Difference between revisions of "A6M3 mod. 22Ko"

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{{Specs-Card|code=a6m3_mod22ko_zero}}
 
 
{{About
 
{{About
 
| about = Japanese fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
 
| about = Japanese fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other uses
+
| usage = other variants
 
| link = A6M (Family)
 
| link = A6M (Family)
 +
}}
 +
{{Specs-Card
 +
|code=a6m3_mod22ko_zero
 +
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{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.'' -->
[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
 
{{Break}}
 
 
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Japanese fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.37]].
 
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Japanese fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.37]].
  
 
== 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>(meters)
+
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude<br>(metres)
 
! colspan="2" | Turn time<br>(seconds)
 
! colspan="2" | Turn time<br>(seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb<br>(meters/second)
+
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb<br>(metres/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run<br>(meters)
+
! 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" | 11,050 <!-- {{Specs|ceiling}} --> || 15.9 || 16.6 || colspan="2" | 10.2 || rowspan="2" | 288
+
| 522 || 509 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 15.9 || 16.6 || 10.2 || 10.2 || rowspan="2" | 288
 
|-
 
|-
 
! Upgraded
 
! Upgraded
Line 35: Line 37:
  
 
==== Details ====
 
==== Details ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
+
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="6" | Features
+
! colspan="5" | Features
 
|-
 
|-
! Combat flaps !! Take-off flaps !! Landing flaps !! Air brakes !! Arrestor gear !! Drogue chute
+
! Combat flaps !! Take-off flaps !! Landing flaps !! Air brakes !! Arrestor gear
 
|-
 
|-
| ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || X || ✓ || X     <!-- ✓ -->
+
| ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || X || ✓    <!-- ✓ -->
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
+
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
 
|-
 
|-
 
! colspan="7" | Limits
 
! colspan="7" | Limits
Line 56: Line 58:
 
! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! -
 
! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! -
 
|-
 
|-
| {{Specs|destruction|constructions}} || {{Specs|destruction|chassis}} || 420 || ___ || 220 || ~13 || ~6
+
| {{Specs|destruction|body}} || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || 420 || 420 || 220 || ~13 || ~6
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
Line 86: Line 88:
  
 
=== 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.'' -->
The survivability of the A6M3 mod.22ko is not high. Since it is a Zero, one bullet is enough to set you on fire but with some luck you might fly away with just a few holes. The only time this plane can really shine is in a dog fight or a surprise attack, where your opponent simply does not have a chance to get their guns on target.
+
 
 +
* No Armor Protection
 +
* Not 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 112:
  
 
=== 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)
Line 111: Line 124:
  
 
== 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 P51, 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 ===
Line 127: Line 161:
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 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
|-
 
|}
 
 
=== Modules ===
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
! Tier
 
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
 
! Survivability
 
! colspan="2" | Weaponry
 
|-
 
| I
 
| Fuselage repair
 
| Radiator
 
|
 
| Offensive 7 mm
 
|
 
|-
 
| II
 
|
 
| Compressor
 
| Airframe
 
|
 
| 9 in (mod30)
 
|-
 
| III
 
| Wings repair
 
| Engine
 
|
 
| Offensive 20 mm
 
|
 
|-
 
| IV
 
|
 
| Engine injection
 
| Cover
 
| New 20 mm cannons
 
|
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
 
=== 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 2x [[Navy Type 97 Number 6 (60 kg)|Type 97 No.6 Land Bomb (60kg)]], but strongly ill-advised for air-battles
 +
** 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 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
 +
</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 221:
 
== 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.'' -->
 +
 
* Skin and Camouflages for the [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicleCountry=japan&vehicleType=aircraft&vehicleClass=fighter&vehicle=a6m3_mod22ko_zero A6M3 mod.22 Ko] in Warthunder Live.
 
* Skin and Camouflages for the [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicleCountry=japan&vehicleType=aircraft&vehicleClass=fighter&vehicle=a6m3_mod22ko_zero A6M3 mod.22 Ko] in Warthunder Live.
 +
 +
[[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 188: Line 232:
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
  
;Related development
+
;[[A6M (Family)|Related development]]
  
* Nakajima [[A6M2-N]]
+
* [[Template:AirManufacturer Mitsubishi|Mitsubishi]] [[A6M3]] <small>(base model)</small>
* Nakajima [[A6M3]]
+
* [[Template:AirManufacturer Mitsubishi|Mitsubishi]] [[A6M3 mod. 22|A6M3 mod. 22]] <small>(preceding variant)</small>
* Nakajima [[A6M5]]
 
  
 
;Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
 
;Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
  
* Brewster [[F2A (Family)|F2A]] Buffalo
+
*Brewster [[F2A (Family)|F2A]] Buffalo
* Curtiss-Wright [[CW-21]]
+
*Vought [[F4U (Family)|F4U]] Corsair
* Fiat [[G.50 (Family)|G.50]]
+
*Grumman [[F4F (Family)|F4F]] Wildcat
* Grumman [[F4F (Family)|F4F]] Wildcat
+
*Grumman [[F6F (Family)|F6F]] Hellcat
* Grumman [[F6F (Family)|F6F]] Hellcat
+
*Reggiane [[Re.2001 (Family)|Re.2001]]
* [[IAR-81C|IAR-81]]
+
*[[IAR-81C|IAR-81]]
* Macchi [[C.200 (Family)|C.200]]
+
*Macchi [[C.202 (Family)|C.202]]
* Nakajima [[Ki-43 (Family)|Ki-43]] Oscar
+
*[[Template:AirManufacturer Nakajima|Nakajima]] [[Ki-43 (Family)|Ki-43]] Hayabusa (▃ Oscar)
* Supermarine [[Spitfire (Family)|Seafire]]
+
*Supermarine [[Spitfire (Family)|Seafire]]
* Hawker [[Hurricane (Family)|Sea Hurricane]]
+
*Hawker [[Hurricane (Family)|Sea Hurricane]]
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
Line 212: Line 255:
 
* ''encyclopedia page on the aircraft;''
 
* ''encyclopedia page on the aircraft;''
 
* ''other literature.'' -->
 
* ''other literature.'' -->
* [[Wikipedia:Mitsubishi_A6M_Zero#A6M3_Type_0_Model_22|[Wikipedia] A6M3 Type 0 Model 22]
 
  
 +
* [[Wikipedia:Mitsubishi_A6M_Zero#A6M3_Type_0_Model_22|[Wikipedia] A6M3 Type 0 Model 22]]
 +
 +
{{AirManufacturer Mitsubishi}}
 
{{Japan fighters}}
 
{{Japan fighters}}

Revision as of 18:43, 18 January 2021

Rank IV USSR | Premium | Golden Eagles
Tu-1 Pack
This page is about the Japanese fighter A6M3 mod. 22Ko. For other variants, see A6M (Family).
A6M3 mod. 22Ko
a6m3_mod22ko_zero.png
GarageImage A6M3 mod. 22Ko.jpg
A6M3 mod. 22Ko
Research:17 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:105 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

The A6M3 Reisen mod. 22Ko is a rank III Japanese fighter with a battle rating of 4.7 (AB), 5.0 (RB), and 4.3 (SB). It was introduced in Update 1.37.

General info

Flight performance

Arrestor gear
Accelerates braking by grabbing the brake cable on the deck of the aircraft carrier
Max speed
at 6 000 m542 km/h
Turn time15 s
Max altitude11 050 m
EngineNakajima Sakae 21
TypeRadial
Cooling systemAir
Take-off weight3 t
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 + -
0 240 420 420 220 ~13 ~6
Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons Rudder Elevators Radiator
< 270 < 420 < 410 > 335
Compressor Optimal altitude 100% Engine power WEP Engine power
Setting 1 1,850 m 1,105 hp 1,235 hp
Setting 2 5,000 m 985 hp 1,101 hp

Survivability and armour

Crew1 person
Speed of destruction
Structural0 km/h
Gear240 km/h
  • No Armor Protection
  • Not Self-Sealing Fuel Tanks

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB1 162 → 1 471 Sl icon.png
RB2 796 → 3 539 Sl icon.png
SB3 849 → 4 872 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications29 900 Rp icon.png
58 500 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost1 200 Ge icon.png
Crew training30 000 Sl icon.png
Experts105 000 Sl icon.png
Aces590 Ge icon.png
Research Aces360 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
70 / 160 / 340 % Sl icon.png
148 / 148 / 148 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Flight performance Survivability Weaponry
Mods aerodinamic fuse.png
Fuselage repair
Research:
2 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 900 Sl icon.png
160 Ge icon.png
Mods radiator.png
Radiator
Research:
2 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 900 Sl icon.png
160 Ge icon.png
Mods compressor.png
Compressor
Research:
1 700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 300 Sl icon.png
135 Ge icon.png
Mods aerodinamic wing.png
Wings repair
Research:
2 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 900 Sl icon.png
200 Ge icon.png
Mods new engine.png
Engine
Research:
2 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 900 Sl icon.png
200 Ge icon.png
Mods metanol.png
Engine injection
Research:
3 200 Rp icon.png
Cost:
6 300 Sl icon.png
260 Ge icon.png
Mods armor frame.png
Airframe
Research:
1 700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 300 Sl icon.png
135 Ge icon.png
Mods armor cover.png
Cover
Research:
3 200 Rp icon.png
Cost:
6 300 Sl icon.png
260 Ge icon.png
Mods ammo.png
type89_belt_pack
Research:
2 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 900 Sl icon.png
160 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods weapon.png
type97_new_gun
Research:
1 700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 300 Sl icon.png
135 Ge icon.png
Mods pilon bomb.png
9 in (mod30)
Research:
1 700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 300 Sl icon.png
135 Ge icon.png
Mods ammo.png
type99mk2_belt_pack
Research:
2 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 900 Sl icon.png
200 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods weapon.png
type99mk2_new_gun
Research:
3 200 Rp icon.png
Cost:
6 300 Sl icon.png
260 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Offensive armament

Ammunition200 rounds
Fire rate490 shots/min
Ammunition1 400 rounds
Fire rate900 shots/min

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

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

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 P51, 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
    • Decent cannon armament
    • Extremely manoeuvrable
      • Excellent turn rate
      • Excellent roll rate
    • Very short takeoff distance
  • 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
  • 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:

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

See also

Related development
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)