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<!-- This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft]]. Please see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content]] for recommended layout. -->
{|{{Infobox Aircraft Begin
|name =Mitsubishi A6M
|image =Image:Mitsubishi Zero-Yasukuni.jpg
|caption =Japanese A6M5 Type 0 Model 52
}}{{Infobox Aircraft Type
|type =Fighter
|manufacturer =[[Mitsubishi]]
|designer = [[Jiro Horikoshi]]
|first flight =1 April 1939
|introduction =July 1940
|retired =1945 (Japan)
|status =
|more users = [[Chinese Nationalist Air Force]]
|produced = 1940–1945
|number built =11,000
|unit cost =
|variants with their own articles = [[Nakajima A6M2-N]]
}}
|}

The '''Mitsubishi A6M Zero''' was a lightweight [[fighter aircraft]] operated by the [[Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service]] (IJNAS) from 1940 to 1945. The origin of its official designation was that "A" signified a carrier-based fighter, "6" for the sixth such model built for the Imperial Navy, and "M" for the manufacturer, [[Mitsubishi]]. The A6M was usually referred to by the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]] as the "'''Zero'''"—a name that was frequently misapplied to other Japanese fighters, such as the [[Nakajima Ki-43]]—as well as other codenames and nicknames, including "'''Zeke'''", "'''Hamp'''" and "'''Hap'''".

When it was introduced early in [[World War II]], the Zero was the best [[aircraft carrier|carrier]]-based fighter in the world combining excellent maneuverability and very long range.<ref name="Hawks"> Hawks, Chuck. [http://www.chuckhawks.com/best_fighter_planes.htm The Best Fighter Planes of World War II.] Retrieved: 18 January 2007.</ref><ref>[http://www.users.bigpond.com/pacificwar/USJapNavAir.html The American and Japanese Air services Compared.] Retrieved: 18 January 2007.</ref> In early combat operations, the Zero gained a legendary reputation as a "dogfighter" but by 1942, new tactics and techniques enabled Allied pilots to engage the Zero on more equal terms.<ref>Mersky, Peter B. (Cmdr. USNR). [http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-C-Aces/index.html Time of the Aces: Marine Pilots in the Solomons, 1942-1944.] Retrieved: 18 January 2007.</ref> The IJNAS also frequently used the type as a land-based fighter. By 1943, inherent design weaknesses and the increasing scarcity of more powerful [[aircraft engine]]s meant that the Zero became less effective against newer enemy fighters that possessed greater firepower, armor, and speed, and approached the Zero's maneuverability.<ref>Willmott 1980, pp. 40–41.</ref> Although the Mitsubishi A6M was outdated by 1944, it remained in production. During the final years of the [[Pacific Ocean theater of World War II|War in the Pacific]], the Zero was utilized in [[kamikaze]] operations.

{{TOClimit|limit=2}}
==Design and development==
[[Image:A6M3 Munda 1943.jpg|thumb|right|Mitsubishi A6M3 Zero wreck abandoned at Munda Airfield, Central Solomons, 1943]]
[[Image:A6M3 Zuikaku Rabaul.jpg|thumb|right|Carrier A6M2 Zeros from the aircraft carrier [[Zuikaku|Zuikaku]] preparing for a mission at Rabaul]]
[[Image:A6M3 Model22 UI105 Nishizawa.jpg|right|thumb|A6M3 Model 22 over the Solomon Islands, 1943]]
The [[Mitsubishi A5M]] fighter was just starting to enter service in early 1937 when the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]] started looking for its eventual replacement. In May they issued specification 12-Shi for a new [[aircraft carrier]]-based fighter, sending it to [[Nakajima]] and [[Mitsubishi]]. Both firms started preliminary design work while they awaited more definitive requirements to be handed over in a few months.

Based on the experiences of the A5M in China, the Navy sent out updated requirements in October calling for a speed of 500&nbsp;km/h at 4000&nbsp;m and a climb to 3000&nbsp;m in 3.5 min. They needed an endurance of two hours at normal power, or six to eight hours at economical cruising speed (both with [[drop tanks]]). Armament was to consist of two 20&nbsp;mm [[cannon]]s and two 7.7&nbsp;mm machine guns and two 30&nbsp;kg or 60&nbsp;kg [[bomb]]s. A complete radio set was to be mounted in all airplanes, along with a [[radio direction finder]] for long-range navigation. The maneuverability was to be at least equal to that of the A5M, while the wing span had to be less than 12&nbsp;m to fit on the carriers.

