Difference between revisions of "A6M3 mod. 22"

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{{Specs-Card|code=a6m3_mod22_zero}}
 
 
{{About
 
{{About
 
| about = Japanese fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
 
| about = Japanese fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
−
| usage = other uses
+
| usage = other versions
 
| link = A6M (Family)
 
| link = A6M (Family)
 +
}}
 +
{{Specs-Card
 +
|code=a6m3_mod22_zero
 +
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
 
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of and the creation and combat usage of the aircraft, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the aircraft in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
 
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of and the creation and combat usage of the aircraft, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the aircraft in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
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[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
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The '''A6M3 mod. 22''', designated as the '''Type 0 Carrier-based Fighter Model 22 ({{Annotation|零式艦上戦闘機二二型|Rei Shiki Kanjō Sentōki, Ni Ni Gata}})''', was a modification of the [[A6M3|A6M3 mod. 32]] that aimed to address its shortcomings. It restored the wings of the [[A6M2|A6M2 mod. 21]], which had full-sized ailerons and folding wing tips, and compensated for the reduced main fuel tank size by adding extra fuel tanks to the outer wings. This improved its long-range performance. The 20 mm cannon 100-round drum magazines and the upgraded engine from the [[A6M3|Model 32]] were kept, as the Sakae 21 became the standard engine for the [[A6M]] series. The Model 22 entered service in late 1942 and participated in the Solomon Islands campaign and the New Guinea campaign. It had an advantage over the Allied fighters such as the [[P-40 (Family)|P-40 ''Warhawk'']] and the [[F4F (Family)|F4F ''Wildcat'']], but faced stiff competition from the newer [[F6F (Family)|F6F ''Hellcat'']] and the [[P-38 (Family)|P-38 ''Lightning'']]. A total of 560 A6M3 Model 22s were produced between December 1942 and summer of 1943, before being replaced by the [[A6M|A6M5 Model 52]].
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{{Break}}
 
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The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Japanese fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27.
 
  
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If you have come this far into the Japanese tech tree playing the Zeroes, you should already know that this plane is all about turn fighting. The A6M3 Reisen mod 22 comes after the A6M3 in the tech tree and plays very closely to its previous version. The only main difference is its speed and camouflage.
+
It has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27. Returning back to the norm of the [[A6M]] lineage, it again excels at manoeuvrability, flying once more like the [[A6M2 mod. 11|A6M2 Model 11]] and [[A6M2|Model 21]] with a slightly stronger engine with greater high-altitude performance and larger ammo reserve for the 20 mm's, it will proportionally start facing slightly stronger opponents in the sky. It has near unprecedented manoeuvrability, and deadly but limited and low-velocity 20 mm cannons. The A6M3 can dominate any dogfight at its own or lower altitude, depending on the pilot's skill, but it can be easily outrun by faster enemies. In that case, the pilot has to decide whether to take a final shot or break off the engagement, as pursuing the enemy may expose the Zero to interception by other fighters. If faced with a Boom-N-Zoom attack, the pilot must avoid the enemy's fire by using the Zero's agility, as the plane has no armour, self-sealing fuel tanks, or robust airframe.
  
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The A6M3 line of planes is a very unique set of planes getting better and better as they go on. This modification (or Mod 22) features a better engine, turn rate, energy retention and a green camouflage instead of the off coloured yellow, cream colour camouflage on the other Zeroes before.
+
;Nicknames
 +
* IJN Pilot nickname: ''Reisen'' (零戦) / ''Zerosen'' (ゼロ戦) <small>(Abbreviation of 0 - {{Annotation|戦|Fight(er aircraft)}})</small>.
 +
* Allied reporting name: ''Zeke / Zero''.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
 
=== Flight performance ===
 
=== Flight performance ===
 +
{{Specs-Avia-Flight}}
 
<!-- ''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.'' -->
  
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! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! -
 
! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! -
 
|-
 
|-
−
| {{Specs|destruction|body}} || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || 420 || 420 || 220 || ~13 || ~6
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| 660 <!-- {{Specs|destruction|body}} --> || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || 397 || 368 || 220 || ~14 || ~6
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
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|-
 
|-
 
| < 310 || < 420 || < 410 || > 260
 
| < 310 || < 420 || < 410 || > 260
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|-
 
−
|}
 
−
 
−
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
−
|-
 
−
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
 
−
|-
 
−
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
 
−
|-
 
−
! Optimal altitude
 
−
! 100% Engine power
 
−
! WEP Engine power
 
−
|-
 
−
| 2,500 m || 1,095 hp || 1,213 hp
 
−
|-
 
−
! colspan="3" | Setting 2
 
−
|-
 
−
! Optimal altitude
 
−
! 100% Engine power
 
−
! WEP Engine power
 
−
|-
 
−
| 5,000 m || 965 hp || 1,069 hp
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 +
{{Specs-Avia-Armour}}
 
<!-- ''Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.'' -->
  
 
* No armour protection
 
* No armour protection
 
* Non-self-sealing fuel tanks
 
* Non-self-sealing fuel tanks
 +
 +
=== Modifications and economy ===
 +
{{Specs-Economy}}
  
