Armaments}} | ||
=== Offensive armament === | === Offensive armament === | ||
+ | {{Specs-Avia-Offensive}} | ||
<!-- ''Describe the offensive armament of the aircraft, if any. Describe how effective the cannons and machine guns are in a battle, and also what belts or drums are better to use. If there is no offensive weaponry, delete this subsection.'' --> | <!-- ''Describe the offensive armament of the aircraft, if any. Describe how effective the cannons and machine guns are in a battle, and also what belts or drums are better to use. If there is no offensive weaponry, delete this subsection.'' --> | ||
{{main|Type 99 Model 2 (20 mm)|Type 97 navy (7.7 mm)}} | {{main|Type 99 Model 2 (20 mm)|Type 97 navy (7.7 mm)}} | ||
The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is armed with: | The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is armed with: | ||
+ | |||
* 2 x 20 mm Type 99 Model 2 cannons, wing-mounted (100 rpg = 200 total) | * 2 x 20 mm Type 99 Model 2 cannons, wing-mounted (100 rpg = 200 total) | ||
* 2 x 7.7 mm Type 97 navy machine guns, nose-mounted (700 rpg = 1,400 total) | * 2 x 7.7 mm Type 97 navy machine guns, nose-mounted (700 rpg = 1,400 total) | ||
Line 101: | Line 103: | ||
=== Suspended armament === | === Suspended armament === | ||
+ | {{Specs-Avia-Suspended}} | ||
<!-- ''Describe the aircraft's suspended armament: additional cannons under the wings, bombs, rockets and torpedoes. This section is especially important for bombers and attackers. If there is no suspended weaponry remove this subsection.'' --> | <!-- ''Describe the aircraft's suspended armament: additional cannons under the wings, bombs, rockets and torpedoes. This section is especially important for bombers and attackers. If there is no suspended weaponry remove this subsection.'' --> | ||
{{main|Navy Type 97 Number 6 (60 kg)}} | {{main|Navy Type 97 Number 6 (60 kg)}} | ||
The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' can be outfitted with the following ordnance: | The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' can be outfitted with the following ordnance: | ||
+ | |||
* Without load | * Without load | ||
* 2 x 60 kg Navy Type 97 Number 6 bombs (120 kg total) | * 2 x 60 kg Navy Type 97 Number 6 bombs (120 kg total) | ||
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== Usage in battles == | == Usage in battles == | ||
− | ''Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' | + | <!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' --> |
+ | |||
+ | The Zero is a extremely effective dogfighter with a very tight turn. Head on engagements should not be taken with any plane, especially Americans such as the F6F and the P-51, as the Zero is very fragile. Any hit can be lethal. The engine is very weak and fuel tanks can easily catch ablaze. At the start of the match, try climbing to be able to dive on unaware opponents. The plane can exceed 700 km/h allowing it to commit to very steep or long dives with slight stiffening. The biggest threats to the plane are American planes due to their potent and numerous guns, but any plane can be taken in a turn-fight victoriously. | ||
+ | |||
+ | In offence, aim to begin turn-fights with your opponents as you will outclass them, but take very careful shots. The guns are the weakest aspect of the plane and must be used with precision. Always aim for the fuel tanks or pilot as those are the most effective ways to take down enemy aircraft. Make sure to tail burning aircraft loosely as most fuel tanks are self-sealing. Bomber and other heavier planes should not be taken on as the guns are very ineffective. Only careful pilot snipes should be taken, otherwise conserve ammo for future engagements. | ||
+ | |||
+ | To defend yourself from the rear, perform a split S, which consists of rolling and turning downwards in the opposite direction, and turn to the enemy to begin engaging them. Planes will quickly overshoot and will have difficulty regaining dominance. If caught in a head-on situation, roll and dive downwards towards the enemy, make sure to have no commitment. | ||