Nakajima's team considered the new requirements unachievable and pulled out of the competition in January. Mitsubishi's chief designer, [[Jiro Horikoshi]], felt that the requirements could be met, but only if the aircraft could be made as light as possible. Every weight-saving method was used. Most of the airplane was built of T-7178 aluminum, a top-secret [[aluminum alloy]] developed by the Japanese just for this aircraft. It was lighter and stronger than the normal aluminum used at the time, but more brittle. In addition, no armor was carried for the pilot, engine or other critical points of the aircraft, and the [[self-sealing fuel tank]]s that were becoming common at the time were also left off. This made the Zero lighter and more agile than most other aircraft at the start of the war, but that also made it prone to catching fire and exploding when struck by enemy rounds.

With its low-wing [[cantilever]] monoplane layout, retractable wide-set [[landing gear]] and enclosed cockpit, the design was one of the most modern in the world. The Zero had a fairly high-lift, low-speed wing with a very low [[wing loading]]; combined with the light weight this gave it a very low [[stall (flight)|stalling speed]] of well below {{convert|60|kn|km/h}}. This is the reason for the phenomenal turning ability of the airplane, allowing it to turn more sharply than any Allied fighter of the time. [[Roll rate]] is enhanced by [[servo tab]]s on the [[aileron]]s which deflect opposite to the ailerons and make the control force much lighter. The disadvantage is that they reduce the maximum roll effect at full travel. At 160&nbsp;mph (260&nbsp;km/h) the A6M2 had a roll rate of 56 degrees per second. Because of wing flexibility, roll effectiveness dropped to near zero at about {{convert|300|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}} indicated airspeed.
===Name===
The A6M is universally known as the '''Zero''' from its Japanese Navy designation, Type 0 Carrier Fighter (Rei shiki Kanjō sentoki, 零式艦上戦闘機), taken from the last digit of the [[Japanese era name#Imperial year|Imperial year]] 2600 (1940), when it entered service. In Japan it was unofficially referred to as both '''Rei-sen''' and '''Zero-sen'''; Japanese pilots most commonly called their plane Zero-sen.<ref>Note: In Japanese service carrier fighter units were referred to as Kanjō sentōkitai.</ref> <ref>Parshall and Tully 2007, p.78.</ref>


The official Allied code name was '''Zeke''' in keeping with the practice of giving male names to Japanese fighters, female names to bombers, bird names to gliders and tree names to trainers. The reason for choosing Zeke as a code name for the Mitsubishi A6M is uncertain. When in 1942 the Allied code for Japanese planes was introduced, Zeke may have been thought an appropriate choice. Later, two variants of the fighter, not immediately identified as such, received their own code names: the A6M2-N (float plane version of the Zero) was called '''Rufe''' and the A6M3-32 variant was initially called '''Hap'''. After objections from General [[Henry H. Arnold|"Hap" Arnold]], C/O of the USAAF, the name was changed to '''Hamp'''.

==Operational history==
[[Image:Zero Akagi Dec1941.jpg|thumb|right|Mitsubishi A6M2 "Zero" Model 21 takes off from the aircraft carrier [[Japanese aircraft carrier Akagi|Akagi]], to attack [[Attack on Pearl Harbor|Pearl Harbor]].]]
[[Image:A6M2 Cockpit.jpg|thumb|right|Cockpit (starboard console) of a damaged A6M2 which crashed during the raid on Pearl Harbor into Building 52 at Fort Kamehameha, Oahu, during the 7 December 1941 raid on Pearl Harbor. The pilot, who was killed, was NAP1/c Takeshi Hirano. Plane's tail code was "AI-154".]]
[[Image:AkutanZero1.jpg|thumb|right|The Akutan Zero is inspected by US military personnel on Akutan Island on 11 July 1942.]]
The pre-series A6M2 Zero became known in 1940-41, when the fighter claimed 266 aircraft in China. At the time of [[Attack on Pearl Harbor|Pearl Harbor]], there were 420 Zeros active in the Pacific. The carrier-borne Model 21 was the type encountered by the Americans, often much further from its carriers than expected, with a mission range of over 1,600 statute miles (2,600 km). The Zero fighters were superior in many aspects of performance to all Allied fighters in the Pacific in 1941 and quickly gained a great reputation. However, the Zero failed to achieve complete air superiority due to the development of suitable tactics and new aircraft by the Allies. During World War II, the Zero destroyed at least 1,550 American aircraft.

