Mitsubishi A7M “Reppū”
The Mitsubishi A7M "Reppū" was a Japanese carrier-based fighter aircraft designed as the successor to the Imperial Japanese Navy's A6M Zero.
Mitsubishi A7M "Reppū" - Japanese WW2 Aircraft and Warplanes

Time Period: World War II
Country of Origin: Japan
Type: Fighter Aircraft
Manufacturer: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

Mitsubishi Heavy Logo

Mitsubishi A7M Aircraft Overview

The Mitsubishi A7M, also known as the “Sam”, was a proposed fighter aircraft developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. It was designed to replace the A6M Zero, which was becoming obsolete as Allied fighters improved.

The A7M had a sleek, aerodynamic design with a single piston engine and a large, three-bladed propeller. It was armed with four 20mm cannons and two 30mm cannons, and had a top speed of around 680 km/h (420 mph).

The A7M was intended to be a highly maneuverable fighter with excellent climb and diving performance, and it was also designed to operate from aircraft carriers. However, the project faced numerous delays and challenges, including shortages of materials and experienced personnel, and the first prototype was not completed until after Japan’s surrender in 1945.

Despite never seeing combat, the A7M was a highly advanced and innovative design, and it influenced future Japanese fighter aircraft such as the Shinden and the Kikka jet fighter. Today, no A7Ms survive, although some scale models and replicas have been built by aviation enthusiasts.

Mitsubishi A7M2 Specifications

  • Crew: One
  • Length: 11.04 m (36 ft 3 in)
  • Wingspan: 14 m (45 ft 11 in)
  • Height: 4.28 m (14 ft 1 in)
  • Wing area: 30.86 m2 (332.2 sq ft)
  • Airfoil: root: MAC361 mod; tip: MAC361 mod
  • Empty weight: 3,226 kg (7,112 lb)
  • Gross weight: 4,720 kg (10,406 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Mitsubishi MK9C (unified :Ha-43) 18-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 1,600 kW (2,200 hp) for take-off. 800 kW (1,070 hp) at 1,000 m (3,300 ft). 1,300 kW (1,800 hp) at 6,000 m (20,000 ft)
  • Propellers: 4-bladed constant-speed metal propeller

Mitsubishi A7M2 Performance

  • Maximum speed: 628 km/h (390 mph, 339 kn) at 6,600 m (21,700 ft)
  • Cruise speed: 417 km/h (259 mph, 225 kn) at 4,000 m (13,000 ft)
  • Endurance: 2 hours 30 minutes at cruise + 30 minutes combat
  • Service ceiling: 10,900 m (35,800 ft) (12,000 m (39,000 ft) from Samurai)
  • Time to altitude: 6,000 m (20,000 ft) in 6 minutes 7 seconds
  • Wing loading: 152.9 kg/m2 (31.3 lb/sq ft)
  • Power/mass: 0.350 kW/kg (0.213 hp/lb)

Mitsubishi A7M2 Armament

  • 2 × 13.2 mm (0.520 in) Type 3 machine guns in the wings (300 rpg) + 2 × 20 mm (0.787 in) Type 99 cannon in the wings (200 rpg) (A7M1)
or
  • 4 × 20 mm (0.787 in) Type 99 cannon in the wings (200 rpg) (A7M2)

Mitsubishi A7M Image Gallery

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