 
== Armaments ==
 
== Armaments ==
 +
{{Specs-Avia-Armaments}}
 
=== Offensive armament ===
 
=== Offensive armament ===
 +
{{Specs-Avia-Offensive}}
 
<!-- ''Describe the offensive armament of the aircraft, if any. Describe how effective the cannons and machine guns are in a battle, and also what belts or drums are better to use. If there is no offensive weaponry, delete this subsection.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe the offensive armament of the aircraft, if any. Describe how effective the cannons and machine guns are in a battle, and also what belts or drums are better to use. If there is no offensive weaponry, delete this subsection.'' -->
 
{{main|Type 99 Model 1 (20 mm)|Type 97 navy (7.7 mm)}}
 
{{main|Type 99 Model 1 (20 mm)|Type 97 navy (7.7 mm)}}
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=== Suspended armament ===
 
=== Suspended armament ===
 +
{{Specs-Avia-Suspended}}
 
<!-- ''Describe the aircraft's suspended armament: additional cannons under the wings, bombs, rockets and torpedoes. This section is especially important for bombers and attackers. If there is no suspended weaponry remove this subsection.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe the aircraft's suspended armament: additional cannons under the wings, bombs, rockets and torpedoes. This section is especially important for bombers and attackers. If there is no suspended weaponry remove this subsection.'' -->
 
{{main|Navy Type 97 Number 6 (60 kg)}}
 
{{main|Navy Type 97 Number 6 (60 kg)}}
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If you happen to run up against an A6M3, if the Zero wants to head you on, do not shy away and simply fire for a minimum of 1-3 seconds before diving down, rolling and legging it to Boom & Zoom him for the rest of the battle as if you get a direct hit to the engine, even if it's a hit it will cause massive problems for the pilot as the Zero's engine is a fragile thing that can easily be annoyed. Turn fighting is out of the question as Spitfires, Yak-3's, even the captured Japanese planes will struggle at trying to keep a solid turn fight with this plane due to the engine upgrades and improved turn radius at the expense of its roll rate which will not affect you heavily as you will be mainly turning all day long.
 
If you happen to run up against an A6M3, if the Zero wants to head you on, do not shy away and simply fire for a minimum of 1-3 seconds before diving down, rolling and legging it to Boom & Zoom him for the rest of the battle as if you get a direct hit to the engine, even if it's a hit it will cause massive problems for the pilot as the Zero's engine is a fragile thing that can easily be annoyed. Turn fighting is out of the question as Spitfires, Yak-3's, even the captured Japanese planes will struggle at trying to keep a solid turn fight with this plane due to the engine upgrades and improved turn radius at the expense of its roll rate which will not affect you heavily as you will be mainly turning all day long.
  
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* In simulator, the A6M Zero is overall a great plane to fly. Its advantages include the extremely smooth handling, impressive turn rate, low stall speed, the ability to not enter spins in extreme maneuvers, decent rear visibility and increased cannon ammo capacity. It is able to pull really tight turns or barrel rolls without losing control or going into a spin, allowing the player to use this stability to their advantage. Its disadvantage, however, are the fragile protection, wing mounted guns, and the cockpit scattered with frames. Although not thick, these frames can still be obstructions in a fight. Also the gunsight is small and mounted very low, resulting in inadequate visibility over the nose. This can limit the player's ability to see the target in a turn fight since to lead the target, the player must cut inside its turn, meaning the nose will now block the target. The A6M can perform dogfighting, some ground pounding and some intercepting.
+
* In Simulator, the A6M Zero is overall a great plane to fly. Its advantages include the extremely smooth handling, impressive turn rate, low stall speed, the ability to not enter spins in extreme manoeuvres, decent rear visibility, and increased cannon ammo capacity. It is able to pull really tight turns or barrel rolls without losing control or going into a spin, allowing the player to use this stability to their advantage. Its disadvantages, however, are the fragile protection, wing-mounted guns, and the cockpit scattered with frames. Although not thick, these frames can still be obstructions in a fight. Also the gunsight is small and mounted very low, resulting in inadequate visibility over the nose. This can limit the player's ability to see the target in a turn fight since to lead the target, the player must cut inside its turn, meaning the nose will now block the target. The A6M can perform dogfighting, some ground pounding and some intercepting.
  
−
* You can bring the minimum amount of fuel (29 minutes) since this model of the Zero only has a 100-round drum per cannon, as a result you might need to constantly return to airfield to reload so there is no need to bring more fuel. Set the convergence to 150-300m. When taking off, the A6M will shift severely to the left so it is best to set separate keybind for left and right brakes to counter the torque.
+
* You can bring the minimum amount of fuel (29 minutes) since this model of the Zero only has a 100-round drum per cannon, as a result you might need to constantly return to airfield to reload so there is no need to bring more fuel. Set the convergence to 150-300 m. When taking off, the A6M will shift severely to the left so it is best to set separate keybind for left and right brakes to counter the torque.
−
* For dogfighting, it is better to engage with an altitude advantage so climb to around 2500m. Track the opponent using lead or pure pursuit, as with lag pursuit you will eventually end up at the 6'o clock of the target aircraft whose fuselage will soak up most of your MG bullets, and your wing mounted cannons will become really awkward to aim. With the amazing stableness the aim should be easy. Target their wings or the nose and avoid the back half of the fuselage as there is usually nothing in there. You can turn with most planes with your combat / takeoff flaps deployed. Note that it is best to fire in 10-round / one-second bursts to avoid wasting cannon rounds. Once the cannons are out, the leftover 7.7mm MGs can only effectively damage single engine fighters.
+
* For dogfighting, it is better to engage with an altitude advantage so climb to around 2,500 m. Track the opponent using lead or pure pursuit, as with lag pursuit you will eventually end up at the 6'o clock of the target aircraft whose fuselage will soak up most of your MG bullets, and your wing mounted cannons will become really awkward to aim. With the amazing stableness the aim should be easy. Target their wings or nose and avoid the back half of the fuselage as there is usually nothing in there. You can turn with most planes with your combat/takeoff flaps deployed. Note that it is best to fire in 10-round/one-second bursts to avoid wasting cannon rounds. Once the cannons are out, the leftover 7.7 mm MGs can only effectively damage single engine fighters.
  