The Japanese ace [[Saburo Sakai]] described how the resilience of early Allied aircraft was a factor in preventing the Zeros from attaining total domination: {{cquote|I had full confidence in my ability to destroy the [[F4F Wildcat|Grumman]] and decided to finish off the enemy fighter with only my 7.7 mm machine guns. I turned the 20mm. cannon switch to the 'off' position, and closed in. For some strange reason, even after I had poured about five or six hundred rounds of ammunition directly into the Grumman, the airplane did not fall, but kept on flying. I thought this very odd—it had never happened before—and closed the distance between the two airplanes until I could almost reach out and touch the Grumman. To my surprise, the Grumman's rudder and tail were torn to shreds, looking like an old torn piece of rag. With his plane in such condition, no wonder the pilot was unable to continue fighting! A Zero which had taken that many bullets would have been a ball of fire by now.<ref>[http://www.acepilots.com/planes/f4f_wildcat.html Saburo Sakai: "Zero"]</ref>}}

Designed for attack, the Zero gave precedence to long range, maneuverability,and firepower at the expense of protection—most had no self-sealing tanks or armor plate—thus many Zeros and their pilots were too easily lost in combat. During the initial phases of the Pacific conflict, the Japanese trained their aviators far more strenuously than their Allied counterparts. However, unexpectedly heavy pilot losses at the [[Battle of Coral Sea|Coral Sea]] and [[Battle of Midway|Midway]] made them difficult to replace.

With the extreme agility of the Zero, the Allied pilots found that the appropriate combat tactic against Zeros was to remain out of range and fight on the dive and climb. By using speed and resisting the deadly error of trying to out-turn the Zero, eventually cannon or heavy machine guns ''(.50 caliber)'' could be brought to bear and a single burst of fire was usually enough to down the Zero. Such "boom-and-zoom" tactics were successful in the [[China Burma India Theater of World War II|China Burma India Theater]] (CBI) against similarly maneuverable Japanese Army aircraft such as the [[Nakajima Ki-27]] and [[Nakajima Ki-43|Ki-43]] by the "[[Flying Tigers]]" (American Volunteer Group). AVG pilots were trained to exploit the advantages of their [[Curtiss P-40|P-40s]]; very sturdy, heavily armed, generally faster in a dive and in level flight at low altitude, with a good rate of roll.

Another important maneuver was then-Lt Cdr [[John S. Thach|John S. "Jimmy" Thach]]'s "[[Thach Weave]]", in which two fighters would fly about 200 ft (60 m) apart. When a Zero latched onto the tail of one of the fighters, the two planes would turn toward each other. If the Zero followed its original target through the turn, it would come into a position to be fired on by his target's wingman. This tactic was used to good effect at the [[Battle of the Coral Sea]], at the [[Battle of Midway]] and over the [[Solomon Islands]].

The American military discovered many of the A6M's unique attributes when they recovered the [[Akutan Zero]] - a mostly intact specimen on Akutan Island in the Aleutians. Flight Petty Officer Tadayoshi Koga was losing oil and attempted an emergency landing but the Zero flipped over in soft ground and the pilot died of head wounds. The relatively undamaged fighter was recovered and shipped to North Air Station, North Island, San Diego. Subsequent testing of the repaired A6M revealed not only its strengths but also deficiencies in design and performance.<ref> Jablonski, Edward. Airwar. New York: Doubleday & Co., 1979. ISBN 0-38514-279-X.</ref>

When the powerful [[P-38 Lightning]], [[F6F Hellcat]] and [[F4U Corsair]] appeared in the Pacific theater, the A6M, with its low-powered engine, lost its competitiveness. Increasingly inexperienced Japanese aviators were also a factor in Allied successes.

Nonetheless, until the end of the war, in competent hands, the Zero could still be deadly. Because of the scarcity of high-powered aviation engines and problems with planned successor models, the Zero remained in production until 1945, with over 11,000 of all variants produced.

==Variants==
[[Image:Type zero fighter en-hierarchy.png|730px|center|]]
;A6M1, Type 0 Prototypes
The first A6M1 prototype was completed in March 1939, powered by the 780 hp (580 kW) [[Mitsubishi Zuisei]] 13 engine with a two-bladed propeller. It first flew on 1 April, and passed testing in a remarkably short period of time. By September it had already been accepted for Navy testing as the A6M1 Type 0 Carrier Fighter, with the only notable change being a switch to a three-bladed propeller to cure a vibration problem.

