War Thunder A6M5 Zero Dogfight Tutorial
12Title: War Thunder
Game settings: High
Resolution 1280 x 1024
Aspect Ratio and resolution: 16:9 at 720p
Frames: 30 fps
Aircraft Specs
Engine: Sakae 31 14 cylinder radial engine 1200 hp
Aircraft class: Medium sized single engined fighter
Loaded Weight: 2570 kgs or 5302 lbs
Frames: A6M5 and A6M5 Otsu
Armaments: 2 Type 97 7.7x56mm aircraft machine gun(1400 rounds)+2 Type 99-1 20x72mm cannons(200 rounds) (A6M5)
1 Type 97 7.7x 56mm(700 rounds), 1 Type 3 13.2x96mm(240 rounds) and 2 Type 99-1 20x72mm cannons(250 rounds) (A6M5 Otsu)
Top Speed: 595 kph or 369 mph
Combat Turn: 16 seconds
Service Ceiling: 10,000 meters or 33,000 feet
Performance with altitude:
6000 meters or 19,800 fett 595 kph or 369 mph
Sea level: 525 kph or 326 mph
This video shows the viewer about the handling characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses of the Mitsubishi A6M5 Zero and A6M5 Otsu naval fighter.
This video is a tutorial on how to effectively employ the A6M5 Zero in a dogfight scenario.
The A6M zero had its pros, but it had its cons as well. The strong points of the A6M was its exception maneuverability at 200 mph or under. The Zero has a good climb rate.
The weaknesses of this aircraft are its lack of armor and self sealing tanks, sluggish handling at high speeds of over 350 mph, & terrible dive speeds. The problem with a lot of Japanese aircraft with radial engines is that the controls seize up at higher speeds. The Zero could not take a lot of punishment, a few rounds from Browning 50 caliber machine gun could turn this aircraft into a flaming wreck. If you exceed 450 mph on a dive, your wings will come right off.
As the war dragged on, allied airmen figured out that dog fighting a Zero was to avoided, so they would use hit and run tactics. They would also fight in pairs, so one person could cover the other in a dogfight. Allied pilots used tactics which would negate the A6Ms advantage over them.
In the middle of the Pacific War, the Americans and Allies had a clear numerical advantage over the Japanese in aircraft. Not only a numerical advantage, they also had a qualitative advantage in aircraft as well. The next generation of American aircraft, like the Hellcat could out climb the Zero, out dive the Zero, had good armor protection, 45 mph faster than the Zero, and outfight the Zero in every turn. The F4U Corsairs were more than 100 mph faster than the best Zero, and it had great armor protection.
By late 1943, the Zero was obsolete, but it was produced from the beginning of the war tell the very end of the war. Many A6Ms were used on Kamikazi missions in Okinawa. Since many of these aircraft had poor armor protection, many were easily shot down by U.S. navy aircraft, and anti-aircraft artillery.
Other Videos By Ace1000ks1975
Other Statistics
War Thunder Statistics For Ace1000ks1975
At this time, Ace1000ks1975 has 64,126 views for War Thunder spread across 218 videos. His channel uploaded over 2 days worth of War Thunder videos, or 3.12% of the total watchable video on Ace1000ks1975's YouTube channel.