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Mitsubishi A3M (1MF10) (三菱 A3M)
The Mitsubishi A3M (1MF10) is a Japanese prototype carrier-based fighter built in February 1933. The aircraft was to be the successor to the Nakajima A1N and A2N aircraft. Two prototypes of the Mitsubishi A3M (1MF10) aircraft were built.
History
In 1932, the Japanese Navy Command began a three-year plan to arrange the Naval Air Force. The most important thing at the beginning was to create a successor to the trainee Nakajima A1N and A2N fighters. To this end, the Japanese Navy created the 7-Shi competition requirements, which were as follows:
- Maximum speed at 3000m between 335-370 km/h
- The plane was supposed to reach an altitude of 3000 m in less than 4 minutes
- The wingspan was to be less than 10,250 meters
These requirements went to the Nakajima (A3N) and Mitsubishi (A3M) plants. At the Mitsubishi plant, engineer Jiro Horikoshi was responsible for the project, which was his first project where he was in charge of the project. In February 1933, the Mitsubishi 1MF10 (company name) was completed, and in March 1933, the 1MF10 piloted by Yoshitaka Kajima made its first flight. Then the aircraft went to naval tests, where it was given the designation A3M and competed with the Nakajima A3N. The tests showed poor stability in flight, too low speed (320 km/h instead of the required 335 km/h) and did not reach the required climb speed (it reached an altitude of 3000 m in 4.12 minutes). In addition, in July 1933, during tests of the plane in a dive flight, the vertical stabilizer cracked, which led to the crash of the plane (the pilot escaped on a parachute). This led to the rejection of the aircraft by the Navy, but Mitsubishi created a modified second prototype of the A3M. The second prototype had a reinforced tail and a redesigned landing gear (the first prototype had a landing gear with three pillars, and the second with a single pillar). This aircraft was tested by Mitsubishi until June 1934, when an A3M piloted by Motoharu Okamura fell into a flat corkscrew and crashed to the ground (the pilot escaped on a parachute, but lost four fingers).
Mitsubishi A3M (1MF10) pictures
Construction description
The Mitsubishi A3M (1MF10) is a one-man low-wing fighter with fixed landing gear. The chassis, depending on the prototype, is three-pillar (prototype 1) or single-pillar (prototype 2). The Mitsubishi A3M (1MF10) has a dularminum frame, which is covered with metal and canvas. The aircraft is powered by a fourteen-cylinder Mitsubishi A-4 radial engine with a take-off power of 580 kW (780 hp), which rotates a two-blade metal propeller with a diameter of 2800 mm. The plane is armed with two Vickers 7.7mm machine guns above the engine and two 30 kg bombs under the wings.
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 6,925 m
- Wingspan: 10,00 m
- Height: 3,31 m
- Wing area: 17,70 m2
- Empty weight: 1225 kg
- Gross weight: 1578 kg
- Maximum Take-off Weight: ?
- Powerplant: 1 x Mitsubishi A-4 ,fourteen-cylinder radial engine with a take-off power of 580 kW (780 hp)
- Propellers: Two-bladed metal propeller with a diameter of 2800 mm
Performance
- Maximum speed: 320 km/h
- Cruising speed: 300 km/h
- Range: ?
- Maximum Range: ?
- Service ceiling: 8640 m (?)
- Climb Rate: ?
- Rate of climb: 4,12 min to 3000m
Armament
- 2 x Vickers 7.7mm machine guns in the nose
Special thanks
Summary
The Mitsubishi A3M (1MF10) is an interesting aircraft for Japan in War Thunder. This aircraft would have been an interesting early naval fighter for Japan. This aircraft could be introduced to the game as a regular researchable aircraft or as a Premium aircraft. I encourage you to discuss in the comments and to share your own knowledge on this subject.
Finally, I apologize for the linguistic and logical errors because unfortunately English is not my main language and I had to use google translator.
Internet sources
七試艦上戦闘機 - Wikipedia
Mitsubishi 1MF10 - Wikipedia
Micubiši 1MF10 : Micubiši
Mitsubishi 1MF10 - fighter
Mitsubishi Navy 7-Shi Experimental Carrier Fighter (1MF10)
Уголок неба ¦ Mitsubishi 1MF10
Mitsubishi A3M | Secret Projects Forum
Book sources
- The Xplanes of Imperial Japanese Army and Navy 1924-45 page 172
The Xplanes of Imperial Japanese Army and Navy 1924-45 | PDF - Mikesh, Robert C.; Abe, Shorzoe (1990).Japanese Aircraft, 1910-1941 page 170-171
- Japońskie Samoloty Marynarki 1912-45 (Japanese naval aircraft 1912-45) page 64-65
Japońskie Samoloty Marynarki 1912-45 | PDF
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