Difference between revisions of "Mitsubishi A5M"
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| − | The '''Mitsubishi A5M''' Type 96 fighter (Allied codename: “Claude”) was a single-engine fighter used by the [[Japanese]] Navy in [[World War II]]. It was the | + | [[image:A5M Claude.jpg|thumb|right|350px|An A5M "Claude" with external fuel tank and arrestor hook]] |
| + | The '''Mitsubishi A5M''' Type 96 fighter (Allied codename: “Claude”) was a single-engine fighter used by the [[Japanese]] Navy in [[World War II]]. It was the JNAF's first monoplane fighter, and their chief fighter plane before its replacement by the [[Mitsubishi Zero|Zero]]. | ||
| + | Thanks in part to an elliptical wing (similar in shape to that of the Spitfire), the fighter had superb maneuverability. A 610-hp radial engine gave it a top speed of 265 mph. Range was 460 miles, and later models improved on this through the use of external fuel tanks. Like most aircraft of its generation (including its Army counterpart, the [[Nakajima Ki-27]] “Nate”, and the American [[P-26 Peashooter]]), it had fixed landing gear. The Claude was also surprisingly durable, as proven by an incident on December 9, 1938. During combat with Curtis Hawks over Nanchang, a Type 96 collided with an unidentified aircraft, tearing off a third of its left wing, yet the pilot, Kanichi Kashimura, managed to fly the plane back to base safely.<ref>''Imperial Japanese Navy Aces 1937-45'', by Henry Sakaida, Osprey Publishing, 1999</ref> Armament consisted of 2 machine guns in the nose, and the fighter could also carry two 60 lb bombs if needed.<ref>''The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Combat Aircraft of World War II'', by Bill Gunston, Salamander Military Press, 1990</ref> Over a thousand A5Ms were built, in a number of different versions.<ref>''Complete book of World War II Combat Aircraft'', by Enzo Angelucci and Paolo Matricardi, VMB Publishers, 2006</ref> | ||
| − | + | The Claude flew its first combat mission over [[China]] on September 18, 1937, and at the time outclassed anything in the Chinese inventory. The fighter had one of its best days on December 2 of that year, when a flight of A5Ms destroyed ten Russian-made I-16s for no loss. Most of Japan's great aces got their start in Claudes, including Japan's top gun Tetsuzo Iwamoto, who shot down 14 Chinese planes in the Type 96 (80 Allied planes over his career).<ref>''Aces'', by William Yenne, Berkeley Books, 2000</ref> As of December 7, 1941, most A5Ms had been replaced in front-line service by A6M Zeroes, although Type 96 fighters from the light [[aircraft carrier]] ''[[Ryujo]]'' supported Japanese landings in the [[Philippines]], and Claudes opposed American strikes in the [[Marshall Islands]] in February, one A5M being downed there for the first air-to-air victory for the U.S. Navy in World War II.<ref>''Wildcat Aces of World War 2'', by Barrett Tillman, Osprey Publishing, 1995</ref> Others saw action in [[Malaysia|Malaya]], the Dutch East Indies, and the [[Bay of Bengal]], but by May 1942, all had been withdrawn from front-line service. In the last months of the war, however, Japan's desperate situation forced her to reactivate Claudes for use as [[kamikaze]] planes.<ref>''Encyclopedia of Aircraft of WWII'', ed. by Paul Eden, Aerospace Publishing, 2004</ref> | |
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| − | The Claude flew its first combat mission over [[China]] on September 18, 1937, and at the time outclassed anything in the Chinese inventory. The fighter had one of its best days on December 2 of that year, when a flight of A5Ms destroyed ten Russian-made I-16s for no loss. Most of | + | |
==References== | ==References== | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
| − | ==External | + | ==External links== |
*[http://www.combinedfleet.com/ijna/a5m.htm Mitsubishi A5M] | *[http://www.combinedfleet.com/ijna/a5m.htm Mitsubishi A5M] | ||
*[http://www.aviastar.org/air/japan/mitsubishi_a5m.php Mitsubishi A5M Claude] | *[http://www.aviastar.org/air/japan/mitsubishi_a5m.php Mitsubishi A5M Claude] | ||
[[Category:Japanese History]] | [[Category:Japanese History]] | ||
| − | [[Category:World War II | + | [[Category:World War II Aircraft]] |
Latest revision as of 06:52, April 21, 2020
The Mitsubishi A5M Type 96 fighter (Allied codename: “Claude”) was a single-engine fighter used by the Japanese Navy in World War II. It was the JNAF's first monoplane fighter, and their chief fighter plane before its replacement by the Zero.
Thanks in part to an elliptical wing (similar in shape to that of the Spitfire), the fighter had superb maneuverability. A 610-hp radial engine gave it a top speed of 265 mph. Range was 460 miles, and later models improved on this through the use of external fuel tanks. Like most aircraft of its generation (including its Army counterpart, the Nakajima Ki-27 “Nate”, and the American P-26 Peashooter), it had fixed landing gear. The Claude was also surprisingly durable, as proven by an incident on December 9, 1938. During combat with Curtis Hawks over Nanchang, a Type 96 collided with an unidentified aircraft, tearing off a third of its left wing, yet the pilot, Kanichi Kashimura, managed to fly the plane back to base safely.[1] Armament consisted of 2 machine guns in the nose, and the fighter could also carry two 60 lb bombs if needed.[2] Over a thousand A5Ms were built, in a number of different versions.[3]
The Claude flew its first combat mission over China on September 18, 1937, and at the time outclassed anything in the Chinese inventory. The fighter had one of its best days on December 2 of that year, when a flight of A5Ms destroyed ten Russian-made I-16s for no loss. Most of Japan's great aces got their start in Claudes, including Japan's top gun Tetsuzo Iwamoto, who shot down 14 Chinese planes in the Type 96 (80 Allied planes over his career).[4] As of December 7, 1941, most A5Ms had been replaced in front-line service by A6M Zeroes, although Type 96 fighters from the light aircraft carrier Ryujo supported Japanese landings in the Philippines, and Claudes opposed American strikes in the Marshall Islands in February, one A5M being downed there for the first air-to-air victory for the U.S. Navy in World War II.[5] Others saw action in Malaya, the Dutch East Indies, and the Bay of Bengal, but by May 1942, all had been withdrawn from front-line service. In the last months of the war, however, Japan's desperate situation forced her to reactivate Claudes for use as kamikaze planes.[6]
References
- ↑ Imperial Japanese Navy Aces 1937-45, by Henry Sakaida, Osprey Publishing, 1999
- ↑ The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Combat Aircraft of World War II, by Bill Gunston, Salamander Military Press, 1990
- ↑ Complete book of World War II Combat Aircraft, by Enzo Angelucci and Paolo Matricardi, VMB Publishers, 2006
- ↑ Aces, by William Yenne, Berkeley Books, 2000
- ↑ Wildcat Aces of World War 2, by Barrett Tillman, Osprey Publishing, 1995
- ↑ Encyclopedia of Aircraft of WWII, ed. by Paul Eden, Aerospace Publishing, 2004
