Description
The Type 21 Zero Fighter, which had continued to advance favorably in the early stages of the war, began to be inferior in terms of speed and firepower to the new fighter planes of the United States Army and Navy that were appearing one after another in 1944
.
Therefore, the 52 type was developed following the 32 type and 22 type, and the
wingspan was shortened from 12 m of the 21 type and 22 type to 11 m,
the cowling was redesigned, and a thrust type single exhaust pipe was installed. As a result,
the maximum speed is 565km/h, which is 25km/h faster than the 22 type.
In addition, the Type 52 was produced, replacing the 20mm machine gun in the wing with a belt-fed Type 99 Type 2 Type 4 20mm machine gun, and
having thicker main wing skins to increase the steep dive speed limit.
The 52 Type Otsu continued, with
the 52 Type Otsu having a 7.7mm machine gun in the nose section strengthened to a 13mm machine gun on the right side, and the 52 Type Hei
having a 13mm machine gun added to the outside of the 20mm machine guns on both wings of the Otsu Type.The
52 Type series was developed by Nakajima and Mitsubishi. Approximately 6,000 aircraft were produced and
continued to fight until the end of the Pacific War.
[Data] Zero Fighter 52 Type C
Crew: 1 person
Overall width: 11.00m
Overall length: 9.121m
Overall height: 3.57m
Main wing area: 21.3m2
Own weight: 2,155kg
Complete weight: 3,150kg
Engine: Nakajima Sakae 21 type
Takeoff power: 1,130hp
Maximum speed: 565km/h (altitude 6,000m)
Armament: 13mm machine gun x 1, 20mm machine gun x 2 + 13mm machine gun x 2