+ | |||
+ | * In Simulator, the A6M Zero is overall a great plane to fly. Its advantages include the extremely smooth handling, impressive turn rate, low stall speed, the ability to not enter spins in extreme manoeuvres, decent rear visibility, and increased cannon ammo capacity. It is able to pull really tight turns or barrel rolls without losing control or going into a spin, allowing the player to use this stability to their advantage. Its disadvantages, however, are the fragile protection, wing-mounted guns, and the cockpit scattered with frames. Although not thick, these frames can still be obstructions in a fight. Also the gunsight is small and mounted very low, resulting in inadequate visibility over the nose. This can limit the player's ability to see the target in a turn fight since to lead the target, the player must cut inside its turn, meaning the nose will now block the target. The A6M can perform dogfighting, some ground pounding and some intercepting. | ||
+ | |||
+ | * You can bring the minimum amount of fuel (29 minutes) since this model of the Zero only has a 100-round drum per cannon, as a result you might need to constantly return to airfield to reload so there is no need to bring more fuel. Set the convergence to 150-300 m. When taking off, the A6M will shift severely to the left so it is best to set separate keybind for left and right brakes to counter the torque. | ||
+ | * For dogfighting, it is better to engage with an altitude advantage so climb to around 2,500 m. Track the opponent using lead or pure pursuit, as with lag pursuit you will eventually end up at the 6'o clock of the target aircraft whose fuselage will soak up most of your MG bullets, and your wing mounted cannons will become really awkward to aim. With the amazing stableness the aim should be easy. Target their wings or nose and avoid the back half of the fuselage as there is usually nothing in there. You can turn with most planes with your combat/takeoff flaps deployed. Note that it is best to fire in 10-round/one-second bursts to avoid wasting cannon rounds. Once the cannons are out, the leftover 7.7 mm MGs can only effectively damage single engine fighters. | ||
+ | |||
+ | * For ground pounding with bombs, look for tanks and pillboxes. First you need some separation between you and the target so you have enough time to line-up the drop. Dive at the target at a rather shallow angle, and release the 60 kg bombs when you are very close, with the target below the gunsight and filling up around half of it. If you only use the MGs, your targets are trucks, AAA and howitzers. Dive at it and stabilise the plane so the gunsight stays overall still at the target. Then, once the target fills out around 1/6 of the gunsight, open fire. If your aim is accurate you can destroy one target in a single pass. However, it is very recommended to set keybind for firing MG only as you can definitely not waste the valuable cannon rounds. Save them for any unexpected dogfights. | ||
+ | * Landing is easy thanks to the low stall speed and lovely handling. Line up and approach the airstrip at treetop, decrease speed to at most 210 km/h and deploy combat, takeoff and landing flaps in order. Further decelerate so the touchdown speed is no more than 180 km/h to avoid bouncing up. Keep braking until the plane reaches a full stop, you don't have to worry about the nose dipping down and causing a propeller strike. | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''Enemies worth noting:''' | ||
+ | |||
+ | * P-61: this plane is one tough nut to crack. It is quite fast, packs a fatal punch, has a searching radar, and a deadly turret on top. The turret consists of 4 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns that cover the upper half of the plane, and most P-61 players tend to fly low or get you into their upper half to target you with the turret. Avoid being above them at all costs, utilise the Zero's manoeuvrability and sneak under their belly. Its appearance resembles a P-38: a center fuselage with two engine nacelles extending backwards and forming the twin tail like a frame, you will know it is a Black Widow and not a Lightning when red tracer bullets start shooting out from it. | ||