===A6M2 {{nihongo|Type 0 Model 11|零式艦上戦闘機一一型}}===

While the Navy was testing the first two prototypes, they suggested that the third be fitted with the 940 hp (700 kW) [[Nakajima Sakae]] 12 engine instead. Mitsubishi had its own engine of this class in the form of the [[Mitsubishi Kinsei|Kinsei]], so they were somewhat reluctant to use the Sakae. Nevertheless when the first A6M2 was completed in January 1940, the Sakae's extra power pushed the performance of the plane well past the original specifications.

The new version was so promising that the Navy had 15 built and shipped to China before they had completed testing. They arrived in [[Manchuria]] in July 1940, and first saw combat over [[Chungking]] in August. There they proved to be completely untouchable by the [[Polikarpov I-16]]s and [[Polikarpov I-153|I-153]]s that had been such a problem for the A5Ms currently in service. In one encounter, 13 Zeros shot down 27 I-15s and I-16s in under three minutes without loss. After hearing of these reports the Navy immediately ordered the plane into production as the Type 0 Carrier Fighter, Model 11.
Reports of the Zero's performance filtered back to the US slowly. There they were dismissed by most military officials, who felt it was impossible for the Japanese to build such an aircraft.

===A6M2 {{nihongo|Type 0 Model 21|零式艦上戦闘機二一型}}===
[[Image:Carrier shokaku.jpg|thumb|left|A6M2 "Zero" Model 21 (front) on [[Shokaku]]. (Shokaku distinguisable from the white band on the fuselage just ahead of the tail) to attack Pearl Harbor during the morning of 7 December 1941. This is probably the launch of the second attack wave. The original photograph was captured on Attu in 1943]]
[[Image:A6M2 Shokaku19421026.jpg|thumb|right|Mitsubishi A6M2 "Zero" Model 21 on the flight deck of carrier [[Shokaku|Shokaku]] , 26 October 1942, [[Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands]]]]
After the delivery of only 65 planes by November 1940, a further change was worked into the production lines, which introduced folding wingtips to allow them to fit on the [[aircraft carrier]]s. The resulting Model 21 would become one of the most produced versions early in the war. When the lines switched to updated models, 740 Model 21s were completed by Mitsubishi, and another 800 by Nakajima. Two other versions of the Model 21 were built in small numbers, the Nakajima-built [[Nakajima A6M2-N|A6M2-N]] "Rufe" floatplane (based on the model 11 with a slightly modified tail), and the A6M2-K two-seat trainer of which a total of 508 were built by Hitachi and the Sasebo Naval Air Arsenal.

===A6M3 {{nihongo|Type 0 Model 32|零式艦上戦闘機三二型}}===
[[Image:A6M3 Model32-common.jpg|thumb|right|A6M3 Model 32.]]
In late 1941, Nakajima introduced the Sakae 21, which used a two speed [[supercharger]] for better altitude performance, and increased power to 1,130 hp (840 kW). Plans were made to introduce the new engine into the Zero as soon as possible.

The new Sakae was slightly heavier and somewhat longer due to the larger supercharger, which moved the [[center of gravity]] too far forward on the existing airframe. To correct for this the engine mountings were cut down by 8 inches (200 mm), moving the engine back towards the cockpit. This had the side effect of reducing the size of the main fuel tank (located to the rear of the engine) from 518 litres to 470 litres.

The only other major changes were to the wings, which were simplified by removing the Model 21's folding tips. This changed the appearance enough to prompt the US to designate it with a new code name, Hap. This name was short-lived, as a protest from [[USAAF]] commander General [[Henry H. Arnold| Henry "Hap" Arnold]] forced a change to Hamp. Soon after, it was realized that it was simply a new model of the Zeke. The wings also included larger ammunition boxes, allowing for 100 rounds for each of the 20&nbsp;mm cannon.

The wing changes had much greater effects on performance than expected. The smaller size led to better roll, and their lower drag allowed the diving speed to be increased to 360 knots (670&nbsp;km/h). On the downside, maneuverability was reduced, and range suffered due to both decreased lift and the smaller fuel tank. Pilots complained about both. The shorter range proved a significant limitation during the Solomons campaign of 1942.

The first Model 32 deliveries began in April 1942, but it remained on the lines only for a short time, with a run of 343 being built.

