The Type 0 carrier-based fighter is a fighter that served as the main fighter of the Japanese Navy.
Its maneuverability was outstanding, and its firepower and speed exceeded the standards of naval battles at the time, and
even surpassed land-based fighters.

It was on October 5, 1939, that Mitsubishi and Nakajima
were issued with a request for a 12-prototype carrier-based fighter as the main carrier-based fighter following the 96th . Mitsubishi began the design with engineer Jiro Horikoshi as the chief designer. Engineer Horikoshi developed a more advanced design based on the technology cultivated during the 96 battles, including reducing weight and resistance. In addition, the adoption of constant speed propellers, retractable landing gear, split structure, water droplet type closed windshield, streamlined drop tank, Courcy radio return direction measuring device, use of ESD (super duralumin), and installation of 20mm cannon in the wings, etc. New attempts were incorporated, and the first aircraft of 12 Trial Ship Battles (A6M1) was completed with the Zuisei 13 type (780 horsepower takeoff output).


The first flight took place in April 2014, and the first aircraft performed well
during in-house tests, recording a speed of over 491 km/h.The propeller was subsequently changed from a two-blade to a three-blade propeller, and the elevator control system was changed. Minor repairs were made to reduce the strength of the steel, and the ship was handed over to the Navy in September for review.

Immediately after the start of the test, it was decided that the 3rd and subsequent prototypes, which had the engine replaced with the Sakae 12 type (takeoff output 940 horsepower) and the tail
arrangement changed, would be called the A6M2.
However,
it was recognized as a good airplane, and
the A6M2 was officially adopted as the Type 0 1 carrier-based fighter.
(Renamed Type 0 carrier-based fighter 11 type A6M2a in 1942) Compared
to the A6M1, the A6M2 equipped with the Sakae 12 type was 270 mm longer and
weighed 19 kg more, but its
maximum speed was increased to 533.4 km/h. Masu.

A total of 64 Type 11 aircraft were made, and
at the request of local troops, they were sent to the Chinese front even before they were officially adopted.
Type 11 was used as a land fighter, so
it was not equipped for naval combat.
In addition, since the Type 11, which was used as a land fighter,
did not have a folding mechanism on its wing tips,
in order to make it easier to handle on aircraft carriers,
aircraft from No. 67 onwards had a mechanism to fold the wing tips in 50cm increments. Did.

In addition, it was outfitted for naval warfare, such as a Courcy radio return direction measurement device and a landing hook
, and was adopted as the Type 0 1 carrier-based fighter type 2
(later renamed the 0-type carrier fighter 21 type, A6M2b).

These Zero fighters were operated by experienced crews and
demonstrated their seemingly invincible strength on the front lines in various areas.

"data"

Crew: 1 person
Overall width: 12.00m
Overall length: 9.060m
Overall height: 3.570m
Maximum speed: 533.4km/h (4,300m)
Engine: "Sakae" type 12 (takeoff output 940hp)