Mitsubishi A6M Reisen (Zero)

 

The notorious and fearsome A6M Reisen is better known in the annals of history, and in the minds of the pilots who faced it, as the Zero.
The A6M was a fighter conceived, “specs-first” by the Japanese Navy in 1937. The plane they wanted was to be a carrier- based, highly maneuverable, long range fighter that was capable of defeating heavier land-based fighters toe-to-toe.
Only Jiro Horoshiki of the Mitsubishi company was able to produce a plane that fit the specifications required, and in 1939 the first prototype was created. The A6M was a very clean and aerodynamic airframe even with its bulky radial engine. Its retractable landing gear was set widely for easier landings on carriers at sea. It was also well armed for its fighter role with two machine guns and two cannons. The prototype A6Ms were found to have exemplary turning and climbing ability and so the A6M was put into production in 1940. 1940 happened to be the Japanese year 5700 and so it was known as the Type 0 and thus the name Reisen or Zero.
A test-squadron of 30 Zeroes was sent to China in summer of 1940. The Zero bested all of its competition with ease. Next, the A6M was at the forefront on December 7th, 1941 during the attack on Pearl Harbour. Over the next 6 months the Zero confounded American pilots with its superior maneuverability and its highly trained pilots causing heavy losses to the Americans. After the Battle of Midway however, the Zero had lost its lustre of untouchability. American pilots refused to face the Zero head on and instead made high speed passes at them using their superior engines and armour and banking on the Zero’s tendency to catch fire.
New Zeroes were introduced with better armour and equipment but this added weight meant less of that famous aerobatic maneuverability. By 1945 many A6Ms were converted to kamikazes.
A total of 10,964 Zeroes were built.

Type	Fighter
Power Plant	1 x 1,130-horsepower Nakajima NK1F radial engine
Max speed:	565 km/h ( 351 mph)
Ceiling:	11,050 m (36,255 ft.)
Range:	1,920 km (1,193 mi.)
Weight (empty):	1,876 kg (4,136 lb.)
Weight (loaded):	2,952 kg (6,508 lb.)
Wingspan:	11 m ( 36 ft. 1 in.)
Length:	9.12 m ( 29 ft. 11 in.)
Height:	3.51 m ( 11ft. 6 in.)
Armament:	2 x 7.7mm machine guns; 2 x 20mm cannon
Service	1940-1945

Aichi D3A - Japanese carrier-based bomber of WW2

 

Although not a particularly modern-looking aircraft, the Aichi D3A sank more allied shipping than any other Axis aircraft both in its dive-bomber role and its later refit as a kamikaze plane. In 1936 a contract opened up to replace the obsolete Aichi D1A – a biplane dive-bomber – with a more modern craft. Aichi’s D3A won the design contest and went into production shortly after. The D3A was the first all-metal bomber used by the Japanese. It was a low-wing monoplane employing the Mitsubishi Kinsei radial engine. The D3A’s landing gear was not retractable and so a longer dorsal fin was added to increase stability.

The Aichi was typically used as a carrier-based bomber. D3As accompanied the first waves that flew over Pearl Harbour, inflicting heavy damage. In the Indian Ocean, D3A squadrons were known to have sunk the British carrier Hermes along with the cruisers Dorsetshire and Cornwall.
D3As were tremendously accurate in their bombing role with four out of every five bombs striking its target. The D3A remained an integral part of the Japanese navy’s offense up until the 1942 battles of Coral Sea and Midway where many were lost. A year later an aerodynamically improved version of the D3A, the D3A2, entered service but neither model could keep pace with new and numerous American fighters.
Those D3As that were not shot down were put into service as kamikaze planes, a move that sadly may have increased their already impressive accuracy record. A total of 1,495 of these dive-bombers were built.

Type	Dive-Bomber
Power Plant	1 x 1,080-horsepower
Max speed:	389 km/h ( 242mph)
Ceiling:	9,159 m (30,050 ft.)
Range:	1,561 km (970 mi.)
Weight (empty):	2,409 kg (5,310 lb.)
Weight (loaded):	2,618 kg (5,772 lb.)
Wingspan:	14.38 m ( 47 ft. 2 in.)
Length:	10.24 m ( 33 ft. 7 in.)
Height:	3.32 m (10ft. 11 in.)
Armament:	3 x 7.7mm machine guns; 816 pounds of bombs
Service	1938 -1945

sumber:world-war-2-planes.com

P-38 Lightning

 

 Rugged, fast and versatile, the Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a potent combat aircraft and a superb fighter bomber, also flying as a night fighter, reconnaissance aircraft and torpedo-bomber. Powered by two liquid-cooled engines, the P-38 had a top speed of 414 miles per hour and carried a 20-mm cannon and four machine guns in its nose.

 

Designed in 1937 as a high-altitude "pursuit aircraft" (interceptor), the XP-38 was heavier than a Bristol Blenheim Mk. I, which at that time was the standard British medium bomber. Equipped with under wing droppable fuel tanks, the Lockheed P-38 was used extensively as a long-range escort fighter aircraft and saw action in practically every major combat area of the world. The Pacific theatre of operations produced the two highest scoring aces in American history - Major Richard Bong and Major Thomas McGuire, Jr. Both men flew P-38 Lightnings in the Southwest Pacific and each received the Medal of Honor in recognition of his courage and accomplishments.

 

 Known for its exceptional range and the dependability of its two Allison engines, this legendary aircraft made up for any shortcomings with its exceptional set of guns and cannons in its nose, giving it more concentrated firepower than other US fighters, which usually had their guns mounted in their wings. Many different versions, including pathfinder and reconnaissance aircraft configurations, were produced. 

After WW2, a number of Lockheed P-38s were used for aerial photography in the private sector. Almost 10,000 P-38s were built. Today, only a few are remaining.

Type:	Long range fighter and fighter bomber
Powerplant:	Two Allison V-1710-27/29
Max speed:	414 mph (666 km/hr)
Ceiling:	44,000 ft (13 400 m)
Range:	475 miles (765 km) on internal fuel
Weight (empty):	12,600 lbs (5806 kg)
Max. T/O:	21,600 lbs (9798 kg)
Wingspan:	52' 0" (15.85m)
Length:	37' 10" (11.53 m)
Height:	9' 10" (3 m)
Armament:	One 20mm cannon, four .50 machine guns, 2,000 lb of bombs, rockets

sumber: world-war-2-planes.com