−
* For ground pounding with bombs, look for tanks and pillboxes. First you need some separation between you and the target so you have enough time to lineup the drop. Dive at the target at a rather shallow angle, and release the 60 kg bombs when you are very close, with the target below the gunsight and filling up around half of it. If you only use the MGs, your targets are trucks, AAA and howitzers. Dive at it and stabilise the plane so the gunsight stays overall still at the target. Then, once the target fills out around 1/6 of the gunsight, open fire. If your aim is accurate you can destroy one target in a single pass. However, it is very recommended to set keybind for firing MG only as you can definitely not waste the valuable cannon rounds. Save them for any unexpected dogfights.
+
* For ground pounding with bombs, look for tanks and pillboxes. First you need some separation between you and the target so you have enough time to line-up the drop. Dive at the target at a rather shallow angle, and release the 60 kg bombs when you are very close, with the target below the gunsight and filling up around half of it. If you only use the MGs, your targets are trucks, AAA and howitzers. Dive at it and stabilise the plane so the gunsight stays overall still at the target. Then, once the target fills out around 1/6 of the gunsight, open fire. If your aim is accurate you can destroy one target in a single pass. However, it is very recommended to set keybind for firing MG only as you can definitely not waste the valuable cannon rounds. Save them for any unexpected dogfights.
  
−
* Landing is easy thanks to the low stall speed and lovely handling. Line up and approach the airstrip at treetop, decrease speed to at most 210 kph and deploy combat, takeoff and landing flaps in order. Further decelerate so the touchdown speed is no more than 180 kph to avoid bouncing up. Keep braking until the plane reaches a full stop, you don't have to worry about the nose dipping down and causing a propeller strike.
+
* Landing is easy thanks to the low stall speed and lovely handling. Line up and approach the airstrip at treetop, decrease speed to at most 210 km/h and deploy combat, takeoff and landing flaps in order. Further decelerate so the touchdown speed is no more than 180 km/h to avoid bouncing up. Keep braking until the plane reaches a full stop, you don't have to worry about the nose dipping down and causing a propeller strike.
  
 
'''Enemies worth noting:'''
 
'''Enemies worth noting:'''
  
−
* P-61: this plane is one tough nut to crack, especially in simulator. It is quite fast, packs a fatal punch, has a searching radar, and a deadly turret on top. The turret consists of 4x 12.7mm M2 MG that covers the upper half of the plane, and most P-61 players tend to fly low or get you into their upper half to target you with the turret. Avoid being above them at all costs, utilise the Zero's maneuverbility and sneak under their belly. Its appearance resembles a P-38: a center fuselage with two engine nacelles extending backwards and forming the twin tail like a frame, you will know it is a Black Widow and not a Lightning when red tracer bullets start shooting out from it.
+
* P-61: this plane is one tough nut to crack. It is quite fast, packs a fatal punch, has a searching radar, and a deadly turret on top. The turret consists of 4 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns that cover the upper half of the plane, and most P-61 players tend to fly low or get you into their upper half to target you with the turret. Avoid being above them at all costs, utilise the Zero's manoeuvrability and sneak under their belly. Its appearance resembles a P-38: a center fuselage with two engine nacelles extending backwards and forming the twin tail like a frame, you will know it is a Black Widow and not a Lightning when red tracer bullets start shooting out from it.
 
* I-16: the late I-16s are equipped with ShVAK cannons that can be pretty dangerous to your fragile airframe. They can turn equally well as the Zero, have superior roll rate but the stability is so terrible that as soon as they pull a little more on the stick, they will enter spins. Therefore it is quite easy to counter them: engage a turnfight with them and turn tighter and tighter, or do a few barrel rolls. They will quickly lose control and start spinning and it is quite hard to recover. Then simply get some separation, turn around and put some solid shots into them. They have an I-15's short and fat fuselage, a flat radial engine and triangular stabilisers located right after the low-mounted mono wings, all covered in olive green paint.
 
* I-16: the late I-16s are equipped with ShVAK cannons that can be pretty dangerous to your fragile airframe. They can turn equally well as the Zero, have superior roll rate but the stability is so terrible that as soon as they pull a little more on the stick, they will enter spins. Therefore it is quite easy to counter them: engage a turnfight with them and turn tighter and tighter, or do a few barrel rolls. They will quickly lose control and start spinning and it is quite hard to recover. Then simply get some separation, turn around and put some solid shots into them. They have an I-15's short and fat fuselage, a flat radial engine and triangular stabilisers located right after the low-mounted mono wings, all covered in olive green paint.
  