+ | * I-16: the late I-16s are equipped with ShVAK cannons that can be pretty dangerous to your fragile airframe. They can turn equally well as the Zero, have superior roll rate but the stability is so terrible that as soon as they pull a little more on the stick, they will enter spins. Therefore it is quite easy to counter them: engage a turnfight with them and turn tighter and tighter, or do a few barrel rolls. They will quickly lose control and start spinning and it is quite hard to recover. Then simply get some separation, turn around and put some solid shots into them. They have an I-15's short and fat fuselage, a flat radial engine and triangular stabilisers located right after the low-mounted mono wings, all covered in olive green paint. | ||
+ | |||
+ | * F4U, F6F, P-47, etc: these planes are a huge threat to the late Zeros as they have superior firepower, speed, dive acceleration and robust airframes. Their 12.7 mm MGs can easily tear you apart or simply pilot-snipe you even when they are far away, as the M2 Brownings have great velocity and trajectory. They can also set you aflame easily. Start a turnfight whenever you see these stubby planes. The F4U has a long cylindrical nose and the iconic inverted gull wing. The P-47 has a huge, jug-like fuselage, bubble canopy and elliptical trailing edge that usually have invasion stripes painted on them. The F6F, on the other hand, might get confused with other planes as it looks rather average. | ||
=== Manual Engine Control === | === Manual Engine Control === | ||
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|- | |- | ||
| Controllable || Controllable<br>Not auto controlled || Controllable<br>Not auto controlled || Controllable<br>Not auto controlled || Separate || Controllable<br>2 gears || Not controllable | | Controllable || Controllable<br>Not auto controlled || Controllable<br>Not auto controlled || Controllable<br>Not auto controlled || Separate || Controllable<br>2 gears || Not controllable | ||
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=== Pros and cons === | === Pros and cons === | ||
− | ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' | + | <!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --> |
'''Pros:''' | '''Pros:''' | ||
− | * | + | |
+ | * '''A'''6M for Carrier-based fighter: | ||
+ | ** Strictly air-to-air role | ||
+ | *** Gets 2 x [[Navy Type 97 Number 6 (60 kg)|Type 97 No.6 Land Bomb (60 kg)]] | ||
+ | ** Decent cannon armament | ||
+ | ** Extremely manoeuvrable | ||
+ | *** Excellent turn rate | ||
+ | *** Excellent roll rate | ||
+ | ** Very short takeoff distance | ||
+ | |||
+ | * Common Navy plane construction: | ||
+ | ** Decent offensive armament: [[Type 99 Model 2 (20 mm)|20 mm Type 99 Model 2 Cannon]] | ||
+ | *** ''Ground Targets'': Great for Ground battles | ||
+ | <div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"> | ||
+ | :::* AP-I: | ||
+ | ::::* Shreds soft targets, and can weaken / destroy weak top armoured tanks, especially engine decks | ||
+ | ::::* Easily sets fire to air targets | ||
+ | :::* HEF(T): | ||
+ | ::::* Tracer can help you aim on target | ||
+ | ::::* The few rounds in the belt can still wreck havoc on enemy planes with their HE filler | ||
+ | </div> | ||
+ | ::* ''Stealth'': Great for Air battles | ||
+ | <div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"> | ||
+ | :::* No tracers | ||
+ | :::* HEF: | ||
+ | ::::* Near full HE belt | ||
+ | ::::* Wrecks havoc on enemy planes with HE filler | ||
+ | :::* AP-I: | ||
+ | ::::* Easily sets fire to air targets | ||
+ | </div> | ||
+ | :* Excellent manoeuvrability | ||
+ | :* Nose-mounted armament | ||
+ | :* Small radiator drag | ||
'''Cons:''' | '''Cons:''' | ||
