MITSUBISHI A5M

The 'Mitsubishi A5M' was the world's first monoplane shipboard fighter and the direct ancestor of the famous Mitsubishi A6M 'Zero'. The Allied code-name was 'Claude'; the Japanese Navy designation was "Type 96 carrier-based fighter" (九六式艦上戦闘機).
Designed to a 1934 specification, the plane first flew on February 4, 1935. It exceeded most expectations, in particular top speed (215 mph (346 km/h) was specified, 280 mph (450 km/h) attained). After some work to improve stability, the aircraft entered service in early 1937, soon seeing action in pitched aerial battles at the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War, including air-to-air battles with the Chinese Air Force's Boeing P-26C Model 281 "Peashooters" in what was the world's first-ever aerial dogfighting and kills between monoplane fighter aircraft.
There, they proved themselves the better of every aircraft they encountered, though the Mitsubishi team continued to improve the A5M, working through versions until the final 'A5M5', which added a ventral drop-tank for extended range.
A trainer version, the 'A5M4-K' was also built (103 examples). This had twin cockpits and continued in use for fighter training long after the regular A5M left front-line service.
Almost all A5Ms had open cockpits; a closed cockpit was tried, but found little favor among Navy aviators. All had fixed, non-retractable undercarriage with (except for the trainers) wheel spats (fairings).
Some A5Ms were still in service at the beginning of World War II. United States intelligence sources believed the A5M was still the primary Navy fighter, but they had already been replaced by the A6M 'Zero' on first-line aircraft carriers and with the Tainan Air Group. Other Japanese carriers and air groups continued to use the A5M until production of the 'Zero' caught up with demand.
Most remaining airframes were used for kamikaze attacks in the closing months of the war.

Contents

Versions

Specifications (Mitsubishi A5M)

References

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Versions

★ 'Ka-14': Six prototypes with various engines and design modifications.

★ 'A5M1' Navy carrier-based fighter, Model 1 : first production model with 850 hp Kotobuki 2 KAI I engine.

★ 'A5M2/2a', Model 21: More powerful engine.

★ 'A5M2b', Model 22: First production examples with NACA cowling and 640 hp Kotobuki 3 engine.

★ 'A5M3a': Prototypes with 601 hp Hispano-Suiza 12 Xcrs engine.

★ 'A5M4', Model 24 (ex-Model 4): The A5M2b with different engine, closed cockpit, additional detachable fuel tank. The last production models (Model 34) with Kotobuki 41 KAI engine.

★ 'A5M1-A5M4', 780 constructed by Mitsubishi. 39 constructed by Watanabe, 161 manufactured by Naval Ohmura Arsenal.

★ 'A5M4-K': Two seat trainer version of A5M4, 103 constructed by Naval Ohmura Arsenal.

★ 'Ki-18': single prototype land-based version for IJAAF, based on the A5M. 550 hp Kotobuki 5 engine.

★ 'Ki-33': two prototypes, a development of Ki-18 with a different engine, and closed cockpit.
:Total Production (all versions): 1,094

Specifications (Mitsubishi A5M)

References

★ Francillon, R. ''Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War.'' Naval Institute Press, 1970.

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