−
* F4U, F6F, P-47, etc: these planes are a huge threat to the late Zeros as they have superior firepower, speed, dive acceleration and robust airframes. Their 12.7mm MGs can easily tear you apart or simply pilot-snipe you even when they are far away, as the M2 Brownings have great velocity and trajectory. They can also set you aflame easily. Start a turnfight like in AB / RB whenever you see these stubby planes. The F4U has a long cylindrical nose and the iconic inverted gull wing. The P-47 has a huge, jug-like fuselage, bubble canopy and elliptical trailing edge that usually have invasion stripes painted on them. The F6F, on the other hand, might get confused with other planes as it looks rather average.
+
* F4U, F6F, P-47, etc: these planes are a huge threat to the late Zeros as they have superior firepower, speed, dive acceleration and robust airframes. Their 12.7 mm MGs can easily tear you apart or simply pilot-snipe you even when they are far away, as the M2 Brownings have great velocity and trajectory. They can also set you aflame easily. Start a turnfight whenever you see these stubby planes. The F4U has a long cylindrical nose and the iconic inverted gull wing. The P-47 has a huge, jug-like fuselage, bubble canopy and elliptical trailing edge that usually have invasion stripes painted on them. The F6F, on the other hand, might get confused with other planes as it looks rather average.
  
 
=== Manual Engine Control ===
 
=== Manual Engine Control ===
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|-
 
|-
 
| Controllable || Controllable<br>Not auto controlled || Controllable<br>Not auto controlled || Controllable<br>Not auto controlled || Separate || Controllable<br>2 gears || Not controllable
 
| Controllable || Controllable<br>Not auto controlled || Controllable<br>Not auto controlled || Controllable<br>Not auto controlled || Separate || Controllable<br>2 gears || Not controllable
−
|-
 
−
|}
 
−
 
−
=== Modules ===
 
−
{| class="wikitable"
 
−
! Tier
 
−
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
 
−
! Survivability
 
−
! colspan="2" | Weaponry
 
−
|-
 
−
| I
 
−
| Fuselage repair
 
−
| Radiator
 
−
|
 
−
| Offensive 7 mm
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
| II
 
−
|
 
−
| Compressor
 
−
| Airframe
 
−
| New 7 mm MGs
 
−
| 9 in (mod30)
 
−
|-
 
−
| III
 
−
| Wings repair
 
−
| Engine
 
−
|
 
−
| Offensive 20 mm
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
| IV
 
−
|
 
−
| Engine injection
 
−
| Cover
 
−
| New 20 mm cannons
 
−
|
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
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'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
  
−
* Rounded wing tips of the A6M2 provide better turn-rate
+
* '''A'''6M for Carrier-based fighter:
 +
** Strictly air-to-air role
 +
*** Gets 2 x [[Navy Type 97 Number 6 (60 kg)|Type 97 No.6 Land Bomb (60 kg)]], but strongly ill-advised for air battles
 +
** Decent cannon armament
 +
** Extremely manoeuvrable
 +
*** Excellent turn rate
 +
*** Excellent roll rate
 +
** Very short takeoff distance
 +
 
 +
* Common Navy plane construction:
 +
** Excellent manoeuvrability
 +
** Nose-mounted armament
 +
** Small radiator drag
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
  
−
* Worse roll rate than A6M3
+
* '''A'''6M for Carrier-based fighter:
 +
** Strictly air-to-air role
 +
** Limited ammo
 +
** Slow
 +
** Low dive speed, and easily compressed in a dive
 +
 
 +
* Common Navy plane construction:
 +
** Poor MG offensive armament: [[Type 97 navy (7.7 mm)|7.7 mm Type 97 MG]]
 +
** Poor cannon offensive armament: [[Type 99 Model 1 (20 mm)|20 mm Type 99 Model 1 cannon]]
 +
*** Very low muzzle velocity
 +
** Fragile, little armour, and no self-sealing fuel tanks
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
 
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
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The A6M3 Reisen mod. 22 was actually developed before the A6M3 Reisen. Due to the demand for a squared wing version the aircraft's production was delayed. The IJNAF needed a solution to the loss of range by the A6M3 Reisen. The Sakae 21 engine was kept and the aircraft's fuel was increased by 24 gallons. The mod. 22 had the greatest range of the variants. It arrived in time for Guadalcanal in August of 1942.
+
The A6M3 Reisen mod. 22 was actually developed before the A6M3 Reisen. Due to the demand for a squared wing version the aircraft's production was delayed. The IJNAS needed a solution to the loss of range by the A6M3 Reisen. The Sakae 21 engine was kept and the aircraft's fuel was increased by 24 gallons. The mod. 22 had the greatest range of the variants. It arrived in time for Guadalcanal in August of 1942.
  
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=== In-game description ===
+
{{break}}
 +
{{Navigation-Start|{{Annotation|Archive of the in-game description|An archive of the historical description of the vehicle that was presented in-game prior to Update 1.55 'Royal Armour'}}}}
 +
{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line}}
 
In April of 1942, a new A6M model fighter was launched. The main difference between the A6M3 model 32 and the A6M2 Model 21 was the new Sakae 21 engine (1130 hp), which had a two-stage supercharger making it more stable at higher altitudes and a propeller diameter of 3.05 m (150 mm greater than that of its predecessor). The engine was much heavier and longer than those used in previous models, so to prevent displacement of the centre of gravity the engine was moved closer to the cockpit and the main fuel tank's capacity was reduced from 518 to 470 litres.
 