===A6M3 {{nihongo|Type 0 Model 22|零式艦上戦闘機二二型}}===
In order to correct the deficiencies of the Model 32, a new version with the Model 21's folding wings, new in-wing fuel tanks and attachments for a 330 litre drop tank under each wing were introduced. The internal fuel was thereby increased to 570 litres in this model, regaining all of the lost range.

As the airframe was reverted from the Model 32 and the engine remained the same, this version received the navy designation Model 22, while Mitsubishi called it the A6M3a. The new model started production in December, and 560 were eventually produced. This company constructed some examples for evaluation, armed with 30&nbsp;mm Type 5 Cannon, under denomination of A6M3b (model 22b).

===A6M4 {{nihongo|Type 0 Model 41|零式艦上戦闘機四一型}}===
The A6M4 designation was applied to two A6M2s fitted with an experimental turbo-supercharged Sakae engine designed for high-altitude use. The design, modification and testing of these two prototypes was the responsibility of the {{nihongo|First Naval Air Technical Arsenal|第一海軍航空廠}} at Yokosuka and took place in 1943. Lack of suitable alloys for use in the manufacture of the turbo-supercharger and its related ducting caused numerous ruptures of the ducting resulting in fires and poor performance. Consequently, further development of the A6M4 was cancelled. The program still provided useful data for future aircraft designs and, consequently, the manufacture of the more conventional A6M5, already under development by Mitsubishi Jukogyo K.K., was accelerated. <ref>[http://www.j-aircraft.com/a6mresearch/a6m4.htm A6M4 entry at the J-Aircraft.com website]</ref>

===A6M5 {{nihongo|Type 0 Model 52|零式艦上戦闘機五二型}}===
[[Image:A6M5 TAIC.jpg|thumb|right|Mitsubishi A6M "Rei Sen" (Zeke) captured in flying condition and test flown by U.S. airmen]]
[[Image:A6M5 scrapped.jpg|thumb|right|Mitsubishi A6M5 Model 52s abandoned by the Japanese at the end of the war ([[Atsugi]] Naval air base) and captured by US forces]]
The A6M5 was a modest update of the A6M3 Model 22, with non-folding wing tips and thicker wing skinning to permit faster diving speeds, plus an improved exhaust system. The latter used four ejector exhaust stacks, providing an increment of thrust, projecting along each side of the forward fuselage. The new exhaust system required modified 'notched' cowl flaps and small rectangular plates which were riveted to the fuselage, just aft of the exhausts. Two smaller exhaust stacks exited via small cowling flaps immediately forward of and just below each of the wing leading edges. The improved roll-rate of the clipped-wing A6M3 was now built in.

Sub-variants included:
* "A6M5a Model 52a «Kou»," featuring Type 99-II cannon with belt feed of the Mk 4 instead of drum feed Mk 3 (100 rpg), permitting a bigger ammunition supply (125 rpg)
* "A6M5b Model 52b «Otsu»," with an armor glass windscreen, a fuel tank fire extinguisher and the 7.7 millimeter Type 97 gun (750&nbsp;m/s muzzle velocity and 600&nbsp;m range) in the left forward fuselage was replaced by a 13.2 millimeter Type 3 Browning-derived gun (790&nbsp;m/s muzzle velocity and 900&nbsp;m range) with 240 rounds. The larger weapon required an enlarged [[cowling]] opening, creating a distinctive asymmetric appearance to the top of the cowling.
* "A6M5c Model 52c «Hei»" with more armor plate on the cabin's windshield (5.5 cm) and behind the pilot's seat. The wing skinning was further thickened in localised areas to allow for a further increase in dive speed .This version also had a modified armament fit of three 13.2 millimeter guns (one in the forward fuselage, and one in each wing with a rate of fire of 800 rpm), twin 20 millimeter Type 99-II guns and an additional fuel tank with a capacity of 367 liters, often replaced by a 250&nbsp;kg bomb.

The A6M5 had a maximum speed of 540&nbsp;km/h and reach a height of 8,000 meters in nine minutes, 57 seconds. Other variants were the night fighter A6M5d-S (modified for night combat, armed with one 20&nbsp;mm type 99 cannon, inclined back to the pilot's cockpit) and A6M5-K "Zero-Reisen"(model l22) tandem trainer version, also manufactured by Mitsubishi.

