A7M2

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

A7M2

A6M5 Hei

N1K1-Ja

A7M2

A6M5 Hei

N1K1-Ja

Japan

IV Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
5.0	5.3	4.7

Class:

Fighter

Naval aircraft

Research:54 000

Purchase:185 000

Show in game

Description

The A7M2, designated as Reppū Mod. 11 (烈風一一型), was a Japanese carrier-based fighter designed by Mitsubishi as the successor to the A6M Zero. It was intended to have superior speed, climb, diving, and armament over the Zero, as well as better maneuverability. The development began in 1942, but faced many challenges due to engine selection and wing loading issues. The A7M2 was powered by a 2,200 hp Mitsubishi Ha-43 engine, and had a maximum speed of 627 km/h. It was armed with two 20 mm cannons and two 13 mm machine guns, or four 20 mm cannons. Only nine A7M2s were built before the end of the war, and none saw active service.

It was introduced in Update 1.55 "Royal Armour". The A7M Reppū is a superior successor to the A6M Zero. Offering enhanced firepower, with four 20 mm cannons and two 13.2 mm machine guns, compared to the Zero's two 20 mm cannons and two 7.7 mm machine guns. The A7M also has a higher top speed of 628 km/h, thanks to its more powerful engine and improved aerodynamics, while retaining a similar level of agility and maneuverability as the Zero. The A7M is suitable for both beginners and experts, as it can outmaneuver most enemies in a dogfight, catch up with more foes than the Zero in a chase, and carry plenty of ammunition to sustain prolonged engagements. The A7M also has some versatile rockets that can destroy both air and ground targets with; The rockets can be used to surprise enemy bombers or fighters with its distance fuse, or to attack ground vehicles or installations with their impressive payload. However, the rockets are heavy and reduce the A7M's performance, so they should be used wisely and sparingly.

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 5 660 m630 km/h

Turn time19 s

Max altitude11 000 m

EngineMitsubishi Ha-43-11

TypeRadial

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight5 t

The A7M2 on the ground, sporting a camouflage from the Market

The A7M Reppu was designed to be an improved version of the famed A6M Zero fighter, and as such, retains some of its legendary older brother's characteristics. The Reppu is an overall smooth operator at most altitudes thanks to its decent acceleration, vastly improved speed and decent manoeuvrability. Less manoeverable than the Zero, it can at certain times really struggle in dogfights, the rudder has a want to fight you at every turn requiring forceful control and slight damage to the airframe negates most of its ability to dogfight anything but the slowest turners effectively. The most noteworthy change is the replacement of the underpowered Nakajima Sakae Radial engine with a significantly more powerful Mitsubishi Ha-43 Radial. This new engine propels the Reppu to higher speeds previously unobtainable by the Zero and turns this aircraft from a nuisance to a universally feared opponent.

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 5,660 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	608	589	11000	19.3	20.2	15.1	15.1	250
Upgraded	654	630		18.8	19.0	22.8	18.5

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	~12	~9

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 400	< 380	< 400	> 324

Survivability and armour

Crew1 person

Speed of destruction

Structural826 km/h

Gear310 km/h

The armour found on the A7M2

• 70 mm bulletproof glass in front of the pilot
• 13 mm steel plate behind the pilot seat
• Self-sealing fuel tanks

While being slightly more durable than its older brother, the Reppu is still very vulnerable to any kind of battle damage. Anything with greater than .50 calibre weapons will be able to take off a wing or worse. The wingspan has also increased significantly to keep the manoeuvrability of the Zero while supporting increased weight added from the guns, engine and other updates. A downside is that this makes the wings easier to hit. However, The manoeuvrability of the Reppu allows this aircraft to avoid most damage if you can keep turning.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB2 298 → 3 136

RB5 458 → 7 450

SB7 355 → 10 039

Total cost of modifications47 300

86 200

Talisman cost1 500

Crew training52 000

Experts185 000

Aces940

Research Aces480 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

90 / 210 / 450 %

166 / 166 / 166 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Research: 2 400 Cost: 4 400 220 Radiator Research: 2 400 Cost: 4 400 220 Compressor Research: 2 100 Cost: 3 800 190 Wings repair Research: 2 400 Cost: 4 400 220 Engine Research: 2 400 Cost: 4 400 220 Engine injection Research: 3 800 Cost: 6 900 340	Airframe Research: 2 100 Cost: 3 800 190 EFS Research: 2 400 Cost: 4 400 220 Cover Research: 3 800 Cost: 6 900 340	type3_belt_pack Research: 2 400 Cost: 4 400 220 Type 3 No.1 Mod.28 Mk.1 rockets Research: 2 400 Cost: 4 400 220 type3_new_gun Research: 2 100 Cost: 3 800 190 Type 5 No.1 Mod.9 rockets Research: 2 100 Cost: 3 800 190 9 in (mod30) Research: 2 100 Cost: 3 800 190 type99mk2_belt_pack Research: 2 400 Cost: 4 400 220 Type 3 No.6 Mod.27 Mk.1 rockets Research: 2 400 Cost: 4 400 220 type99mk2_new_gun Research: 3 800 Cost: 6 900 340 Type 5 No.6 Mod.9 rockets Research: 3 800 Cost: 6 900 340