In April of 1942, a new A6M model fighter was launched. The main difference between the A6M3 model 32 and the A6M2 Model 21 was the new Sakae 21 engine (1130 hp), which had a two-stage supercharger making it more stable at higher altitudes and a propeller diameter of 3.05 m (150 mm greater than that of its predecessor). The engine was much heavier and longer than those used in previous models, so to prevent displacement of the centre of gravity the engine was moved closer to the cockpit and the main fuel tank's capacity was reduced from 518 to 470 litres.
  
−
Also, the folding wingtips were removed, which increased the plane's dive speed limit but reduced its manoeuvrability and range. The latter side effect was particularly important as it made it impossible to use the A6M3 effectively during the 1942 campaign in the Solomon Islands. The 20-mm guns were replaced by Type 99-I model 3s, and their ammunition was increased to 100 rounds. Also, the aircraft could carry two 60-kg bombs.
+
Also, the folding wingtips were removed, which increased the plane's dive speed limit but reduced its manoeuvrability and range. The latter side effect was particularly important as it made it impossible to use the A6M3 effectively during the 1942 campaign in the Solomon Islands. The 20 mm guns were replaced by Type 99-I model 3s, and their ammunition was increased to 100 rounds. Also, the aircraft could carry two 60 kg bombs.
  
 
A total of 343 A6M3 Model 32s were made for the Japanese navy.
 
A total of 343 A6M3 Model 32s were made for the Japanese navy.
 +
{{Navigation-End}}
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
 
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
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Skin and Camouflages for the [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicleCountry=japan&vehicleType=aircraft&vehicleClass=fighter&vehicle=a6m3_mod22_zero A6M3 mod. 22] in Warthunder Live.
+
 
 +
;Skins
 +
 
 +
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=a6m3_mod22_zero Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
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* ''reference to the series of the aircraft;''
 
* ''reference to the series of the aircraft;''
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
−
 
−
;Related development
 
−
 
−
* [[Template:AirManufacturer Mitsubishi|Mitsubishi]] [[A6M3|A6M3 mod.32]] <small>(previous model)</small>
 
−
* [[Template:AirManufacturer Mitsubishi|Mitsubishi]] [[A6M3 mod. 22Ko|A6M3a mod.22A]] <small>(following model)</small>
 
  
 
;Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
 
;Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
  
−
* Brewster [[F2A (Family)|F2A]] Buffalo
 
−
* Vought [[F4U (Family)|F4U]] Corsair
 
 
* Grumman [[F4F (Family)|F4F]] Wildcat
 
* Grumman [[F4F (Family)|F4F]] Wildcat
−
* Grumman [[F6F (Family)|F6F]] Hellcat
+
* [[Template:AirManufacturer Nakajima|Nakajima]] [[Ki-43 (Family)|Ki-43]] Hayabusa (▃ Oscar)
−
* Reggiane [[Re.2001 (Family)|Re.2001]]
+
* Supermarine [[Spitfire (Family)|Spitfire]]
−
* [[IAR-81C|IAR-81]]
+
* Hawker [[Hurricane (Family)|Hurricane]]
−
* Macchi [[C.202 (Family)|C.202]]
 
−
* [[Template:AirManufacturer Nakajima|Nakajima]] [[Ki-43 (Family)|Ki-43]] Hayabusa (▃Oscar)
 
−
* Supermarine [[Spitfire (Family)|Seafire]]
 
−
* Hawker [[Hurricane (Family)|Sea Hurricane]]
 
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
 
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
−
* ''encyclopedia page on the aircraft;''
 
 
* ''other literature.'' -->
 
* ''other literature.'' -->
  
 +
* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/295062-mitsubishi-a6m3-mod-22/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]
 
* [[Wikipedia:Mitsubishi_A6M_Zero#A6M3_Type_0_Model_22|[Wikipedia] A6M3 Type 0 Model 22]]
 
* [[Wikipedia:Mitsubishi_A6M_Zero#A6M3_Type_0_Model_22|[Wikipedia] A6M3 Type 0 Model 22]]
  
 
{{AirManufacturer Mitsubishi}}
 
{{AirManufacturer Mitsubishi}}
 
{{Japan fighters}}
 
{{Japan fighters}}

Latest revision as of 10:15, 12 April 2024

Introducing Wiki 3.0
This page is about the Japanese fighter A6M3 mod. 22. For other versions, see A6M (Family).
A6M3 mod. 22
a6m3_mod22_zero.png
GarageImage A6M3 mod. 22.jpg
ArtImage A6M3 mod. 22.jpg
A6M3 mod. 22
Japan flag.png Japan
III Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
4.3 4.3 4.0
Class:
Research:13 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:76 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png

Description

The A6M3 mod. 22, designated as the Type 0 Carrier-based Fighter Model 22 (零式艦上戦闘機二二型), was a modification of the A6M3 mod. 32 that aimed to address its shortcomings. It restored the wings of the A6M2 mod. 21, which had full-sized ailerons and folding wing tips, and compensated for the reduced main fuel tank size by adding extra fuel tanks to the outer wings. This improved its long-range performance. The 20 mm cannon 100-round drum magazines and the upgraded engine from the Model 32 were kept, as the Sakae 21 became the standard engine for the A6M series. The Model 22 entered service in late 1942 and participated in the Solomon Islands campaign and the New Guinea campaign. It had an advantage over the Allied fighters such as the P-40 Warhawk and the F4F Wildcat, but faced stiff competition from the newer F6F Hellcat and the P-38 Lightning. A total of 560 A6M3 Model 22s were produced between December 1942 and summer of 1943, before being replaced by the A6M5 Model 52.

