National origin:- Japan |
Role:- Fighter |
Manufacturer:- Mitsubishi Heavy Industries |
First flight:- 1 April 1939 |
Introduction:- 1 July 1940 |
Retired:- 1945 (Japan) |
Primary users:- Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service, Chinese Nationalist Air Force |
Produced between 1940–1945:- 10,939 |
Variants:- Nakajima A6M2-N |
イメージをクリックする事で拡大イメージが表示されます |
機種記号 機名 スキン数 更新 追加 |
A6M2 零式艦上戦闘機11型 |
A6M2-21 零式艦上戦闘機21型 |
A6M2-N 2式水上戦闘機 予定 |
A6M3 零式艦上戦闘機32型 |
A6M5 零式艦上戦闘機52型 |
A6M5a 零式艦上戦闘機52甲型 |
A6M5b 零式艦上戦闘機52乙型 |
A6M5c 零式艦上戦闘機 丙型 予定 |
A6M7 Model62 零式艦上戦闘機 型 予定 |
A6M7 Model63 零式艦上戦闘機 型 予定 |
In early combat operations, the Zero gained a legendary reputation as a dogfighter, achieving the outstanding kill ratio of 12 to 1, but by mid-1942 a combination of new tactics and the introduction of better equipment enabled the Allied pilots to engage the Zero on generally equal terms. By 1943, inherent design weaknesses and the failure to develop more powerful aircraft engines meant that the Zero became less effective against newer Allied fighters, which possessed greater firepower, armor, and speed, and approached the Zero's maneuverability. Although the Mitsubishi A6M was outdated by 1944, design delays and production difficulties of newer Japanese aircraft types meant that it continued to serve in a front line role until the end of the war. During the final year of the War in the Pacific, the Zero was also adapted for use in kamikaze operations. During the course of the war, Japan produced more Zeros than any other model of combat aircraft.