Mitsubishi A7M Reppu / SAM
1944
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Mitsubishi A7M Reppu / SAM

The design by Mitsubishi of a carrier-based fighter to supersede the A6M Zero-Sen had been planned by the Japanese navy as early as 1940, but was frustrated, by the company's involvement in urgent development and- production programmes. It was not until 1942 that design of the M-50 Reppu (hurricane) began, but the continuing pressure on Mitsubishi for developments of the ABM meant that it was not until 6 May 1944 that the first prototype, which by then had the company designation Mitsubishi A7M1, was flown for the first time. A cantilever low-wing monoplane with retractable tailwheel landing gear, the A7M1 soon revealed excellent flight characteristics, but as predicted by Mitsubishi the type's maximum speed on the power of the installed Nakajima NK9K Homare 22 engine was below specification. Further testing was abandoned until availability of the 1641kW Mitsubishi MK9A radial engine made it possible to build seven A7M2 prototype and service trials aircraft, the first prototype being flown on 13 October 1944. Clearly a potent fighter that could meet Allied opposition on equal terms, the Reppu had a maximum speed of 630km/h at optimum altitude and was ordered into production as the Navy Carrier Fighter Reppu Model 22. Unfortunately, by then it was too late for the Japanese navy, Allied air attacks and an earthquake limiting production to only one aircraft. Development of similar land-based fighters was planned under the designations A7M3 and A7M3-J, but neither was built before the war ended.

Mitsubishi A7M Reppu / SAM


Specification 
 MODELA7M2
 CREW1
 ENGINE1 x Mitsubishi MK9A, 1650kW
 WEIGHTS
    Take-off weight4720 kg10406 lb
 DIMENSIONS
    Wingspan14 m45 ft 11 in
    Length11 m36 ft 1 in
    Height4.28 m14 ft 1 in
    Wing area30.86 m2332.17 sq ft
 PERFORMANCE
    Max. speed620 km/h385 mph
    Cruise speed410 km/h255 mph
    Ceiling10900 m35750 ft
 ARMAMENT4 x 20mm cannons, 2 x 250-kg bombs

3-View 
Mitsubishi A7M Reppu / SAMA three-view drawing (752 x 1049)

Comments 
mac_bolan00, mac_bolan00(@)hotmail.com, 08.12.2008

i would think the nakajima shiden would have out-flown the p-51D at medium altitude and the mitsubishi zero could out-dogfight any plane at low altitude until the war's end.

Mick Dunn, hotideas(@)hotmail.com, 23.11.2008

At the end of the dear readers, it all came down to NUMBERS! Pilots and Planes!
If there were equal numbers (to USA) of even the good old Zero left in 1944 and with pilots of equal training to fly them...America would have had a helluva fight on her hands!

Sam Turner, samturner(@)austin.rr.com, 17.09.2008

Did this airplane have combat flaps? and was the a7m3 planned to have 6 20mm cannons and 4 30mm cannons and 2 rear fusaloge [sry if i spelled that wrong] 30mm cannons? [thanks for the answers, and nice website]

Andrew, bigbeardedguy(@)telus.net, 13.09.2008

If you want to know how the Reppu handled, read the book "Samurai" by Saburo Sakai, Japan's greatest surviving WWII ace. He mentions it near the end of his book.

Sam Turner, gomara.sam(@)gmail.com, 22.04.2008

do you know how the reppu handled? (in general)
like was it more manuverable than the Zero or KI 84?
more armor? etc.

Gautier, alorsgamin(@)hotmail.com, 10.03.2008

of course, even if this plane had entered service in 1944, this wouldn't have change history.but if japanese had an engine development program as Pratt & Witney did, such a plane could had reach production as early as '42.japanese would'nt had lost so much experienced pilots and US air forces would had been in big trouble.the A7M2 was climbing fast, was as big but far more manoeuvrable than a P-47, and had enought armament punch.not to mention the diving speed, armor and range.by the way, construction seemed more sturdy and ceiling superior to the KI-84.this plane was a very serious threat for allies.

bill, bill.ferrington(@)us.behrgroup.com, 03.03.2008

With the event of the P47N and the P51D with the experienced pilots the US had t is hard to believe this fighter would have had any more impact than the Nakajina Ki84 Frank did.

saiful bahktiar, saiful.bahktiar(@)gmail, 28.02.2008

banzaiiiiii

Andrew, yellowbird6(@)gmail.com, 24.01.2007

It looks like a great plane and from the sound of prototype testing it could have helped the Japanese a lot! Once again the myth of the P-51 being this invincible aircraft is broken. I am sure SAM with a good pilot could go toe to toe with any American plane of the era..Nice website

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