Mitsubishi A6M Zero

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零式艦上戦闘機

Aircraft Type
Two Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighters in formation flight
Two Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighters in formation flight — Imperial War Museums / Sgt Breeze RAF (Public Domain)

The Mitsubishi A6M Zero was the most iconic Japanese fighter aircraft of WWII. With 10,939 built, it dominated the early Pacific War with exceptional range and maneuverability, serving from Pearl Harbor to the final kamikaze missions.

Class / type
三菱重工
Complement
1
Launched
1 April 1939
Commissioned / formed
1 July 1940
Armament
20mm九九式機銃×2、7.7mm九七式機銃×2、60kg爆弾×2

History

The Mitsubishi A6M Zero (零式艦上戦闘機), designed by Jiro Horikoshi, was the primary carrier-based fighter of the Imperial Japanese Navy throughout WWII. First flown on April 1, 1939, it entered service in July 1940. At introduction, the Zero outclassed every Allied fighter in range (1,870 km standard, 3,100 km ferry), climb rate, and turning ability.

The Zero saw action in the Second Sino-Japanese War, provided fighter cover during the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941, and participated in every major Pacific naval campaign. Total production reached 10,939 aircraft, split between Mitsubishi's Nagoya factory (3,879) and Nakajima's Koizumi plant (6,538). Primary variants include the A6M2 Model 21 (Pearl Harbor), the A6M5 Model 52 (most produced, 565 km/h), and the A6M7 Model 62/63 (fighter-bomber, also used for kamikaze attacks). In the war's final stages, Zeros were extensively used in kamikaze attacks.

Related sites (2)

  • Battle29.560, 106.550

    Chongqing, China – on September 13, 1940, thirteen A6M2 Zeros escorting G3M bombers scored the type's first air-to-air victories here.

  • Factory35.181, 136.907

    Mitsubishi Aircraft Nagoya Factory (三菱航空機名古屋製作所) – primary production site, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture. Produced 3,879 Zeros.

Sources

  1. 中島飛行機小泉製作所 - WikipediaWebsite
  2. Mitsubishi A6M Zero - WikipediaWebsite
  3. 零式艦上戦闘機 - WikipediaWebsite