A6M2 mod. 11

A6M2 mod. 11

N1K1

A6M2

A6M2 mod. 11

N1K1

A6M2

Japan

II Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
3.3	3.7	3.3

Class:

Fighter

Research:9 200

Purchase:16 000

Show in game

This page is about the Japanese fighter A6M2 mod. 11. For other uses, see A6M (Family).

Description

The A6M2 mod. 11 is a rank II Japanese fighter with a battle rating of 3.3 (AB/SB) and 3.7 (RB). This aircraft was introduced in Update 1.39.

The "Zero" is almost the ideal dog-fighter. Very good turn times and 2 x 20 mm cannons make this aircraft a frightening foe. Use your superior turn time and better overall manoeuvrability to get on the tail of the enemy. Be mindful of the low ammo count. Historically, as well as in the game, the A6M series was stripped of all armour to lighten the aircraft (achieving its amazing manoeuvrability). This means that your pilot is easily sniped and your fuel tanks, which are not protected, catch on fire very easily.

Although this aircraft can carry bombs, it makes you an easy target and is really not worth the added weight in realistic or simulator battles. It is slower compared to most of the opposition, thus be mindful of what is around you.

Landing and runway manoeuvrability is good, but with no tail hook, you can find your self careening off the end of carriers. Landing on a carrier with this land-based version requires a careful hand. With an approach speed of 120 km/h (90 mph), landing flaps and gear down approach a moving carrier from behind. When setting down on the flight deck immediately pull up the flaps, push the brake and pull up with the elevator (past the stall speed of 90 km/h (60 mph)).

General info

Flight Performance

Characteristics
Stock
Max Speed (km/h at 4,400 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
491	476	10300	17.7	18.2	10.1	10.1	175
Upgraded
Max Speed (km/h at 4,400 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
531	510	10300	16.7	17.0	17.5	13.3	175

Details

Features
Combat flaps	Take-off flaps	Landing flaps	Air brakes	Arrestor gear
✓	✓	✓	X	X

Limits
Wing-break speed (km/h)	Gear limit (km/h)	Combat flaps (km/h)	Max Static G
			+	-
		510	~14	~7

Optimal velocities
Ailerons (km/h)	Rudder (km/h)	Elevators (km/h)	Radiator (km/h)
< 270	< 420	< 410	> 324

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
3,400 m	950 hp	1,075 hp

Survivability and 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.

Armaments

Offensive armament

The A6M2 mod. 11 is armed with:

• 2 x 20 mm Type 99 Model 1 navy cannons, wing-mounted (60 rpg = 120 total)
• 2 x 7.7 mm Type 97 navy machine guns, nose-mounted (680 rpg = 1,360 total)

Suspended armament

The A6M2 mod. 11 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

Describe the tactics of playing in an aircraft, the features of using vehicles in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).

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	Not controllable 1 gear	Not controllable

Modules

Tier	Flight performance		Survivability	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

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Aside from Biplanes (and the Ki-27), has the best turn time and manoeuvrability
• Low stall speed
• Powerful cannons
• Small target
• Air spawn on sea maps

Cons:

• Moderately slow
• No armour or pilot protection (just the metal shell)
• A lot of bars in the cockpit
• No tail hook. Later A6Ms fix this
• Not very good in dives
• Guns easily overheat
• Fires extremely likely. Most common vehicle destruction is from being set alight and burning down
• Low cannon ammunition count

History

The A6M2 mod. 11 was the third prototype to be built. It was powered by a 950 hp Nakajima Sakae engine. Production started in 1939 and a total of 64 were built. These aircraft did see combat in China.

Encyclopedia info

At its launch, the A6M2 model 11 knew no equal.

This single-seater carrier-based fighter was designed to replace the ageing A5M. To reduce its weight, duralumin was widely used, and its propeller was made of a lightweight aluminium alloy. The A6M2 did not have high survivability due to its lack of armour and self-sealing fuel tanks, but in the first half of World War II, it had a considerable advantage in manoeuvrability and speed when compared to the Allies (which had nothing to oppose the Zero until the arrival of aircraft such as the F4U and F6F).

The first prototype of this series, the A6M1, first flew on April 1, 1939. During the test, a more powerful engine was proposed, and the Mitsubishi Zuisei 13 (780 hp) was replaced with the Nakajima Sakae 12 (940 hp). After a successful test flight, the new engine was adopted for serial production and the plane was designated the A6M2 Model 11. Its main drawback was that it could not be used on aircraft carriers due to its large wingspan, which was not designed for carrier-based operations. To circumvent this limitation, the A6M2 model 21 was designed with folding 500 mm wing panels.

In 1942 the American Military discovered a crash landed A6M2 on the Akutan Island in Alaska. The plane was shot, which severed the oil return line. Despite the leak, pilot Tadayoshi Koga maintained function of the engine until his crash landing. Unfortunately for Koga, he unknowingly touched down in a marsh, which caused his landing gear to sink into the mud flipping the plane and killing him. Koga landed on that island because there was a Japanese Submarine on standby to safely secure any downed Japanese pilots just off the coast.

The plane was recovered by the US Military, and was the third A6M2 brought to the US for testing. The priors both being damaged beyond repair and were not air worthy; however, Koga's plane was in miraculous condition allowing it to fly with some minor repairs. The flying of Koga's plane showed the US military that this plane had flaws. Notably, the plane was not as fast as they once thought and the plane could not roll to the right due to its light weight frame and high torque engine. These discoveries brought new tactics to the Allied Pilots in the Pacific and cause the Un-Challenged reign of the A6M2 to slowly come to a halt.

A total of 740 A6M2 model 21s were built in Mitsubishi plants; 326 were built in Nakajima plants.

Media

Skin and Camouflages for the A6M2 mod. 11 in Warthunder Live.

See also

Related development

• Nakajima A6M2-N (floatplane refit)
• Mitsubishi A6M2 (following model)

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Brewster F2A Buffalo
• Vought F4U Corsair
• Grumman F4F Wildcat
• Grumman F6F Hellcat
• Reggiane Re.2001
• IAR-81
• Macchi C.202
• Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa (▃Oscar)
• Supermarine Seafire
• Hawker Sea Hurricane

External links

• [Wikipedia] A6M2a Type 0 Model 11

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)