− | * | + | * '''A'''6M for Carrier-based fighter: |
+ | ** Strictly air-to-air role | ||
+ | ** Limited ammo | ||
+ | ** Slow | ||
+ | ** Low dive speed, and easily compressed in a dive | ||
+ | |||
+ | * Common Navy plane construction: | ||
+ | ** Poor MG offensive armament: [[Type 97 navy (7.7 mm)|7.7 mm Type 97 MG]] | ||
+ | ** Poor offensive armament when stock: [[Type 99 Model 2 (20 mm)|20 mm Type 99 Model 2 Cannon]] | ||
+ | *** No HE filler | ||
+ | *** T & FI rounds usually do nothing | ||
+ | ** Fragile, little armour, and no self-sealing fuel tanks | ||
== History == | == History == | ||
Line 181: | Line 212: | ||
== Media == | == Media == | ||
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --> | <!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --> | ||
− | * | + | |
+ | ;Skins | ||
+ | * [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=a6m3_mod22ko_zero Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.] | ||
+ | [[File:A6M3 mod.22Ko Yoshika Miyafuji.mp4|thumb|"Yoshika Miyafuji" collaboration camouflage|none]] | ||
+ | [[File:A6M3 mod.22Ko Mio Sakamoto.mp4|thumb|"Mio Sakamoto" collaboration camouflage|none]] | ||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
Line 187: | Line 222: | ||
* ''reference to the series of the aircraft;'' | * ''reference to the series of the aircraft;'' | ||
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' --> | * ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' --> | ||
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;Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era | ;Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era | ||
− | + | *Grumman [[F4F (Family)|F4F]] Wildcat | |
− | + | *[[Template:AirManufacturer Nakajima|Nakajima]] [[Ki-43 (Family)|Ki-43]] Hayabusa (▃ Oscar) | |
− | + | *Supermarine [[Spitfire (Family)|Spitfire]] | |
− | + | *Hawker [[Hurricane (Family)|Hurricane]] | |
− | * Grumman [[F4F (Family)|F4F]] Wildcat | ||
− | |||
− | * [[ | ||
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− | |||
− | * Supermarine [[Spitfire (Family)| | ||
− | * Hawker [[Hurricane (Family)| | ||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:'' | <!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:'' | ||
* ''topic on the official game forum;'' | * ''topic on the official game forum;'' | ||
− | |||
* ''other literature.'' --> | * ''other literature.'' --> | ||
− | * [[Wikipedia:Mitsubishi_A6M_Zero#A6M3_Type_0_Model_22|[Wikipedia] A6M3 Type 0 Model 22] | + | |
+ | * [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/295064-mitsubishi-a6m3-mod-22-ko/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance] | ||
+ | * [[Wikipedia:Mitsubishi_A6M_Zero#A6M3_Type_0_Model_22|[Wikipedia] A6M3 Type 0 Model 22]] | ||
{{AirManufacturer Mitsubishi}} | {{AirManufacturer Mitsubishi}} | ||
{{Japan fighters}} | {{Japan fighters}} |
Latest revision as of 19:39, 22 November 2023
This page is about the Japanese fighter A6M3 mod. 22Ko. For other variants, see A6M (Family). |
Contents
Description
The A6M3 mod. 22Kō, designated as the Type 0 Carrier-based Fighter Model 22A (零式艦上戦闘機二二型甲), was a minor modification of the A6M3 mod. 22, having the same fuselage, engine, and wings with the difference being a switch of main guns. The Model 22Kō comes with 20 mm Type 99 Model 2 cannons instead of Model 1.
It was introduced in Update 1.37. The Model 22Kō has a different main armament than the previous one, which makes a significant difference in combat. The main improvements of the Type 99 Model 2 over the Model 1 are a longer barrel, a longer chamber, and a longer cartridge, which increase the muzzle velocity from 600 m/s to 750 m/s. The Model 22Kō performs similarly to other models with full-sized wings, but has a more accurate and higher velocity main armament, which has less bullet drop and hits targets quicker, delivering the same lethal ammunition.
- Nicknames
- IJN Pilot nickname: Reisen (零戦) / Zerosen (ゼロ戦) (Abbreviation of 0 - 戦).
- Allied reporting name: Zeke / Zero.
