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Mitsubishi A5M

The Mitsubishi A5M, Navy designation Mitsubishi Navy Type 96 Carrier-based Fighter, experimental Navy designation Mitsubishi Navy Experimental 9-Shi Carrier Fighter, company designation Mitsubishi Ka-14, was a Japanese carrier-based fighter aircraft.

It was the world’s first low-wing monoplane shipboard fighter to enter service

In 1934, the Imperial Japanese Navy prepared a specification for an advanced fighter, requiring a maximum speed of 350 km/h (220 mph) at 3,000 m (9,800 ft) and able to climb to 5,000 m (16,000 ft) in 6.5 minutes.

This 9-shi (1934) specification produced designs from both Mitsubishi and Nakajima.

Mitsubishi assigned the task of designing the new fighter to a team led by Jiro Horikoshi (original creator of the similar but unsuccessful Mitsubishi 1MF10, and later responsible for the famous A6M Zero).

The resulting design, designated Ka-14 by Mitsubishi, was an all-metal low-wing fighter, with a thin elliptical inverted gull wing and a fixed undercarriage, which was chosen as the increase in performance (estimated as 10% in drag, but only a mere 3% increase in maximum speed) arising from use of a retractable undercarriage was not felt to justify the extra weight.

The first prototype, powered by a 447 kW (600 hp) Nakajima Kotobuki 5 radial engine, flew on 4 February 1935.

The aircraft far exceeded the requirements of the specification, with a maximum speed of 450 km/h (280 mph) being reached.

The second prototype was fitted with a revised, ungulled wing, and after various changes to maximize manoeuvrability and reduce drag, was ordered into production as the A5M.

With the Ka-14 demonstrating excellent performance, the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force ordered a single modified prototype for evaluation as the Ki-18.

While this demonstrated similar performance to the Navy aircraft and hence was far faster than the IJAAF’s current fighter, the Kawasaki Ki-10 biplane, the type was rejected by the army owing to its reduced manoeuvrability.

The Army then produced a specification for an improved advanced fighter to replace the Ki-10.

Mitsubishi, busy turning the Ka-14 into the A5M, submitted a minimally changed aircraft as the Ki-33, this being defeated by Nakajima’s competing aircraft, which was ordered into service as the Ki-27.

Variants

Ka-14

Six prototypes with various engines and design modifications.

A5M1

Navy carrier-based fighter, Model 1

First production model with 633 kW (850 hp) Kotobuki 2 KAI I engine.

A5M2/2a/Model 21

More powerful engine.

A5M2b/Model 22

First production examples with NACA cowling and 477 kW (640 hp) Kotobuki 3 engine.

A5M3a

Prototypes with 448 kW (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.

Mitsubishi Ki-18

Single prototype land-based version for IJAAF, based on the A5M. 410 kW (550 hp) Kotobuki 5 engine.

Mitsubishi Ki-33

Two prototypes, a development of Ki-18 with a different engine, and closed cockpit.

Total Production (all variants): 1,094

Specifications

Crew

1

Length

7.565 m (24 ft 10 in)

Wingspan

11 m (36 ft 1 in)

Height

3.27 m (10 ft 9 in)

Wing area

17.8 m2 (192 sq ft)

Airfoil

Root

B-9 mod. (16%)

Tip

B-9 mod (9%)

Empty weight

1,216 kg (2,681 lb)

Gross weight

1,671 kg (3,684 lb)

Powerplant

1 × Nakajima Kotobuki 41 or 41 KAI,

9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine,

530 kW (710 hp) for take-off

585 kW (785 hp) at 3,000 m (9,843 ft)

Propellers

3-bladed metal propeller

Performance

Maximum speed

435 km/h (270 mph, 235 kn) at 3,000 m (9,843 ft)

Range

1,201 km (746 mi, 648 nmi)

Service ceiling

9,800 m (32,200 ft)

Time to altitude

3,000 m (9,843 ft) in 3 minutes 35 seconds

Wing loading

93.8 kg/m2 (19.2 lb/sq ft)

Power/mass

0.3161 kW/kg (0.1923 hp/lb)

Armament

Guns

2× 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Type 97 aircraft machine gun fuselage-mounted synchronized machine guns firing through the engine cylinders and propeller at about 1 and 11 o’clock.

Bombs

2 x 30 kg (66 lb) bombs

Or

1x 160 l (42.27 US gal; 35.20 imp gal) drop-tank.

 

 

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