A7M1 (NK9H)

This page is about the Japanese premium fighter A7M1 (NK9H). For the regular version, see A7M2.

A7M1 (NK9H)

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A7M1 (NK9H)

Japan

IV Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
5.0	5.0	4.7

Class:

PREMIUM

Fighter

Naval aircraft

Purchase:4 080

Show in game

Description

The A7M1 (NK9H), designated as 17-Shi, Reppū (十七試, 烈風), was a pre-production model of the Reppū, the A6M Zero successor. It was developed since late 1940, but faced many delays due to the Navy's high expectations and the lack of powerful engines. Mitsubishi tried to make their own engine, the Ha-43 (MK9), but it was not ready until 1944. The Navy asked Mitsubishi to use Nakajima's Ha-45 Homare (NK9) engine in 1943 instead, but this also took time because of Mitsubishi's prioritization to existing production lines. The A7M1 finally flew in May 1944, and showed great handling and maneuverability, but it was still underpowered with the 2,000 hp engine. The Navy cancelled the order for the Reppū. (Mitsubishi continued development for the MK9 engine for the A7M2, which achieved 2,200 hp and navy approval.)

It was introduced in Update 1.53 "Firestorm". The A7M1 Reppu is the prototype version of the A7M2 in the tech tree fitted with a NK9H engine. In game this fighter is the definition of a "jack of all trades." It has excellent energy retention, amazing turn rate, and decent speed. These traits makes the A7M1 an excellent hybrid between a turn fighter and energy fighter. It can fit almost any playstyle because of it.

Nicknames

• Official Designation: 烈風 (Reppū, "Strong Wind")
• Allied reporting name: Sam

General info

Flight performance

Arrestor gear

Accelerates braking by grabbing the brake cable on the deck of the aircraft carrier

Max speed

at 6 900 m617 km/h

Turn time15 s

Max altitude11 000 m

EngineNakajima Homare 21

TypeRadial

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight4 t

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 6,900 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	594	578	11000	15.7	16.2	13.6	13.6	250
Upgraded	643	617		14.8	15.0	21.0	16.9

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	+	-
826	310	484	451	280	~13	~10

Something important to take note of is that the wings break off at around 800+ km/h and it compresses at 650 km/h

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 400	< 380	< 380	> 317

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
2,000 m	1,875 hp	2,089 hp
Setting 2
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
6,000 m	1,675 hp	1,866 hp

Survivability and armour

Crew1 person

Speed of destruction

Structural826 km/h

Gear310 km/h

• 13 mm steel plate behind seat, angled 13°
• 70 mm bulletproof glass forward of seat, angled 24°
• Self-sealing fuel tanks

Modifications and economy

Repair cost

AB1 384

RB4 323

SB3 869

Crew training10 000

Experts250 000

Aces820

Research Aces870 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

2 × 80 / 220 / 420 %

2 × 160 / 160 / 160 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Radiator Compressor Wings repair Engine Engine injection	Airframe EFS Cover	type3_belt_pack type3_new_gun 9 in (mod30) type99mk2_belt_pack type99mk2_new_gun

Armaments

Offensive armament

Weapon 12 x 20 mm Type 99 Model 2 cannon

Ammunition400 rounds

Fire rate490 shots/min

Weapon 22 x 13.2 mm Type 3 machine gun

Ammunition600 rounds

Fire rate798 shots/min

The A7M1 (NK9H) is armed with:

• 2 x 20 mm Type 99 Model 2 cannons, wing-mounted (200 rpg = 400 total)
• 2 x 13.2 mm Type 3 machine guns, wing-mounted (300 rpg = 600 total)
• The guns have relatively low velocity, but they do pack a punch.

Suspended armament

List of setups (1)

Setup 12 x 60 kg Navy Type 97 Number 6 ground bomb

The A7M1 (NK9H) can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• Without load
• 2 x 60 kg Navy Type 97 Number 6 bombs (120 kg total)

Usage in battles

The A7M1 Reppu is a relatively heavy plane while still performing very similar to an A6M Zero with the increased performance thanks to its high output engine. This engine however won't be the best outfitted on the A7M platform and a better can be found in the tech tree as the A7M2 which boasts a Ha-43 engine with 200 hp extra.

The A7M1 that takes the best of the A6M and does it better also translates it in aerial combat. With its higher output, very similar manoeuvrability and higher rip-speeds, it can engage in all playstyles; whether the situation calls for it the A7M can either turn fight, Boom-&-Zoom, energy fight and others. Yet even with its NK9H engine, it is sometimes tricky to maintaining energy fights with enemies like the F6F-5, P-51, etc.