General info
Flight performance
Characteristics | Max Speed (km/h at 6,000 m) |
Max altitude (metres) |
Turn time (seconds) |
Rate of climb (metres/second) |
Take-off run (metres) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AB | RB | AB | RB | AB | RB | |||
Stock | 522 | 509 | 11050 | 15.9 | 16.6 | 10.2 | 10.2 | 288 |
Upgraded | 563 | 542 | 15.3 | 15.5 | 18.1 | 13.8 |
Details
Features | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Combat flaps | Take-off flaps | Landing flaps | Air brakes | Arrestor gear |
✓ | ✓ | ✓ | X | ✓ |
Limits | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wings (km/h) | Gear (km/h) | Flaps (km/h) | Max Static G | |||
Combat | Take-off | Landing | + | - | ||
660 | 240 | 397 | 368 | 220 | ~14 | ~6 |
Optimal velocities (km/h) | |||
---|---|---|---|
Ailerons | Rudder | Elevators | Radiator |
< 270 | < 420 | < 410 | > 335 |
Survivability and armour
- No armour Protection
- No self-sealing fuel tanks
Modifications and economy
Armaments
Offensive armament
The A6M3 mod. 22Ko is armed with:
- 2 x 20 mm Type 99 Model 2 cannons, wing-mounted (100 rpg = 200 total)
- 2 x 7.7 mm Type 97 navy machine guns, nose-mounted (700 rpg = 1,400 total)
With this plane you get two 7.7 mm Type 97 guns and two 20 mm Type 99 Model 2 cannons. The 20 mm cannons do not hold a great deal of ammunition, so extra care should be taken when firing to ensure that no round is wasted. Stealth belts are recommended for both weapons, as they contain a decent proportion of high-explosive rounds, and maintain an element of surprise.
Suspended armament
The A6M3 mod. 22Ko can be outfitted with the following ordnance:
- Without load
- 2 x 60 kg Navy Type 97 Number 6 bombs (120 kg total)
The only suspended armament you get with this plane is two 60 kg bombs with a explosive mass of 23 kg and a penetration of 78 mm.
Usage in battles
The Zero is a extremely effective dogfighter with a very tight turn. Head on engagements should not be taken with any plane, especially Americans such as the F6F and the P-51, as the Zero is very fragile. Any hit can be lethal. The engine is very weak and fuel tanks can easily catch ablaze. At the start of the match, try climbing to be able to dive on unaware opponents. The plane can exceed 700 km/h allowing it to commit to very steep or long dives with slight stiffening. The biggest threats to the plane are American planes due to their potent and numerous guns, but any plane can be taken in a turn-fight victoriously.
In offence, aim to begin turn-fights with your opponents as you will outclass them, but take very careful shots. The guns are the weakest aspect of the plane and must be used with precision. Always aim for the fuel tanks or pilot as those are the most effective ways to take down enemy aircraft. Make sure to tail burning aircraft loosely as most fuel tanks are self-sealing. Bomber and other heavier planes should not be taken on as the guns are very ineffective. Only careful pilot snipes should be taken, otherwise conserve ammo for future engagements.
To defend yourself from the rear, perform a split S, which consists of rolling and turning downwards in the opposite direction, and turn to the enemy to begin engaging them. Planes will quickly overshoot and will have difficulty regaining dominance. If caught in a head-on situation, roll and dive downwards towards the enemy, make sure to have no commitment.
- In Simulator, the A6M Zero is overall a great plane to fly. Its advantages include the extremely smooth handling, impressive turn rate, low stall speed, the ability to not enter spins in extreme manoeuvres, decent rear visibility, and increased cannon ammo capacity. It is able to pull really tight turns or barrel rolls without losing control or going into a spin, allowing the player to use this stability to their advantage. Its disadvantages, however, are the fragile protection, wing-mounted guns, and the cockpit scattered with frames. Although not thick, these frames can still be obstructions in a fight. Also the gunsight is small and mounted very low, resulting in inadequate visibility over the nose. This can limit the player's ability to see the target in a turn fight since to lead the target, the player must cut inside its turn, meaning the nose will now block the target. The A6M can perform dogfighting, some ground pounding and some intercepting.
- You can bring the minimum amount of fuel (29 minutes) since this model of the Zero only has a 100-round drum per cannon, as a result you might need to constantly return to airfield to reload so there is no need to bring more fuel. Set the convergence to 150-300 m. When taking off, the A6M will shift severely to the left so it is best to set separate keybind for left and right brakes to counter the torque.