It has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27. Returning back to the norm of the A6M lineage, it again excels at manoeuvrability, flying once more like the A6M2 Model 11 and Model 21 with a slightly stronger engine with greater high-altitude performance and larger ammo reserve for the 20 mm's, it will proportionally start facing slightly stronger opponents in the sky. It has near unprecedented manoeuvrability, and deadly but limited and low-velocity 20 mm cannons. The A6M3 can dominate any dogfight at its own or lower altitude, depending on the pilot's skill, but it can be easily outrun by faster enemies. In that case, the pilot has to decide whether to take a final shot or break off the engagement, as pursuing the enemy may expose the Zero to interception by other fighters. If faced with a Boom-N-Zoom attack, the pilot must avoid the enemy's fire by using the Zero's agility, as the plane has no armour, self-sealing fuel tanks, or robust airframe.

Nicknames
  • IJN Pilot nickname: Reisen (零戦) / Zerosen (ゼロ戦) (Abbreviation of 0 - 戦).
  • Allied reporting name: Zeke / Zero.

General info

Flight performance

Arrestor gear
Accelerates braking by grabbing the brake cable on the deck of the aircraft carrier
Max speed
at 6 000 m542 km/h
Turn time15 s
Max altitude11 050 m
EngineNakajima Sakae 21
TypeRadial
Cooling systemAir
Take-off weight3 t
Characteristics Max Speed
(km/h at 6,000 m) 		Max altitude
(metres) 		Turn time
(seconds) 		Rate of climb
(metres/second) 		Take-off run
(metres)
AB RB AB RB AB RB
Stock 522 509 11050 15.9 16.6 10.2 10.2 288
Upgraded 563 542 15.3 15.5 18.1 13.8

Details

Features
Combat flaps Take-off flaps Landing flaps Air brakes Arrestor gear
✓ ✓ ✓ X ✓
Limits
Wings (km/h) Gear (km/h) Flaps (km/h) Max Static G
Combat Take-off Landing + -
660 240 397 368 220 ~14 ~6
Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons Rudder Elevators Radiator
< 310 < 420 < 410 > 260

Survivability and armour

Crew1 person
Speed of destruction
Structural0 km/h
Gear240 km/h
  • No armour protection
  • Non-self-sealing fuel tanks

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB928 → 1 262 Sl icon.png
RB2 134 → 2 902 Sl icon.png
SB3 131 → 4 258 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications24 800 Rp icon.png
44 800 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost1 100 Ge icon.png
Crew training22 000 Sl icon.png
Experts76 000 Sl icon.png
Aces500 Ge icon.png
Research Aces320 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
60 / 150 / 310 % Sl icon.png
142 / 142 / 142 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Flight performance Survivability Weaponry
Mods aerodinamic fuse.png
Fuselage repair
Research:
1 700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 100 Sl icon.png
160 Ge icon.png
Mods radiator.png
Radiator
Research:
1 700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 100 Sl icon.png
160 Ge icon.png
Mods compressor.png
Compressor
Research:
1 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
2 500 Sl icon.png
130 Ge icon.png
Mods aerodinamic wing.png
Wings repair
Research:
1 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
2 700 Sl icon.png
140 Ge icon.png
Mods new engine.png
Engine
Research:
1 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
2 700 Sl icon.png
140 Ge icon.png
Mods metanol.png
Engine injection
Research:
2 700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 900 Sl icon.png
250 Ge icon.png
Mods armor frame.png
Airframe
Research:
1 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
2 500 Sl icon.png
130 Ge icon.png
Mods engine extinguisher.png
EFS
Research:
1 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
2 700 Sl icon.png
140 Ge icon.png
Mods armor cover.png
Cover
Research:
2 700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 900 Sl icon.png
250 Ge icon.png
Mods ammo.png
type89_belt_pack
Research:
1 700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 100 Sl icon.png
160 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods weapon.png
type97_new_gun
Research:
1 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
2 500 Sl icon.png
130 Ge icon.png
Mods pilon bomb.png
9 in (mod30)
Research:
1 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
2 500 Sl icon.png
130 Ge icon.png
Mods ammo.png
type99mk1_belt_pack
Research:
1 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
2 700 Sl icon.png
140 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods weapon.png
type99mk1_new_gun
Research:
2 700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 900 Sl icon.png
250 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Offensive armament

Weapon 12 x 20 mm Type 99 Model 1 cannon
Ammunition200 rounds
Fire rate516 shots/min
Weapon 22 x 7.7 mm Type 97 machine gun
Ammunition1 400 rounds
Fire rate900 shots/min
Main articles: Type 99 Model 1 (20 mm), Type 97 navy (7.7 mm)

The A6M3 mod. 22 is armed with:

  • 2 x 20 mm Type 99 Model 1 cannons, wing-mounted (100 rpg = 200 total)
  • 2 x 7.7 mm Type 97 navy machine guns, nose-mounted (700 rpg = 1,400 total)

Suspended armament

List of setups (1)
Setup 12 x 60 kg Navy Type 97 Number 6 ground bomb
Main article: Navy Type 97 Number 6 (60 kg)

The A6M3 mod. 22 can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

  • Without load
  • 2 x 60 kg Navy Type 97 Number 6 bombs (120 kg total)

Usage in battles

The Zeroes are pure air defence fighters. Not like the German Do 217's, or the Russian Pe-2 and 3's. The Zero is a defensive fighter and an air defence fighter in many respects, as playing aggressive will get you killed fast.

