Mitsubishi A7M Reppū "Sam"

Mitsubishi · Japan · first flew 1944 · fighter

The Mitsubishi A7M Reppū ('Violent Wind') was a carrier-based fighter designed to replace the famous A6M Zero but never reached production before Japan's defeat. Only nine prototypes were completed.

Recognition (WEFT)

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

• Intended successor to the A6M Zero with larger airframe
• Laminar-flow tapered wing with rounded tips
• Closely cowled radial engine and small bubble-style canopy

Larger than the A6M with a broader, more tapered wing and a more powerful radial engine; the rounded wingtips and smooth cowling distinguish it from the Zero at close range.

Specifications

• The Mitsubishi A7M Reppū has a length of 11 m (36 ft).
• It has a wingspan of 14 m (46 ft).
• Its maximum speed is 629 km/h (391 mph).
• Typical crew: 1.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Development was plagued by engine shortages and disagreements between the Navy and Mitsubishi over requirements, resulting in repeated redesigns from 1942 onward. The first prototype flew in May 1944 and showed excellent performance, but production was prevented by the destruction of Mitsubishi's Nagoya factory in the Tonankai earthquake and subsequent B-29 raids.

Variants

The A7M1 used the Mitsubishi MK9A engine and the A7M2 switched to the Nakajima NK9H Homare; the A7M3 with a more powerful engine reached mockup stage only.

Where you'll see it

Never entered operational service; all nine completed airframes were prototypes or pre-production machines evaluated by the Imperial Japanese Navy.

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