===A6M6c {{nihongo|Type 0 Model 53c|零式艦上戦闘機五三型丙}}===
This was similar to the A6M5c, but with self-sealing wing tanks and a Nakajima Sakae 31a engine featuring water-methanol engine boost.

===A6M7 {{nihongo|Type 0 Model 63|零式艦上戦闘機六三型}}===
Similar to the A6M6 but intended for attack or [[Kamikaze]] role.

===A6M8 {{nihongo|Type 0 Model 64|零式艦上戦闘機六四型}}===
Similar to the A6M6 but with [[Mitsubishi Kinsei]] 62 engine. This resulted in an extensively modified cowling and nose for the aircraft. The carburetor intake was much larger, a long duct like that on the Nakajima B6N Tenzan was added, and a large spinner -- like that on the Yokosuka D4Y Suisei with the Kinsei 62 -- was mounted. Armament was unchanged from the Model 52 Hei (20mm cannon x 2; 13 mm MG x 2). In addition, the Model 64 was modified to carry two 150-liter drop tanks on either wing in order to permit the mounting of a 250 kg bomb on the underside of the fuselage. Two prototypes were completed in 1945 and production was ordered following flight testing, but the war ended before any production began.

==Operators==

{{main|List of A6M Zero operators}}

;Primary operator
{{JPN}}
*[[Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service]]
{{flag|Thailand}}
*[[Royal Thai Air Force]]


;Captured aircraft and/or post-World War II period
{{China as ROC}}
*[[Republic of China Air Force]]
{{FRA}}
*[[French Air Force|Armée de l'Air]]
{{IDN}}
*[[Indonesian Air Force]]
{{USA}}
*[[United States Army Air Forces]]
[[Image:Mitsubishi A6M6C Zero 2.jpg|thumb|A6M3 Model 22, NX712Z [[Camarillo Airport]] Museum, used in the film [[Pearl Harbor (film)|Pearl Harbor]]]]
==Survivors==
Several Zero fighters survived the war and are on display in Japan (in Aichi, Tokyo's Science Museum, Hiroshima, Hamamatsu, MCAS Iwakuni, and Shizuoka), China (in Beijing), United States (at the [[National Museum of the United States Air Force]], the [[National Museum of Naval Aviation]], the [[Pacific Aviation Museum]], and at the [[San Diego Air and Space Museum]]), and the UK (Duxford) as well as the Auckland War Memorial Museum in New Zealand.
[[Image:Mitsubishi A6M2, Type 0 Model 21.jpg|thumb|right|A6M2 Model 21 on display at Pacific Aviation Museum, Pearl Harbor, HI]]

A number of flyable Zero airframes exist; most have had their engines replaced with similar American units; only one, the [[Planes of Fame Museum]]'s example, bearing tail number "61-120" (see external link below) has the original Sakae engine.<ref>[http://www.richard-seaman.com/Aircraft/AirShows/Chino2004/Sampler/index.html Aircraft air shows]</ref> Although not truly a survivor, the "Blayd" Zero is a reconstruction based on templating original Zero components recovered from the South Pacific. In order to be considered a "replica", the builders utilized a small fraction of parts from original Zero landing gear in the reconstruction.<ref>[http://www.pacificwrecks.com/restore/canada/blayd.html Blayd Corporation.] Retrieved: 29 January 2007.</ref><ref>[http://www.j-aircraft.com/research/zero.htm Examination of Blayd Zero Artifacts] Retrieved: 29 January 2007.</ref> The aircraft is now on display at the [[Fargo Air Museum]] in Fargo, North Dakota.

The rarity of flyable Zeros accounts for the use of single-seat [[T-6 Texan]]s, modified externally and painted in Japanese markings, to stand in for the fighter in the films [[Tora! Tora! Tora!]], [[The Final Countdown (film)|The Final Countdown]], and many other television and film depictions of the aircraft.

