A6M2-N

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VTOL | Rank 5 USA
AV-8A Harrier Pack
This page is about the Japanese fighter A6M2-N. For other versions, see A6M (Family).
A6M2-N
a6m2_n_zero.png
GarageImage A6M2-N.jpg
A6M2-N
AB RB SB
2.7 2.3 2.0
Research:7 900 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:10 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

The A6M2-N is a rank II Japanese hydroplane fighter with a battle rating of 2.7 (AB), 2.3 (RB), and 2.0 (SB). It has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27.

Albeit generally worse than the "normal" Zeroes, the A6M2-N still retains good climb rate, acceleration and manoeuvrability. It suffers from bad performance at higher altitudes, but that is rarely a problem for this plane, as high altitude engagements are rare at its battle rating. It also has good armament for such a low battle rating: two 20 mm Type 99 Mod 1 cannons and two 7.7 mm Type 97 machine guns. Although powerful, the guns have low shell velocity, so you should lead your target more than you think. Also, the ammo count is quite low, and the aircraft has no armour or self-sealing fuel tanks, so it is best to avoid taking too many hits, as you will probably start burning from the first 7.5 mm machine gun bullet. The aircraft is designed to land on water, though like all other seaplanes, with enough care, one can land it on airfields.

General info

Flight performance

Max speed
at 4 300 m432 km/h
Turn time20 s
Max altitude9 100 m
EngineNakajima Sakae 12
TypeRadial
Cooling systemAir
Take-off weight2 t
Characteristics Max Speed
(km/h at 4,300 m)
Max altitude
(metres)
Turn time
(seconds)
Rate of climb
(metres/second)
Take-off run
(metres)
AB RB AB RB AB RB
Stock 418 408 9100 20.7 21.1 9.3 9.3 500
Upgraded 447 432 19.4 20.0 16.1 12.3

Details

Features
Combat flaps Take-off flaps Landing flaps Air brakes Arrestor gear
X X
Limits
Wings (km/h) Gear (km/h) Flaps (km/h) Max Static G
Combat Take-off Landing + -
650 550 520 520 320 ~14 ~7
Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons Rudder Elevators Radiator
< 310 < 420 < 410 > 324
Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude 100% Engine power WEP Engine power
3,560 m 935 hp 1,055 hp

Survivability and armour

Crew1 person
Speed of destruction
Structural650 km/h
Gear550 km/h

The A6M2-N has no armor protection, and the fuel tanks are not self-sealing. Most major modules are located in the nose and wing roots of the plane, but there is also a fuel tank in the center pontoon. This means the pilot and major modules have very little protection, although from the front the engine can absorb shots before the injure the pilot. The pontoons are very large, and can absorb fire from surface targets (ships, SPAAGs, machine guns) or even a plane at a lower altitude. Most fuel is located in the center pontoon, so be careful not to lose that pontoon or else you will not have much more flying time.

  • No Armor Protection
  • Not Self-Sealing Fuel Tanks

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB354 → 448 Sl icon.png
RB725 → 917 Sl icon.png
SB855 → 1 082 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications6 930 Rp icon.png
6 740 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost530 Ge icon.png
Crew training3 000 Sl icon.png
Experts10 000 Sl icon.png
Aces125 Ge icon.png
Research Aces160 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
20 / 60 / 120 % Sl icon.png
112 / 112 / 112 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Flight performance Survivability Weaponry
Mods aerodinamic fuse.png
Fuselage repair
Research:
460 Rp icon.png
Cost:
450 Sl icon.png
80 Ge icon.png
Mods radiator.png
Radiator
Research:
460 Rp icon.png
Cost:
450 Sl icon.png
80 Ge icon.png
Mods compressor.png
Compressor
Research:
390 Rp icon.png
Cost:
380 Sl icon.png
70 Ge icon.png
Mods aerodinamic wing.png
Wings repair
Research:
580 Rp icon.png
Cost:
560 Sl icon.png
100 Ge icon.png
Mods new engine.png
Engine
Research:
580 Rp icon.png
Cost:
560 Sl icon.png
100 Ge icon.png
Mods metanol.png
Engine injection
Research:
750 Rp icon.png
Cost:
730 Sl icon.png
130 Ge icon.png
Mods armor frame.png
Airframe
Research:
390 Rp icon.png
Cost:
380 Sl icon.png
70 Ge icon.png
Mods armor cover.png
Cover
Research:
750 Rp icon.png
Cost:
730 Sl icon.png
130 Ge icon.png
Mods ammo.png
type89_belt_pack
Research:
460 Rp icon.png
Cost:
450 Sl icon.png
80 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods weapon.png
type97_new_gun
Research:
390 Rp icon.png
Cost:
380 Sl icon.png
70 Ge icon.png
Mods pilon bomb.png
9 in (mod30)
Research:
390 Rp icon.png
Cost:
380 Sl icon.png
70 Ge icon.png
Mods ammo.png
type99mk1_belt_pack
Research:
580 Rp icon.png
Cost:
560 Sl icon.png
100 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods weapon.png
type99mk1_new_gun
Research:
750 Rp icon.png
Cost:
730 Sl icon.png
130 Ge icon.png

Grinding the A6M2-N will be depending what game modes that you play frequently. If it is Realistic or Simulator battles, it is best to focus on aircraft performance as you will be engaged in frequent manoeuvring engagements. In Arcade battles, it's better to focus on firepower as most of the time you will get into head-on attacks against other players.

