Mitsubishi A6M5 Model 52
Mitsubishi · Japan · first flew 1943 · fighter
The A6M5 was the definitive, most-produced Zero mark, restoring rounded tips and adding ejector exhaust stacks for a useful speed increment. It represented Mitsubishi's attempt to squeeze maximum performance from the airframe without a new engine.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.12 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Rounded wingtips — longer span than Model 32 but non-folding unlike Model 21
- Individual exhaust stacks on each cylinder rather than collector ring, giving a 'striped' cowl appearance
- Thicker wing skinning visible in profile; wing leading edge slightly more robust
Rounded, non-folding wingtips distinguish it from Model 32 (squared) and Model 21 (folding rounded). The ejector exhausts — individual short stacks along the cowl sides — separate it from the earlier collector-ring exhausts of the A6M2. A parked Model 52 sits lower on its gear than a Wildcat but has the characteristic squared-fuselage Zero cross-section.
Specifications
- The Mitsubishi A6M5 Model 52 has a length of 9.12 m (30 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11 m (36 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 565 km/h (351 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Production began mid-1943; over 1,700 Model 52s of all sub-variants were built, making it the most numerous Zero. Sub-variants 52a, 52b, and 52c added heavier armament and pilot armor progressively as survivability concerns grew. It equipped the bulk of IJN fighter strength through 1944-45.
Variants
52a added a belt-fed 20 mm cannon; 52b added wing gun blisters; 52c added 13.2 mm fuselage guns. The A6M6 and A6M7 were further developments with water-methanol injection.
Where you'll see it
Ubiquitous across all IJN carrier and shore-based units 1943-45. Several airworthy and static examples survive worldwide; the Planes of Fame Chino example is often displayed as a Model 52.
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