If you happen to run up against an A6M3, if the Zero wants to head you on, do not shy away and simply fire for a minimum of 1-3 seconds before diving down, rolling and legging it to Boom & Zoom him for the rest of the battle as if you get a direct hit to the engine, even if it's a hit it will cause massive problems for the pilot as the Zero's engine is a fragile thing that can easily be annoyed. Turn fighting is out of the question as Spitfires, Yak-3's, even the captured Japanese planes will struggle at trying to keep a solid turn fight with this plane due to the engine upgrades and improved turn radius at the expense of its roll rate which will not affect you heavily as you will be mainly turning all day long.

  • In Simulator, the A6M Zero is overall a great plane to fly. Its advantages include the extremely smooth handling, impressive turn rate, low stall speed, the ability to not enter spins in extreme manoeuvres, decent rear visibility, and increased cannon ammo capacity. It is able to pull really tight turns or barrel rolls without losing control or going into a spin, allowing the player to use this stability to their advantage. Its disadvantages, however, are the fragile protection, wing-mounted guns, and the cockpit scattered with frames. Although not thick, these frames can still be obstructions in a fight. Also the gunsight is small and mounted very low, resulting in inadequate visibility over the nose. This can limit the player's ability to see the target in a turn fight since to lead the target, the player must cut inside its turn, meaning the nose will now block the target. The A6M can perform dogfighting, some ground pounding and some intercepting.
  • You can bring the minimum amount of fuel (29 minutes) since this model of the Zero only has a 100-round drum per cannon, as a result you might need to constantly return to airfield to reload so there is no need to bring more fuel. Set the convergence to 150-300 m. When taking off, the A6M will shift severely to the left so it is best to set separate keybind for left and right brakes to counter the torque.
  • For dogfighting, it is better to engage with an altitude advantage so climb to around 2,500 m. Track the opponent using lead or pure pursuit, as with lag pursuit you will eventually end up at the 6'o clock of the target aircraft whose fuselage will soak up most of your MG bullets, and your wing mounted cannons will become really awkward to aim. With the amazing stableness the aim should be easy. Target their wings or nose and avoid the back half of the fuselage as there is usually nothing in there. You can turn with most planes with your combat/takeoff flaps deployed. Note that it is best to fire in 10-round/one-second bursts to avoid wasting cannon rounds. Once the cannons are out, the leftover 7.7 mm MGs can only effectively damage single engine fighters.
  • For ground pounding with bombs, look for tanks and pillboxes. First you need some separation between you and the target so you have enough time to line-up the drop. Dive at the target at a rather shallow angle, and release the 60 kg bombs when you are very close, with the target below the gunsight and filling up around half of it. If you only use the MGs, your targets are trucks, AAA and howitzers. Dive at it and stabilise the plane so the gunsight stays overall still at the target. Then, once the target fills out around 1/6 of the gunsight, open fire. If your aim is accurate you can destroy one target in a single pass. However, it is very recommended to set keybind for firing MG only as you can definitely not waste the valuable cannon rounds. Save them for any unexpected dogfights.
  • Landing is easy thanks to the low stall speed and lovely handling. Line up and approach the airstrip at treetop, decrease speed to at most 210 km/h and deploy combat, takeoff and landing flaps in order. Further decelerate so the touchdown speed is no more than 180 km/h to avoid bouncing up. Keep braking until the plane reaches a full stop, you don't have to worry about the nose dipping down and causing a propeller strike.

Enemies worth noting:

  • P-61: this plane is one tough nut to crack. It is quite fast, packs a fatal punch, has a searching radar, and a deadly turret on top. The turret consists of 4 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns that cover the upper half of the plane, and most P-61 players tend to fly low or get you into their upper half to target you with the turret. Avoid being above them at all costs, utilise the Zero's manoeuvrability and sneak under their belly. Its appearance resembles a P-38: a center fuselage with two engine nacelles extending backwards and forming the twin tail like a frame, you will know it is a Black Widow and not a Lightning when red tracer bullets start shooting out from it.
  • I-16: the late I-16s are equipped with ShVAK cannons that can be pretty dangerous to your fragile airframe. They can turn equally well as the Zero, have superior roll rate but the stability is so terrible that as soon as they pull a little more on the stick, they will enter spins. Therefore it is quite easy to counter them: engage a turnfight with them and turn tighter and tighter, or do a few barrel rolls. They will quickly lose control and start spinning and it is quite hard to recover. Then simply get some separation, turn around and put some solid shots into them. They have an I-15's short and fat fuselage, a flat radial engine and triangular stabilisers located right after the low-mounted mono wings, all covered in olive green paint.
  • F4U, F6F, P-47, etc: these planes are a huge threat to the late Zeros as they have superior firepower, speed, dive acceleration and robust airframes. Their 12.7 mm MGs can easily tear you apart or simply pilot-snipe you even when they are far away, as the M2 Brownings have great velocity and trajectory. They can also set you aflame easily. Start a turnfight whenever you see these stubby planes. The F4U has a long cylindrical nose and the iconic inverted gull wing. The P-47 has a huge, jug-like fuselage, bubble canopy and elliptical trailing edge that usually have invasion stripes painted on them. The F6F, on the other hand, might get confused with other planes as it looks rather average.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer Pitch Radiator Supercharger Turbocharger
Oil Water Type
Controllable Controllable
Not auto controlled 		Controllable
Not auto controlled 		Controllable
Not auto controlled 		Separate Controllable
2 gears 		Not controllable