The main focus of the A7M1 is a naval fighter, solidified by its only ordnance of 2 x 60 kg that only destroy vehicles at this rank with a direct hit. However, its strong armament of 13 mm and 20 mm machineguns makes it a hard-hitting fighter on most less-protected roof armours (<20 mm).

Tactics

Low altitude fighting

This is where the A7M1 (NK9H) shines and players familiar with the A6M will feel right at home and. Newer players will become familiar with its playstyle and get the hang of it quite easily due its better performance and more forgiving yet punchier gun-choice with plenty of ammo to spare compared to other fighters.

Only a couple of planes like Spitfires can be a challenging opponent at low altitudes, mainly because most planes will lose energy when fighting with the A7M1 at low altitudes when the A7M1 is able to outturn and be on their tail in couple seconds. The 13 mm and 20 mm armaments combined are very deadly and will tear down any plane in a well placed burst. Aim for center of mass when turn fighting, and tail when tailing, aim especially for the elevators.

High altitude fighting

Turn fighting at high altitude is rather difficult since, the higher you go, the less air pressure there is. This means there will be less air to lift your plane when doing a hard turn compared to sea level, meaning the A7M1 will not be able to turn as fast as you do at sea level. This should be taken into consideration since most of the planes at high altitudes (4+ km) often have superchargers or turbochargers (P-47 for example) and will make an easy prey out of you, as you do not maintain the same energy nor speed they maintain.

Bomber Interception

The drawbacks from high altitude does not stop the A7M1 from fighting in the clouds. One of the easiest targets for the A7M1 are bombers as they are big, have big wingspans and are often slow (With the exepction of dive bombers or strike fighters). They can be easily destroyed with the 13 mm and 20 mm armaments due to their sheer calibre and destructive ammunition. When engaging a bomber, aim for the engines or wings. With the right belts equipped, a few well placed hits on the engines can put them on fire and firing on the wings may damage their ability to turn or even destroy the wing completely.

Be careful when engaging bigger preys as they might turn into a predator if handled wrongly. Hit fast and hard, put bullets into the cockpit or make short work of their wings. Do not tail it, most bombers will shred the A7M badly and a fire is most guaranteed, which the A7M won't last long through.

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:

• A7M for Carrier-based fighter:
  • Arrestor hook
  • Decent cannon armament
  • Extremely manoeuvrable
    • Excellent turn rate
    • Rather poor roll rate
  • Very short takeoff distance
• Common Navy plane construction:
  • Decent offensive armament: 20 mm Type 99 Model 2 Cannon
    • Ground Targets: Great for Ground battles

• 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
• Small radiator drag

• A7M specific:
  • 70 mm bulletproof glass in front of the pilot
  • Large ammunition pool
  • Fields 13.2 mm machine guns unlike most other Japanese fighters using 7.7 mm

Cons:

• A7M for Carrier-based fighter:
  • Low dive speed, and easily compressed in a dive

• A7M specific:
  • Significantly increased size compared to A6M
    • Flimsy and large wings, easily damageable
    • Roll rate extremely slow, slow turn prep

• A7M1 (NK9H) specific:
  • Engine tends to overheat rather quickly.

History

In late 1940, right after the A6M started entering its production phase, the navy requested Mitsubishi develop a direct successor of the A6M by 1941, but due engine choice for a high-output compact engine was scarce, and the development team having their hands filled with development of the A6M2 Mod.21 and developing the J2M made Mitsubishi decide to scrap the request.

By 1942 as development of the A6M3 Mod.32 and J2M2 Mod.11 were finished, the navy once more ordered Mitsubishi and their team to design a direct successor to the A6M that would be faster and as nimble as the Zero, but as before, engines which would suit the plane were still in development and the team had to design a plane while still having to wait on a viable engine.

As development of the A7M platform came to an end, the last set piece and main problem of the A7M development, being the engine, led to the first prototype to make use of the Nakajima NK9 "Homare". This singular plane would be the first A7M and respectively would become the A7M1 and a trial flight would be conducted on the 6th of May, 1944.

While the wingload was acceptable of 150 kg/m², manoeuvrability and handling were excellent but the engine was simply underpowered and couldn't meet the speed requirements the Navy were looking for and ended up disappointed and cancelled of the project.

But as Mitsubishi already got a greenlight to use Mitsubishi's home-made engine with the MK9 beforehand, the project sparked interest once more for the Navy with the A7M2.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the A7M1 (NK9H) from live.warthunder.com.

See also

Related development

• A7M2

External links

• Official data sheet - more details about the performance

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)