- For dogfighting, it is better to engage with an altitude advantage so climb to around 2,500 m. Track the opponent using lead or pure pursuit, as with lag pursuit you will eventually end up at the 6'o clock of the target aircraft whose fuselage will soak up most of your MG bullets, and your wing mounted cannons will become really awkward to aim. With the amazing stableness the aim should be easy. Target their wings or nose and avoid the back half of the fuselage as there is usually nothing in there. You can turn with most planes with your combat/takeoff flaps deployed. Note that it is best to fire in 10-round/one-second bursts to avoid wasting cannon rounds. Once the cannons are out, the leftover 7.7 mm MGs can only effectively damage single engine fighters.
- For ground pounding with bombs, look for tanks and pillboxes. First you need some separation between you and the target so you have enough time to line-up the drop. Dive at the target at a rather shallow angle, and release the 60 kg bombs when you are very close, with the target below the gunsight and filling up around half of it. If you only use the MGs, your targets are trucks, AAA and howitzers. Dive at it and stabilise the plane so the gunsight stays overall still at the target. Then, once the target fills out around 1/6 of the gunsight, open fire. If your aim is accurate you can destroy one target in a single pass. However, it is very recommended to set keybind for firing MG only as you can definitely not waste the valuable cannon rounds. Save them for any unexpected dogfights.
- Landing is easy thanks to the low stall speed and lovely handling. Line up and approach the airstrip at treetop, decrease speed to at most 210 km/h and deploy combat, takeoff and landing flaps in order. Further decelerate so the touchdown speed is no more than 180 km/h to avoid bouncing up. Keep braking until the plane reaches a full stop, you don't have to worry about the nose dipping down and causing a propeller strike.
Enemies worth noting:
- P-61: this plane is one tough nut to crack. It is quite fast, packs a fatal punch, has a searching radar, and a deadly turret on top. The turret consists of 4 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns that cover the upper half of the plane, and most P-61 players tend to fly low or get you into their upper half to target you with the turret. Avoid being above them at all costs, utilise the Zero's manoeuvrability and sneak under their belly. Its appearance resembles a P-38: a center fuselage with two engine nacelles extending backwards and forming the twin tail like a frame, you will know it is a Black Widow and not a Lightning when red tracer bullets start shooting out from it.
- I-16: the late I-16s are equipped with ShVAK cannons that can be pretty dangerous to your fragile airframe. They can turn equally well as the Zero, have superior roll rate but the stability is so terrible that as soon as they pull a little more on the stick, they will enter spins. Therefore it is quite easy to counter them: engage a turnfight with them and turn tighter and tighter, or do a few barrel rolls. They will quickly lose control and start spinning and it is quite hard to recover. Then simply get some separation, turn around and put some solid shots into them. They have an I-15's short and fat fuselage, a flat radial engine and triangular stabilisers located right after the low-mounted mono wings, all covered in olive green paint.
- F4U, F6F, P-47, etc: these planes are a huge threat to the late Zeros as they have superior firepower, speed, dive acceleration and robust airframes. Their 12.7 mm MGs can easily tear you apart or simply pilot-snipe you even when they are far away, as the M2 Brownings have great velocity and trajectory. They can also set you aflame easily. Start a turnfight whenever you see these stubby planes. The F4U has a long cylindrical nose and the iconic inverted gull wing. The P-47 has a huge, jug-like fuselage, bubble canopy and elliptical trailing edge that usually have invasion stripes painted on them. The F6F, on the other hand, might get confused with other planes as it looks rather average.
