The Mitsubishi A6M Zero is a long range fighter aircraft . It was operated by the IJNAS (Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service) from 1940 to 1945. The A6M was named Zero by the Allies.

When it was introduced early in July 1940 , the Zero was the best carrier-based fighter in the world, combining excellent maneuverability and very long range.

In early combat operations, the Mitsubishi A6M gained a legendary reputation as a "dogfighter", gaining the outstanding kill ratio of 12 to 1, but by 1942, a combination of new tactics and the introduction of better equipment enabled the Allied pilots to engage the Zero on more equal terms. The Imperial Japanese Naval Air Service (IJNAS) also frequently used the type as a land-based fighter. By 1943, inherent design weaknesses and the increasing lack of more powerful aircraft engines meant that the Zero became less effective against newer enemy fighters that possessed greater firepower, armor, and speed, and approached the Zero's maneuverability. Although the Mitsubishi A6M was outdated by 1944, it was never totally supplanted by the newer Japanese aircraft types. During the final years of the War in the Pacific, the Zero was used in kamikaze operations.

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 9.06 m (29 ft 9 in)
• Wing area: 22.44 m² (241.5 ft²)
• Wingspan: 12.0 m (39 ft 4 in)
• Height: 3.05 m (10 ft 0 in)
• Empty weight: 1,680 kg (3,704 lb)
• Loaded weight: 2,410 kg (5,313 lb)
• Aspect ratio: 6.4
• Powerplant: 1× Nakajima Sakae 12 radial engine, 709 kW (950 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 533 km/h (287 kn, 331 mph) at 4,550 m (14,930 ft)
• Never exceed speed: 660 km/h (356 kn, 410 mph)
• Service ceiling: 10,000 m (33,000 ft)
• Range: 3,105 km (1,675 nmi, 1,929 mi)
• Wing loading: 107.4 kg/m² (22.0 lb/ft²)
• Rate of climb: 15.7 m/s (3,100 ft/min)
• Power/mass: 294 W/kg (0.18 hp/lb)

Armament

• Bombs:
  
  • 2× 60 kg (132 lb) bombs or
  • 1× fixed 250 kg (551 lb) bombs for kamikaze attacks
• Guns:
  
  • 2× 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Type 97 machine guns in the engine cowling, with 500 rounds per gun.
  • 2× 20 mm Type 99 cannons in the wings, with 60 rounds per gun.