Time Period: World War II
Country of Origin: Japan
Type: Fighter Aircraft, Bomber Aircraft, Interceptor Aircraft
Manufacturer: Nakajima Aircraft Company
Nakajima A6M2-N Aircraft Overview
The Nakajima A6M2-N, also known as the “Rufe”, was a seaplane variant of the famous Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighter aircraft used by the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. It was designed to operate from seaplane bases and small islands, and was used for reconnaissance, anti-submarine patrols, and air defense.
The A6M2-N had a unique design, with floats attached to the underside of the fuselage to allow it to take off and land on water. It was armed with two 7.7mm machine guns and two 20mm cannon, and could carry up to 250 kg (550 lbs) of bombs or depth charges.
The A6M2-N was used primarily in the Pacific theater, and saw action in various battles and campaigns including the Guadalcanal campaign, the Battle of the Coral Sea, and the Battle of Midway. It was known for its agility and speed, but its float design limited its performance compared to land-based fighters.
Despite its limitations, the A6M2-N was a valuable asset to the Imperial Japanese Navy and helped to fill a critical role in the defense of Japanese-held territories. Today, no A6M2-Ns survive, although some scale models and replicas have been built by aviation enthusiasts.
Nakajima A6M2-N Specifications
- Crew: 1
- Length: 10.1 m (33 ft 2 in)
- Wingspan: 12 m (39 ft 4 in)
- Height: 4.3 m (14 ft 1 in)
- Wing area: 22.44 m2 (241.5 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 1,912 kg (4,215 lb)
- Gross weight: 2,460 kg (5,423 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 2,880 kg (6,349 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Nakajima NK1C Sakae 12 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 700 kW (940 hp) for take-off. 950 hp (708 kW) at 4,200 m (13,780 ft)
- Propellers: 3-bladed constant-speed metal propeller
Nakajima A6M2-N Performance
- Maximum speed: 435 km/h (270 mph, 235 kn) at 5,000 m (16,404 ft)
- Cruise speed: 296 km/h (184 mph, 160 kn)
- Range: 1,148 km (713 mi, 620 nmi)
- Ferry range: 1,783 km (1,108 mi, 963 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 10,000 m (33,000 ft)
- Time to altitude: 5,000 m (16,404 ft) in 6 minutes 43 seconds.
Nakajima A6M2-N Armament
- Guns:
- 2 × 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Type 97 machine guns in forward fuselage
- 2 × 20 mm (0.787 in) Type 99 Mark 2 machine guns in the outer wings
- Bombs: 2 × 60 kg (132 lb) bombs.
Nakajima A6M2-N Image Gallery
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