==Specifications (A6M2 Type 0 Model 21)==
{{aircraft specifications
<!-- if you do not understand how to use this template, please ask at [[Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Aircraft]] -->
|plane or copter?=plane
|jet or prop?=prop

<!-- Now, fill out the specs. Please include units where appropriate (main comes first, alt in parentheses). If an item doesn't apply, like capacity, leave it blank. For additional lines, end your alt units with a right parenthesis ")" and start a new, fully-formatted line beginning with * -->
|ref=The Great Book of Fighters<ref>Green and Swanborough 2001</ref>
|crew=1
|span main=12.0 m
|span alt=39&nbsp;ft 4 in
|length main=9.06 m
|length alt=29&nbsp;ft 9 in
|height main=3.05 m
|height alt=10&nbsp;ft 0 in
|area main=22.44 m²
|area alt=241.5 ft²
|empty weight main=1,680 kg
|empty weight alt=3,704 lb
|loaded weight main=2,410 kg
|loaded weight alt=5,313 lb
|max takeoff weight main= kg
|max takeoff weight alt= lb
|more general='''[[Aspect ratio (wing)|Aspect ratio]]:''' 6.4
|engine (prop)=[[Nakajima Sakae]] 12 [[radial engine]]
|type of prop=
|number of props=1
|power main=709 kW
|power alt=950 hp
|max speed main=533&nbsp;km/h
|max speed alt=287 knots, 331 mph
|max speed more=at 4,550&nbsp;m (14,930 ft)
|never exceed speed main=660&nbsp;km/h
|never exceed speed alt=356 knots, 410 mph
|climb rate main=15.7&nbsp;m/s
|climb rate alt=3,100&nbsp;ft/min
|ceiling main=10,000 m
|ceiling alt=33,000 ft
|range main=3,105 km
|range alt=1,675&nbsp;nm, 1,929 mi
|loading main=107.4&nbsp;kg/m²
|loading alt=22.0 lb/ft²
|power/mass main=294&nbsp;W/kg
|power/mass alt=0.18 hp/lb
|bombs=<br/>
** 2× 60 kg (132 lb) bombs or
** 2× fixed 250&nbsp;kg bombs for [[kamikaze]] attacks
|guns=<br/>
** 2× 7.7&nbsp;mm (0.303 in) [[Type 97 machine gun]]s in the engine cowling ,with 500 rounds per gun,the machine guns had ammunition for 30 seconds.
** 2× [[20 mm caliber|20 mm]] (0.787 in) [[Type 99 cannon]]s in the wings,with 60 rounds per gun.The cannon had ammunition for 7 seconds.<br />[[Image:20mmvs7mm.png|thumb|Divergence of trajectories between 7.7mm and 20mm ammunition]]
}}

==See also==
{{aircontent
|related=
* [[Nakajima A6M2-N]]
|similar aircraft=
* [[Curtiss-Wright CW-21]]
* [[Curtiss P-40]]
* [[F4F Wildcat]]
* [[F6F Hellcat]]
* [[Messerschmitt Bf 109]]
* [[Nakajima Ki-43]]
* [[Supermarine Spitfire]]
* [[Hughes H-1 Racer]]
|lists=
* [[List of fighter aircraft]]
* [[List of military aircraft of Japan]]

