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Mitsubishi A5M (Claude)

History

The Mitsubishi A5M (Allied codename "Claude") became the world's first carrier-based monoplane fighter in 1937 when it entered service with the Imperial Japanese Navy. The system operated in some fashion until the end of the war in the summer of 1945, during which time some 1,094 prototypes were produced.

The system evolved into other variants, including the unsuccessful Ki-18 and the experimental Ki-33, but is best known as the official springboard for the upcoming mythical A6M "Zero" design.

Development

The Imperial Japanese Navy issued a new fighter specification in 1934, calling for an impressive aircraft system with a top speed of 220 mph and an excellent rate of climb (interestingly, the specification did not include the requirements). While both Mitsubishi and Nakajima produced both designs, it was Mitsubishi who was ultimately awarded the contract for further development.

The Mitsubishi product became the Ka-14 prototype - a total of six were built, differing in selected engines and some design elements - a low-wing monoplane of all-metal construction. The first prototype (powered by a 600-horsepower Nakajima Kotobuki Series 5 radial piston engine) made its maiden flight on February 4, 1935, and had inverted gull wings, which created some handling problems. The second prototype, featuring a new conventional wing design, became the production A5M after flight testing exceeding all specification expectations (a flapping speed of 280 mph, well above what was called for in the original specification).

The facelifted Ka-14 is equipped with a 585 hp Nakajima Kotobuki 2 KAI I engine. The system entered service with the Imperial Japanese Navy in early 1937 as the A5M1. Production is handled by Mitsubishi, Watanabe and Naval Omura Arsenal.

A5M Tour

To reduce weight, the landing gear has two fixed main landing gear, mounted in a streamlined fairing. The aerodynamic fuselage is tubular and covered with a flush-riveted aluminium skin that tapers towards the tail but has a smaller cross-section. The wings are mounted low on the front of the fuselage and have rounded tips. The pilot sits very forward in the design, just behind the engine bay, in an open-air cockpit with only the windshield in front and a raised fuselage spine in the rear. As a naval aircraft, the A5M is equipped with snap hooks and can also be equipped with centerline fuel tanks for increased range on the water.

The design is completed by a conventional tail unit with attachable tail surfaces. The A5M came into service with adequate armament, a pair of fuselage-mounted 7.7mm Type 97 machine guns. Otherwise, Crowder has little to offer in terms of offensive ability.

Claude in action

In this part of the world, the A5M was actually responsible for the first air battle between Japan and China in the Second Sino-Japanese War. In subsequent operations, the A5M competed with the American-built Boeing P-26 Pea Shooter.

Before the arrival of the A5M, Japanese pilots were at the mercy of their Chinese counterparts and suffered too many casualties without showing anything. The A5M quickly returned air supremacy to the Japanese and in a short time became the Empire's most important asset in the war.

Peaguns share a similar design with their open-air cockpit, radial piston engine, and static streamlined landing gear. Unfortunately, the pea shooters and their Chinese pilot, the A5M, proved to be excellent breeds.

With the exception of the Soviet-built Polikarpov I-16, the A5M currently has few competitors. Additionally, the A5M served in the Battle of the Coral Sea and has since been replaced by the A6M "Zero" in numbers and inherent utility.

As second-line fighters, they fit the bill perfectly when they were used as kamikaze suicide devices in the final months of World War II, while also serving as combat training mounts for a new generation of Japanese pilots.

Variations

While the Ka-14 represented the first six prototypes, the A5M1 became the first production naval model to feature the 850 hp Kotobuki 2 KAI radial engine. They were followed by modified (albeit largely identical) A5M2s and A5M2a with 640 hp 3-Series Kotobuki engines. Developed from Japan's combat experience with the Chinese, the A5M2b features a new streamlined hood over its 640-horsepower 3-Series Kotobuki radial engine and greenhouse-style enclosed cockpit.

This new cockpit proved very unpopular among Japanese pilots in practice and was discontinued in the middle of production. The A5M3a became several prototypes for testing the 601 hp Hispano-Suiza 12 Xcrs series engine.

The A5M4 was based on the A5M2b, but with a different engine, becoming the final Claude. Additionally, these A5Ms have been somewhat modernized with the addition of an enclosed cockpit.

Now with the addition of a 35-gallon drip tank for improved range, this production line finally saw the use of the Nakajima Kotobuki 41 KAI Series 9-cylinder radial piston engine. The engine is rated at 785 horsepower and has a top speed of 273 mph. Range is specified at 746 miles, while service may be capped at 32,150 feet.

The A5M4 entered service in 1938 and was soon used against the Chinese for the final fatal blow. The A5M4 is divided into two trainer aircraft, the A5M4-K, of which approximately 103 are built by the Navy's Omura Arsenal.