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#31
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Well, it was BuAer that decided, of course. But BuAer's first engine for the Zero was the Mitsubishi Zuisei 13. It had so many problems that after the first two prototypes the Nakajima Sakae 12 was substituted for it. The decision was made on May 1, 1939, according to MIkesh's book on the Zero. The first flight had been a month earlier. So only the first two Zeros were A6M Model 11. The first number stands for the engine, so the third prototype and the production models were A6M Model 21. (As is so often the case with Japanese aircraft, you can baffle folks even further by calling them A6M1 and A6M2.) These prototypes went into service with the Japanese navy. Can you imagine that happening today? On Sun, 27 Jul 2003 22:02:29 GMT, Guy Alcala wrote: Cub Driver wrote: The Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa 'oscar' was very similar in shape, and also used the same engines In fairness to the army plane, the Hayabusa came first. The army turned it down because of its perceived weaknesses in dogfighting. Then the Zero was having trouble meeting specifications. So Mitsubishi ditched its engine and borrowed the one Nakajima had developed for the Hayabusa, and which of course was available since the Ki-43 wasn't going into production. Dan, I recall reading an account by IIRR Horikoshi, who said that it was strongly implied to them by the navy that they should use the Nakajima engine, if they wanted to see the a/c put in production. Mitsubishi was planning to use their own (slightly less powerful, but IIRR lighter) engine in the a/c, but the Japanese had a military-industrial-political complex too. It didn't have anything to do with a lack of performance according to him. I'll try and find the book and refresh my memory. Guy all the best -- Dan Ford email: www.danford.net/letters.htm#9 see the Warbird's Forum at http://www.danford.net/index.htm Vietnam | Flying Tigers | Pacific War | Brewster Buffalo | Piper Cub |
#32
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A small number of the Army's Type 4 Heavy Bomber 'Hiryu' was used by the Navy under the name 'Yasukuni'. That's the equivalent of naming an aircraft Arlington National Cemetery! Not a very cheerful prospect for the crew. all the best -- Dan Ford email: www.danford.net/letters.htm#9 see the Warbird's Forum at http://www.danford.net/index.htm Vietnam | Flying Tigers | Pacific War | Brewster Buffalo | Piper Cub |
#33
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Cub Driver wrote:
Well, it was BuAer that decided, of course. But BuAer's first engine for the Zero was the Mitsubishi Zuisei 13. It had so many problems that after the first two prototypes the Nakajima Sakae 12 was substituted for it. The decision was made on May 1, 1939, according to MIkesh's book on the Zero. The first flight had been a month earlier. So only the first two Zeros were A6M Model 11. Should read A6M1 Model 11. The first number stands for the engine, so the third prototype and the production models were A6M Model 21. According to my source (see below), they were A6M2 Model 11s. The engine doesn't necessarily determine a change in "M" number: The A6M5 used the Sakae 21, the same as the A6M3 Model 32 and 22. (As is so often the case with Japanese aircraft, you can baffle folks even further by calling them A6M1 and A6M2.) The only source I have handy, Caidin's Ballantine Book "Zero Fighter" (so take it FWIW), says that they built 64 A6M2 Model 11s. The Model 21, unlike the Model 11, had folding tips. The Model 11 was the version used in China in 1940, and according to him the last one rolled off the line in November 1940. Guy |
#34
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Wasn't it suicidal anyway?
A big, fat bomber with an underslung torpedo flying a steady course... An excellent target for AA fire in late 1944. Cub Driver wrote in message . .. A small number of the Army's Type 4 Heavy Bomber 'Hiryu' was used by the Navy under the name 'Yasukuni'. That's the equivalent of naming an aircraft Arlington National Cemetery! Not a very cheerful prospect for the crew. all the best -- Dan Ford email: www.danford.net/letters.htm#9 see the Warbird's Forum at http://www.danford.net/index.htm Vietnam | Flying Tigers | Pacific War | Brewster Buffalo | Piper Cub |
#35
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FWIW the Japanese Army did have its own Navy - they even designed,
built, and operated submarines, albeit for supply, not combat. No torpedos. Yu1 and Yu1001 classes. J-Army also had 28 LST-type ships. Walt BJ |
#36
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Cub Driver writes:
A small number of the Army's Type 4 Heavy Bomber 'Hiryu' was used by the Navy under the name 'Yasukuni'. That's the equivalent of naming an aircraft Arlington National Cemetery! Not a very cheerful prospect for the crew. I don't know, Yasukuni is a well-established name in Japanese history and shinto, and the fact that one shrine is famous in its association does not give it the same connotations as the ANC (which for me, as a South African, has other associations too!). Yasukuni basically means peaceful country, and it is a noble name. Japanese people nowadays might associate Yasukuni-jinja with war criminals, but just yasukuni is often found in literature, and in religious and historical texts. -- G Hassenpflug * IJN & JMSDF equipment/history fan |
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