Armaments

Offensive armament

Ammunition120 rounds
Fire rate516 shots/min
Ammunition1 360 rounds
Fire rate900 shots/min

The A6M2-N is armed with:

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

Suspended armament

List of setups (1)
Setup 12 x 60 kg Navy Type 97 Number 6 ground bomb

The A6M2-N 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

Defensive Play

This play style is a common theme among all Japanese Zeroes, due to the fact that playing aggressive and going for head on attacks is not an option (no armour + wood frame + no self sealing tanks = fires!). In saying that, you want to stick to tactics that are purely defensive and only attack when someone attacks you and not vice-versa. If you do think you can attack, make sure that the enemy is within 1 km of you (2 km max). Once engaged you are in that fight till the end but if the fight goes sour, remember to turn in defensive manners and only manoeuvre in manners that will keep you safe and leave the chaser in a disadvantage where he has to or is forced into a recovery manoeuvre to keep up with you. But because you're a float plane, it's going to be a bit hard trying to turn so speed is everything, but luckily due to the weight being below the plane, downward turns are fast and quick but be warned... the neck of the main float has a oil cooler and the float itself has a massive fuel tank, so be more careful than you would be in a normal Zero.

  • In Simulator, the A6M Zero is overall a great plane to fly. Its advantages include the extremely smooth handling, impressive turn rate despite having extra floats, low stall speed, the ability to not enter spins in extreme manoeuvres, and decent rear visibility. 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 with very little ammo, 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 60-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 5-round/half-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.

Enemies worth noting:

  • 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.

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 Not controllable
1 gear
Not controllable

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Gets an air spawn on all maps
  • Good manoeuvrability
  • Relatively fast
  • Decent climb rate
  • Powerful armament
  • Center float can protect the plane from attacks from below
  • You can ram other planes with the float (esp. the wings)
  • Excellent smooth handling in simulator and great rear visibility

Cons:

  • Low ammo count for the cannons of only 60 RPG, not beginner friendly
  • Low cannon velocity makes leading harder
  • No self-sealing fuel tanks
  • Landing on water can be hard in certain weather conditions
  • Very poor energy retention
  • Very fragile
  • Excessive drag due to floats

History

In-game description

The single-seater, single-engine float seaplane fighter A6M2-N was created to cover combat operations near atolls, where the construction of airfields was often impossible.

Initially, the Kawanishi N1K1 Kyofu was planned for this purpose, but it soon became clear that Kawanishi was unable to produce the planes in sufficient quantity before the start of the war, so the navy asked Nakajima to create a float seaplane fighter. The A6M2 model 11, with non-folding wings, was chosen as a starting point. The landing gear was removed, and a large float with a built-in fuel tank installed in its place. A float was also installed under each wing for stability. The plane's armament was left unchanged.

Despite the significantly increased aerodynamic resistance and weight, the plane was quite fast and manoeuvrable.

327 of these aircraft were produced, including the original prototype, but the first A6M2-Ns barely ever took part in combat, since they were destroyed shortly after arriving at Tulagi (in the Solomon Islands) in an attack by U.S. B-17s from the 11th Bombardment Group.

They were used primarily as interceptors.

Media

Skin and Camouflages for the A6M2-N in Warthunder Live.

See also

Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

External links


Nakajima Aircraft Company (中島飛行機株式会社 )
Fighters  Ki-27 otsu · Ki-27 otsu Tachiarai
  Ki-43-I · Ki-43-II · Ki-43-III otsu
  Ki-44-I · Ki-44-I 34 · Ki-44-II otsu · Ki-44-II hei
  Ki-84 ko · Ki-84 otsu · Ki-84 hei
  Ki-87
Hydroplanes  A6M2-N*
Interceptors  J1N1 · J5N1
Bombers  B5N2
  B6N1 Model 11 · B6N2 Model 12 · B6N2a Model 12Ko
  G5N1 · G8N1
  Ki-49-I · Ki-49-IIa · Ki-49-IIb · Ki-49-IIb/L
Recon  E8N2
Jet Fighters  Kikka
Captured  ␗Ki-27 otsu · ▃Ki-43-II · ␗Ki-43-III ko · ␗Ki-44-II hei · ␗Ki-84 ko
  *Refit of the Mitsubishi A6M2 mod. 11
See also  Fuji Heavy Industries (1957-2017)

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)