Information about Mitsubishi A5m

A5M
An A5M Claude with arrestor hook and drop tank
Type	Carrier-based Fighter
Manufacturer	Mitsubishi
Maiden flight	February 4, 1935
Introduced	1937
Primary user	Japanese Navy
Number built	1,094

The Mitsubishi A5M was the world's first monoplane shipboard fighter and the direct ancestor of the famous Mitsubishi A6M 'Zero'. The Allied code-name was Claude; the Japanese Navy designation was "Type 96 carrier-based fighter" (九六式艦上戦闘機).

Designed to a 1934 specification, the plane first flew on February 4, 1935. It exceeded most expectations, in particular top speed (215 mph (346 km/h) was specified, 280 mph (450 km/h) attained). After some work to improve stability, the aircraft entered service in early 1937, soon seeing action in pitched aerial battles at the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War, including air-to-air battles with the Chinese Air Force's Boeing P-26C Model 281 "Peashooters" in what was the world's first-ever aerial dogfighting and kills between monoplane fighters built of mostly metal.

There, they proved themselves the better of every aircraft they encountered, though the Mitsubishi team continued to improve the A5M, working through versions until the final A5M5, which added a ventral drop-tank for extended range.

A trainer version, the A5M4-K was also built (103 examples). This had twin cockpits and continued in use for fighter training long after the regular A5M left front-line service.

Almost all A5Ms had open cockpits; a closed cockpit was tried, but found little favor among Navy aviators. All had fixed, non-retractable undercarriage with (except for the trainers) wheel spats (fairings).

Some A5Ms were still in service at the beginning of World War II. United States intelligence sources believed the A5M was still the primary Navy fighter, but they had already been replaced by the A6M 'Zero' on first-line aircraft carriers and with the Tainan Air Group. Other Japanese carriers and air groups continued to use the A5M until production of the 'Zero' caught up with demand.

Most remaining airframes were used for kamikaze attacks in the closing months of the war.

Versions

• Ka-14: Six prototypes with various engines and design modifications.
• A5M1 Navy carrier-based fighter, Model 1 : first production model with 850 hp Kotobuki 2 KAI I engine.
• A5M2/2a, Model 21: More powerful engine.
• A5M2b, Model 22: First production examples with NACA cowling and 640 hp Kotobuki 3 engine.
• A5M3a: Prototypes with 601 hp Hispano-Suiza 12 Xcrs engine.
• A5M4, Model 24 (ex-Model 4): The A5M2b with different engine, closed cockpit, additional detachable fuel tank. The last production models (Model 34) with Kotobuki 41 KAI engine.
• A5M1-A5M4, 780 constructed by Mitsubishi. 39 constructed by Watanabe, 161 manufactured by Naval Ohmura Arsenal.
• A5M4-K: Two seat trainer version of A5M4, 103 constructed by Naval Ohmura Arsenal.
• Ki-18: single prototype land-based version for IJAAF, based on the A5M. 550 hp Kotobuki 5 engine.
• Ki-33: two prototypes, a development of Ki-18 with a different engine, and closed cockpit.

Total Production (all versions): 1,094

Specifications (Mitsubishi A5M)

General characteristics

* Crew: One

• Length: 7.6 m (24 ft 10 in)* Wingspan: 11.0 m (36 ft 1 in)
• Height: 3.3 m (10 ft 9 in)* Wing area: 17.8 m² (191.6 ft²)* Empty weight: 1,216 kg (2,681 lb)* Loaded weight: 1,676 kg (3,694 lb)* Powerplant: 1 Nakajima Kotobuki 41 9-cylinder radial engine, 585 kW (785 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 435 km/h (270 mph) * Range: 1,200 km (746 mi)* Service ceiling: 9,800 m (32,150 ft)* Rate of climb: m/s (ft/min)* Wing loading: 93.7 kg/m² (19.2 lb/ft²)* Power/mass: 316 W/kg (0.192 hp/lb)

Armament

References

• Francillon, R. Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. Naval Institute Press, 1970.

Related content

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Polikarpov I-16 - P-26 Peashooter

Designation sequence

A2N - A3N - A4N - A5M - A6M - A7M

Related lists

List of military aircraft of Japan - List of fighter aircraft

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Mitsubishi Group
三菱グループ

Public, keiretsu (traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange)
Founded 1870
Headquarters Japan

Industry Conglomerate

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Type Fighter
Manufacturer Mitsubishi
Maiden flight 1 April 1939
Introduction July 1940
Retired 1945 (Japan)
Produced 1940-1945
Number built 11,000
Variants Nakajima A6M2-N

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19th century - 20th century - 21st century
1900s  1910s  1920s  - 1930s -  1940s  1950s  1960s
1931 1932 1933 - 1934 - 1935 1936 1937

Year 1934 (MCMXXXIV
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19th century - 20th century - 21st century
1890s  1900s  1910s  - 1920s -  1930s  1940s  1950s
1926 1927 1928 - 1929 - 1930 1931 1932

Year 1937 (MCMXXXVII
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This page contains Chinese text.
Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Chinese characters.

Second Sino-Japanese War
Part of World War II

Map showing the extent of Japanese control in 1940.
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Manufacturer Boeing
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Manufacturer Boeing
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Type Fighter
Manufacturer Mitsubishi
Maiden flight 1 April 1939
Introduction July 1940
Retired 1945 (Japan)
Produced 1940-1945
Number built 11,000
Variants Nakajima A6M2-N

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