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

A7M2 firing its rockets. Unlike the A7M1, it can carry rockets

The A7M2 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)

Suspended armament

List of setups (5)

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

Setup 22 x Type 3 No.1 Mod.28 Mk.1 rockets

Setup 32 x Type 5 No.1 Mod.9 rockets

Setup 42 x Type 3 No.6 Mod.27 Mk.1 rockets

Setup 52 x Type 5 No.6 Mod.9 rockets

The A7M2 can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• Without load
• 2 x 60 kg Navy Type 97 Number 6 bombs (120 kg total)
• 2 x Type 3 No.1 Mod.28 Mk.1 rockets
• 2 x Type 5 No.1 Mod.9 rockets
• 2 x Type 3 No.6 Mod.27 Mk.1 rockets
• 2 x Type 5 No.6 Mod.9 rockets

Usage in battles

A7M2 in a steep climb

The A7M2 Reppu that takes the best of the A6M and does it better also translates it in aerial combat. With its higher engine 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 it is sometimes tricky to maintaining energy fights with enemies like the F6F-5, P-51, etc.

Tactics

Ground pounding

While Japan isn't exactly a nation that has a lot of ground pounding capacity with the mainstay theatre being the Pacific, the A7M2 is the lowest battle rating Japanese plane that boasts heavy rockets that can destroy the heaviest of ground targets. Together with the fact they are fired separately, 2 kills are easy with proper aiming.

Along with the rockets, it boasts 13.2 mm & 20 mm guns on a very manoeuvrable platform making it very easy to just stay close to ground level, re-adjusting on target and diving in on vehicle roofs and blasting engines & turret crew.

Low altitude fighting

This is where the A7M2 shines and players familiar with the A6M will feel right at home. Newer players will become familiar with its playstyle quite easily due its better performance and more forgiving yet punchier gun-choice with plenty of ammo to spare.

Only couple of planes like Spitfires can be a challenging opponent at low altitudes, mainly because most planes will lose energy when fighting with the A7M2 at low altitudes when the A7M2 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 a plane in a good placed burst. Aim for center of mass when turn fighting, and tail when tailing, especially the elevators.

High altitude fighting

Turn fighting at high altitude is rather difficult since, the higher you go, the less air density there is. This means there will be less air to lift your plane when doing a hard turn compared to sea level, meaning the A7M2 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 (Wyvern S4 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 A7M2 are bombers. They are big, have big wingspans and are often slow (unless they are 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 shots will set them afire or even shred the wings.

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

An unguided rocket that the A7M2 can make excellent use of

Pros:

• A7M for Carrier-based fighter:
  • Arrestor hook
  • Decent cannon armament
  • Extremely manoeuvrable
    • Excellent turn rate
    • Excellent 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 armored 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 mms

• A7M2 specific:
  • Can mount unguided rockets
    • Larger rockets are useful on ground targets
    • All can be set with a fuse to be used as air-to-air

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 damaged
    • Roll rate extremely slow, slow turn prep

History

Prototype No.3 (A7M2)

As the A7M1 was a letdown for the navy, which made them want to cancel the project still allowed Mitsubishi to develop into making an A7M with an in-house engine, being the Mitsubishi Ha-43 which had more power and would be the engine to succeed to the Navy's requirements.

As so, the new A7M2 with Ha-43 had its test flight in October 1944 by no-one other than Saburo Sakai and proved more than capable with checking off most requirements by some slight underperformance of speed. As the aging A6M doesn't compare to the A7M2, the Navy cancelled the formal cancelation of the A7M project and adopted the A7M2 as their new main carrier-based fighter.

In late 1944 an earthquake strained the manufacturing of the A7M2 causing only 8 to be built. In early 1945, Allied bombings of Japans mainland lead to the destruction of the A7M plans. This ceased the whole development of the A7M2 and the plane would never see combat.

Only a single A7M2 would be built in 1945 due to allied bombings and none remain surviving WWII.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the A7M2 from live.warthunder.com.

Market

Camo "352nd Kokutai"

Videos

Best naval fighters discusses the A7M2 at 1:45 - War Thunder Official Channel

Best Combo #2 discusses the A7M2 at 0:30 - War Thunder Official Channel

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the series of the aircraft;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

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)