Manual Engine Control
MEC elements | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mixer | Pitch | Radiator | Supercharger | Turbocharger | ||
Oil | Water | Type | ||||
Controllable | Controllable Not auto controlled |
Controllable Not auto controlled |
Controllable Not auto controlled |
Separate | Controllable 2 gears |
Not controllable |
Pros and cons
Pros:
- A6M for Carrier-based fighter:
- Strictly air-to-air role
- Gets 2 x Type 97 No.6 Land Bomb (60 kg)
- Decent cannon armament
- Extremely manoeuvrable
- Excellent turn rate
- Excellent roll rate
- Very short takeoff distance
- Strictly air-to-air role
- Common Navy plane construction:
- Decent offensive armament: 20 mm Type 99 Model 2 Cannon
- Ground Targets: Great for Ground battles
- Decent offensive armament: 20 mm Type 99 Model 2 Cannon
- AP-I:
- Shreds soft targets, and can weaken / destroy weak top armoured tanks, especially engine decks
- Easily sets fire to air targets
- HEF(T):
- Tracer can help you aim on target
- The few rounds in the belt can still wreck havoc on enemy planes with their HE filler
- Stealth: Great for Air battles
- No tracers
- HEF:
- Near full HE belt
- Wrecks havoc on enemy planes with HE filler
- AP-I:
- Easily sets fire to air targets
- Excellent manoeuvrability
- Nose-mounted armament
- Small radiator drag
Cons:
- A6M for Carrier-based fighter:
- Strictly air-to-air role
- Limited ammo
- Slow
- Low dive speed, and easily compressed in a dive
- Common Navy plane construction:
- Poor MG offensive armament: 7.7 mm Type 97 MG
- Poor offensive armament when stock: 20 mm Type 99 Model 2 Cannon
- No HE filler
- T & FI rounds usually do nothing
- Fragile, little armour, and no self-sealing fuel tanks
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 long, 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></ref>
, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <references />
. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under === In-game description ===
, also if applicable).
Media
- Skins
See also
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
External links
Mitsubishi Company (三菱商会) | |
---|---|
Fighters | A5M4 · Hagiri's A5M4 |
A6M2 mod. 11 · A6M2 · A6M3 · A6M3 mod. 22 · A6M3 mod. 22Ko · A6M5 · A6M5 Ko · A6M5 otsu · A6M5 Hei · A6M6c | |
A7M1 (NK9H) · A7M2 | |
J2M2 · J2M3 · J2M4 Kai · J2M5 · J2M5 (30 mm) | |
Hydroplanes | F1M2 |
Interceptors | Ki-83 · Ki-109 |
Bombers | G4M1 |
Ki-21-Ia · Ki-21-I hei · Ki-67-I Ko · Ki-67-I otsu | |
Jet Fighters | Ki-200 |
Captured | ▃A6M2 · ␗A6M2 |
See also | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (Post-War) |
Japan fighters | |
---|---|
Navy | |
Carrier-based fighter | |
A5M | A5M4 · Hagiri's A5M4 |
A6M | A6M2 mod. 11 · A6M2 · A6M3 · A6M3 mod. 22 · A6M3 mod. 22Ko · A6M5 · A6M5 Ko · A6M5 otsu · A6M5 Hei · A6M6c |
A7He | A7He1* |
A7M | A7M1 (NK9H) · A7M2 |
Land-based Fighter | |
J2M | J2M2 · J2M3 · J2M4 Kai · J2M5 · J2M5 (30 mm) |
J6K | J6K1 |
J7W | J7W1 |
N1K-J | N1K1-Ja · N1K2-J · N1K2-Ja |
Fighter seaplane | |
N1K | N1K1 |
A6M-N | A6M2-N |
Army | |
Ki-10 | Ki-10-I · Ki-10-I C · Ki-10-II · Ki-10-II C |
Ki-27 | Ki-27 otsu · Ki-27 otsu Tachiarai |
Ki-43 | Ki-43-I · Ki-43-II · Ki-43-III otsu |
Ki-44 | Ki-44-I · Ki-44-I 34 · Ki-44-II otsu · Ki-44-II hei |
Ki-61 | Ki-61-I ko · Ki-61-I otsu · Ki-61-I hei · Tada's Ki-61-I hei · Ki-61-I tei · Ki-61-II Otsu Kai |
Ki-84 | Ki-84 ko · Ki-84 otsu · Ki-84 hei |
Ki-87 | Ki-87 |
Ki-94 | Ki-94-II |
Ki-100 | Ki-100 · Ki-100-II |
Other countries | ▅F4U-1A · ▅P-51C-11-NT · ▅Bf 109 E-7 · ▅Fw 190 A-5 |
*Imported designation of the He 112 (A6M was in development - A7M would take A7 designation after the cancelation of the A7He) |