}}

==References==
; Notes
{{reflist|2}}
;Bibliography
{{refbegin}}
* Bueschel, Richard M. ''Mitsubishi A6M1/2/-2N Zero-Sen in Imperial Japanese Naval Air Service.'' Canterbury, Kent, UK: Osprey Publications Ltd., 1970. ISBN 0-85045-018-7.
* Francillon, René J. ''The Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero-Sen (Aircraft in Profile number 129)''. Leatherhead, Surrey, UK: Profile Publications Ltd., 1966.
* Francillon, René J. The Mitsubishi A6M3 Zero-Sen ("Hamp") (Aircraft in Profile number 190). Leatherhead, Surrey, UK: Profile Publications Ltd., 1967.
* Green, William and Gordon Swanborough. ''The Great Book of Fighter''s. St. Paul, Minnesota: MBI Publishing, 2001. ISBN 0-7603-1194-3.
* Jackson, Robert. ''Combat Legend: Mitsubishi Zero''. Ramsbury, Marlborough, Wiltshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 2003. ISBN 1-84037-398-9.
* Juszczak, Artur. ''Mitsubishi A6M Zero''. Tarnobrzeg, Poland/Redbourn, UK: Mushrom Model Publications, 2001. ISBN 83-7300-085-2.
* Marchand, Patrick and Junko Takamori. (Illustrator) ''A6M Zero (Les Ailes de Gloire 2)'' (in French). Le Muy, France: Editions d’Along, 2000. ISBN 2-914403-02-X.
* Mikesh, Robert C. ''Warbird History: Zero, Combat & Development History of Japan's Legendary Mitsubishi A6M Zero Fighter''. Osceola, Wisconsin: Motorbooks International, 1994. ISBN 0-87938-915-X.
* Mikesh, Robert C. and Watanabe, Rikyu. (Illustrator) ''Zero Fighter''. London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd., 1981. ISBN 0-7106-0037-2.
* Nohara, Shigeru. ''A6M Zero in Action (Aircraft #59)''. Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications, Inc., 1983. ISBN 0-89747-141-5.
* Nohara, Shigeru. ''Mitsubishi A6M Zero Fighter (Aero Detail 7)'' (in Japanese with English captions). Tokyo, Japan: Dai Nippon Kaiga Company Ltd., 1993. ISBN 4-499 22608-2.
* [[Masatake Okumiya|Okumiya, Masatake]] and [[Jiro Horikoshi]] (with [[Martin Caidin]], ed.). ''Zero! The Story of Japan's Air War in the Pacific: 1941-45''. New York: Ballantine Books, 1956. No ISBN.
* Parshall, Jonathan and Tully, Anthony. ''Shattered Sword; The untold story of the [[Battle of Midway]]''. Washington D.C, USA: Potomac Books Inc., 2007. ISBN 978-1-57488-924-6 (paperback)
* Richards, M.C. and Donald S. Smith. ''Mitsubishi A6M5 to A6M8 'Zero-Sen' ('Zeke 52')(Aircraft in Profile number 236)''. Windsor, Berkshire, UK: Profile Publications Ltd., 1972.
* Sakaida, Henry. ''Imperial Japanese Navy Aces, 1937–45''. Botley, Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing Ltd., 1998. ISBN 1-85532-727-9.
* Sakaida, Henry. ''The Siege of Rabaul''. St. Paul, Minnesota: Phalanx Publishing, 1996. ISBN 1-883809-09-6.
* Sheftall, M.G. Blossoms in the Wind: Human Legacies of the Kamikaze. New York: NAL Caliber, 2005. ISBN 0-451-21487-0.
* Willmott, H.P. ''Zero A6M''. London: Bison Books, 1980. ISBN 0-89009-322-9.
* Wilson, Stewart. ''Zero, Hurricane & P-38, The Story of Three Classic Fighters of WW2 (Legends of the Air 4)''. Fyshwick, Australia: Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd., 1996. ISBN 1-875671-24-2.
{{refend}}

=== Scale aircraft modeling ===
{{refbegin}}
* Criner, Brian. Modelling the Mitsubishi A6M Zero. Botley, Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing Ltd., 2006. ISBN 1-84176-866-9.
* Lochte, Arthur. Mitsubishi A6M Zero (Modelmania 6) (Bilingual Polish/English). Gdańsk, Poland: AJ-Press, 2000 (2nd expanded edition 2006). ISBN 83-7237-062-1.
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons|Mitsubishi A6M Zero}}
* [http://military.discovery.com/tv/showdown/cockpit/zero.html Tour A6M5 Zero cockpit]
* [http://mitsubishi_zero.tripod.com/ Mitsubishi A6M Zero Japanese fighter aircraft - design, construction, history]
* [http://ww2db.com/aircraft_spec.php?aircraft_model_id=3 WW2DB: A6M Zero]
* [http://www.j-aircraft.com/research/quotes/A6M.html www.j-aircraft.com: Quotes A6M]
* [http://www.vectorsite.net/avzero.html THE MITSUBISHI A6M ZERO at Greg Goebel's AIR VECTORS]
* [http://www.combinedfleet.com/ijna/a6m.htm Imperial Japanese Navy's Mitsubishi A6M Reisen]
* [http://www.planesoffame.org/featured-aircraft.php?ID=4 Planes of Fame Museum's Flightworthy A6M5 Zero No. "61-120"]
* [http://www.j-aircraft.com/research/WarPrizes.htm War Prize: The Capture of the First Japanese Zero Fighter in 1941]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRQZYZgwEaY 零戦の美しさ Beauty of the Zerosen]
*[http://www.wikihow.com/Land-on-an-Aircraft-Carrier How to Land on an Aircraft Carrier]

{{Japanese Navy Carrier Fighters}}
{{aviation lists}}

[[Category:Propeller aircraft]]
[[Category:Low wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Single engine aircraft]]
[[Category:Attack on Pearl Harbor]]
[[Category:Carrier-based aircraft]]
[[Category:Japanese fighter aircraft 1930-1939]]
[[Category:World War II Japanese fighter aircraft]]
[[Category:Mitsubishi aircraft]]

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Revision as of 13:32, 22 April 2009

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