CODENAME: "Zeke"
YEAR OF DESIGN: 1939
LENGTH: 29 feet 9 inches
WINGSPAN: 39 feet 4 inches
MAX AIRSPEED: 331 MPH
CEILING: 33,000 feet
TYPICAL ARMAMENT
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2 x 7.7mm machine guns [500 rounds each]
2x 20mm wing-mounted cannons [60 rounds each]
2x 132-pound Bombs
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The Mitsubishi A6M Fighter Plane literally roared onto the scene during the Pearl Harbor attacks and throughout early 1942, collecting numerous victories in the air. It's chief enemies were the American F4F Wildcat, an outdated (and much slower) fighting plane that lacked the ability to climb quickly or the high ceiling of the A6M. However, what it lacked in speed, the F4F gained in armor. The same was true for Great Britain's Spitfires, which were used widely in the Australia and Southeast Asia campaigns.
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This fast speed, matched with the wing-mounted cannons and battle-tested pilots gave Japan the decisive edge throughout the first half of the War. It wasn't until the Americans introduced the faster, stronger, and more agile F6F Hellcat that the tides of war would truly change in the battle for air supremacy.
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