Mitsubishi A5M2 Otsu “Claude” (early)

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Mitsubishi A5M2 Otsu (early) (九六式二号二型艦上戦闘機)
The Mitsubishi A5M2 Otsu (early) was a Japanese carrier-based fighter introduced into service in October 1937. This suggestion focuses on Mitsubishi A5M2 Otsu aircraft equipped with a lockable cockpit. It is not entirely clear how many of the 124 A5M2 Otsu produced are early versions.
History
When the Second Sino-Japanese War broke out in July 1937, the commanders of the Navy received many complaints from Mitsubishi A5M1 and A5M2 Ko fighter pilots that the fighters had too little performance and that it would be useful to be able to support allied troops on the ground. The first interim solution was to modify the A5M2 Ko aircraft so that it could carry two 30 kg bombs under the wings. At the same time, Mitsubishi began work on improving the A5M2 fighters. It was decided to introduce the Nakajima Kotobuki 3 engine in the new aircraft (it was used in the second A5M prototype) and to introduce an innovative closed cockpit, which was the first of its kind in Japan. The plane also received several other modifications, such as a slight increase in the diameter of the spindle, modification of the dorsal fin and others (described later). The new aircraft was to meet all the requirements of Japanese pilots and experience from combat in China. At the end of the summer, the aircraft went through tests, which it passed and in October 1937 it was transferred to the service as the Mitsubishi A5M2 Otsu or Type 96 No. 2 Type 2 carrier-based fighter. These planes quickly found their way to the front line, where it turned out that the plane still had too poor performance. In addition, naval pilots hated the closed cockpit, which, in their opinion, limited visibility and comfort, so they often flew with open cockpits or removed the closed part of the cockpit. However, the plane was faster than its predecessors, so production continued and later a version without a closed cockpit was introduced. Mitsubishi A5M2 Otsu aircraft laid down from 1937 to probably 1941. 124 Mitsubishi A5M2 Otsu aircraft of all variants were produced in 1937-38.

pictures Mitsubishi A5M2 Otsu (early)

Art about the Mitsubishi A5M2 Otsu (early)

Construction description
The Mitsubishi A5M2 Otsu (early) aircraft, although it is based on the Mitsubishi A5M2 Ko fighter, there are big differences between them.

1. Replacement of the Nakajima Kotobuki 2 KAI 3 Ko or Otsu with take-off power of 449 kW (610 hp) engine with the Nakajima Kotobuki 3 engine with take-off power of 471 kW (640 hp)
2. Changed the shape of the engine cover
3. Increased hull cross-section
4. Modified the dorsal fin of the aircraft
5. Added lockable cockpit (sometimes removed in field conditions)
6. Changed the shape of the undercarriage wheel cover (now it resembles those of the Mitsubishi Ki-18 aircraft)
7. A propeller with a smaller diameter was installed (instead of 2980mm to 2900mm)

Technical sketches

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 7,565 m
• Wingspan: 11 m
• Height: 3,27 m
• Wing area: 17,80 m2
• Empty weight: 1204 kg
• Gross weight: 1659 kg
• Powerplant: 1 × Nakajima Kotobuki 3, air-cooled nine-cylinder radial engine with take-off power of 471 kW (640 hp)
• Propellers: Three-bladed metal propeller with a diameter of 2,900 mm.

Performance

• Maximum speed: 430 km/h
• Cruising speed: 357 km/h
• Range: 700 km
• Maximum Range: 1005 km
• Service ceiling: 8520 m
• Climb Rate: ?
• Time to Climb to: 7,42 min to 5000 m

Armament

1. Guns:

• 2 x Type 89 7.7mm Machine Guns in the nose (500 rounds per rifle)

2. Bombs:

• 2 x 30 kg bombs (under the wings)

Special thanks

• @Rowiek

Summary
The Mitsubishi A5M2 Otsu (early) is an interesting aircraft for Japan in War Thunder. This aircraft would be an interesting addition to the early Japanese naval fighters, which could go into the forder along with the Mitsubishi A5M4 aircraft. This aircraft can also become a Premium or Event 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

九六式艦上戦闘機 - Wikipedia
Mitsubishi A5M - Wikipedia
Airplanes in the skies + FAF history: Mitsubishi A5M
Warplanes of Japan: Mitsubishi A5M
Mitsubishi A5M CLAUDE - fighter
Mitsubishi A5M ‘Claude’
Mitsubishi A5M
Mitsubishi A5M
Уголок неба ¦ Mitsubishi A5M
Mitsubishi A5M Fighter
Micubiši A5M2b [Claude] : Micubiši
Mitsubishi A5M (Claude): Photos, History, Specification

Book sources

• Japanese Aircraft of Wolrld War II : 1937-1945 ,Thomas Newdick, Edition 2 2017, page 57-59
• Yellow Mushroom Mitsubishi A5M Claude
  Yellow Mushroom Mitsubishi A5M Claude (2003) | PDF
• Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War page 342-349
• Japońskie Samoloty Marynarki 1912-45 (Japanese naval aircraft 1912-45) page 69-76
  Japońskie Samoloty Marynarki 1912-45 | PDF

Thank you for reading the suggestion, see you in the next one. Good luck pilots

[PlayedStatue626-live]

+1 would be a good folder addition (also any more AM5s left?)

[yo_sat]

@Grzegames

1. Guns:

• 2 x Type 89 7.7mm Machine Guns in the nose (500 rounds per rifle)

The machine gun mounted on the A5M is not the “Type 89 7.7mm machine gun,” but the “Type 97 7.7mm fixed machine gun” (or “Bi-Type 7.7mm fixed machine gun (毘式七粍七固定機銃)”).
(The Type 97 machine gun and the Bi-Type machine gun are almost identical, differing only in name.)

The Type 89 was used by the Army, and the Type 97 was used by the Navy. Both were based on the Vickers E machine gun, but the Type 89 was modified to use Japan’s unique 7.7x58mmSR ammunition, so the two types of ammunition were not interchangeable.

九七式七粍七固定機銃

[Grzegames]

There is also the A5M1 Ko with 20mm cannons in the wings and the late A5M2 Otsu.

[Grzegames]

But by chance the Type 97 was not introduced into service after the A5M2 Otsu was born. Of course I will correct the suggestions, but it seems to me that the Type 97 is not the correct armament for this plane either.