Mitsubishi A7M Reppū

The Mitsubishi A7M Reppū was designed as the successor to the Imperial Japanese Navy’s A6M Zero, with development beginning in 1942.

Performance objectives were to achieve superior speed, climb, diving, and armament over the Zero, as well as better manoeuvrability.

To meet these performance specifications its size and weight were significantly greater than its predecessor.

Variants

A7M1 Reppū

First prototype powered by a 2,000 hp (1,500 kW) Nakajima Homare 22 engine, with a maximum speed of 574 km/h (356 mph).

The armament consisted of two 13.2 mm (.52 in) Type 3 machine guns and two 20 mm (.80 in) Type 99 cannons in the wings.

While featuring excellent manoeuvrability, the A7M1’s Homare engine left it underpowered which resulted in its cancellation.

Two built.

A7M2 Reppū

Revised version powered by a 2,200 hp (1,600 kW) Mitsubishi Ha-43 engine, with a maximum speed of 627 km/h (389 mph).

Armament the same as previous model, or four 20 mm (.80 in) Type 99 cannons.

The A7M2 was to be the main production aircraft of the A7M series, eight built.

A7M3 Reppū

Proposed land-based fighter version powered by a 2,250 hp (1,680 kW) mechanically driven three-speed supercharged Mitsubishi Ha-43 engine, with a maximum speed of 642 km/h (398 mph).

The armament consisted of six 20 mm (.80 in) Type 99 cannons in the wings.

Prototype under construction but was incomplete prior to end of war.

A7M3-J Reppū-Kai

Proposed land-based interceptor version powered by a 2,200 hp (1,600 kW) turbo-supercharged Mitsubishi Ha-43 engine including an inter-cooler, with a maximum speed of 648 km/h (402 mph).

The armament consisted of six 30 mm (1.20 in) Type 5 cannons, four wing-mounted & two oblique fuselage-mounted.

Full-scale mock-up built, but no prototype.

Specifications

Crew

One

Length

11.04 m (36 ft 3 in)

Wingspan

14 m (45 ft 11 in)

Height

4.28 m (14 ft 1 in)

Wing area

30.86 m2 (332.2 sq ft)

Airfoil

Root

MAC361 mod

Tip

MAC361 mod

Empty weight

3,226 kg (7,112 lb)

Gross weight

4,720 kg (10,406 lb)

Powerplant

1 × Mitsubishi MK9C (unified Ha-43) 18-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine,

1,600 kW (2,200 hp) for take-off

800 kW (1,070 hp) at 1,000 m (3,300 ft)

1,300 kW (1,800 hp) at 6,000 m (20,000 ft)

Propellers

4-bladed constant-speed metal propeller

Performance

Maximum speed

628 km/h (390 mph, 339 kn) at 6,600 m (21,700 ft)

Cruise speed

417 km/h (259 mph, 225 kn) at 4,000 m (13,000 ft)

Endurance

2 hours 30 minutes at cruise + 30 minutes combat

Service ceiling

10,900 m (35,800 ft) (12,000 m (39,000 ft) from Samurai)

Time to altitude

6,000 m (20,000 ft) in 6 minutes 7 seconds

Wing loading

152.9 kg/m2 (31.3 lb/sq ft)

Power/mass

0.350 kW/kg (0.213 hp/lb)

Armament

2 × 13.2 mm (0.520 in) Type 3 machine guns in the wings (300 rpg)

&

2 × 20 mm (0.787 in) Type 99 cannon in the wings (200 rpg) (A7M1)

Or

4 × 20 mm (0.787 in) Type 99 cannon in the wings (200 rpg) (A7M2).