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • A6M for Carrier-based fighter:
    • Strictly air-to-air role
    • Decent cannon armament
    • Extremely manoeuvrable
      • Excellent turn rate
      • Excellent roll rate
    • Very short takeoff distance
  • Common Navy plane construction:
    • Excellent manoeuvrability
    • Nose-mounted armament
    • Small radiator drag

Cons:

  • A6M for Carrier-based fighter:
    • Strictly air-to-air role
    • Limited ammo
    • Slow
    • Low dive speed, and easily compressed in a dive

History

The A6M3 Reisen mod. 22 was actually developed before the A6M3 Reisen. Due to the demand for a squared wing version the aircraft's production was delayed. The IJNAS needed a solution to the loss of range by the A6M3 Reisen. The Sakae 21 engine was kept and the aircraft's fuel was increased by 24 gallons. The mod. 22 had the greatest range of the variants. It arrived in time for Guadalcanal in August of 1942.


Archive of the in-game description

In April of 1942, a new A6M model fighter was launched. The main difference between the A6M3 model 32 and the A6M2 Model 21 was the new Sakae 21 engine (1130 hp), which had a two-stage supercharger making it more stable at higher altitudes and a propeller diameter of 3.05 m (150 mm greater than that of its predecessor). The engine was much heavier and longer than those used in previous models, so to prevent displacement of the centre of gravity the engine was moved closer to the cockpit and the main fuel tank's capacity was reduced from 518 to 470 litres.

Also, the folding wingtips were removed, which increased the plane's dive speed limit but reduced its manoeuvrability and range. The latter side effect was particularly important as it made it impossible to use the A6M3 effectively during the 1942 campaign in the Solomon Islands. The 20 mm guns were replaced by Type 99-I model 3s, and their ammunition was increased to 100 rounds. Also, the aircraft could carry two 60 kg bombs.

A total of 343 A6M3 Model 32s were made for the Japanese navy.


Media

Skins

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

External links


Mitsubishi Company (三菱商会)
Fighters  A5M4 · Hagiri's A5M4
  A6M2 mod. 11 · A6M2 · A6M3 · A6M3 mod. 22 · A6M3 mod. 22Ko · A6M5 · A6M5 Ko · A6M5 otsu · A6M5 Hei · A6M6c
  A7M1 (NK9H) · A7M2
  J2M2 · J2M3 · J2M4 Kai · J2M5 · J2M5 (30 mm)
Hydroplanes  F1M2
Interceptors  Ki-83 · Ki-109
Bombers  G4M1
  Ki-21-Ia · Ki-21-I hei · Ki-67-I Ko · Ki-67-I otsu
Jet Fighters  Ki-200
Captured  ▃A6M2 · ␗A6M2
See also  Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (Post-War)

Japan fighters
Navy 
Carrier-based fighter 
A5M  A5M4 · Hagiri's A5M4
A6M  A6M2 mod. 11 · A6M2 · A6M3 · A6M3 mod. 22 · A6M3 mod. 22Ko · A6M5 · A6M5 Ko · A6M5 otsu · A6M5 Hei · A6M6c
A7He  A7He1*
A7M  A7M1 (NK9H) · A7M2
Land-based Fighter 
J2M  J2M2 · J2M3 · J2M4 Kai · J2M5 · J2M5 (30 mm)
J6K  J6K1
J7W  J7W1
N1K-J  N1K1-Ja · N1K2-J · N1K2-Ja
Fighter seaplane 
N1K  N1K1
A6M-N  A6M2-N
Army 
Ki-10  Ki-10-I · Ki-10-I C · Ki-10-II · Ki-10-II C
Ki-27  Ki-27 otsu · Ki-27 otsu Tachiarai
Ki-43  Ki-43-I · Ki-43-II · Ki-43-III otsu
Ki-44  Ki-44-I · Ki-44-I 34 · Ki-44-II otsu · Ki-44-II hei
Ki-61  Ki-61-I ko · Ki-61-I otsu · Ki-61-I hei · Tada's Ki-61-I hei · Ki-61-I tei · Ki-61-II Otsu Kai
Ki-84  Ki-84 ko · Ki-84 otsu · Ki-84 hei
Ki-87  Ki-87
Ki-94  Ki-94-II
Ki-100  Ki-100 · Ki-100-II
Other countries  ▅F4U-1A · ▅P-51C-11-NT · ▅Bf 109 E-7 · ▅Fw 190 A-5
  *Imported designation of the He 112 (A6M was in development - A7M would take A7 designation after the cancelation of the A7He)

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