Book Review of
Mitsubishi A6M Reisen Zeke (Zero), Vol. II
Author: Dariusz Paduch
Kagero Monographs no 3073
ISBN: 978-83-66673-33-5
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2021
MSRP: $28.95
ISBN: 978-83-66673-33-5
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2021
MSRP: $28.95
HISTORY:
The Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" was a long-range carrier-based fighter aircraft formerly manufactured by Mitsubishi Aircraft Company, a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy from 1940 to 1945. The A6M was designated as the Mitsubishi Navy Type 0 carrier fighter, (rei-shiki-kanjō-sentōki), or the Mitsubishi A6M Rei-sen.
The A6M was usually referred to by its pilots as the Reisen , (zero fighter), "0" being the last digit of the imperial year 2600 (1940) when it entered service with the Imperial Navy. The official Allied reporting name was "Zeke", although the name "Zero" (from Type 0) was used colloquially by the Allies as well.
The Zero is considered to have been the most capable carrier-based fighter in the world when it was introduced early in World War II, combining excellent maneuverability and very long range. The Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service (IJNAS) also frequently used it as a land-based fighter.
In early combat operations, the Zero gained a reputation as a dogfighter, achieving an outstanding kill ratio of 12 to 1, but by mid-1942 a combination of new tactics and the introduction of better equipment enabled Allied pilots to engage the Zero on generally equal terms. By 1943, the Zero was less effective against newer Allied fighters due to design limitations. It lacked hydraulic boosting for its ailerons and rudder, rendering it extremely difficult to maneuver at high speeds, and it could not be equipped with a more powerful aircraft engine.
By 1944, with Allied fighters approaching the A6M levels of maneuverability and consistently exceeding its firepower, armor, and speed, the A6M had largely become outdated as a fighter aircraft. However, as design delays and production difficulties hampered the introduction of newer Japanese aircraft models, the Zero continued to serve in a front-line role until the end of the war in the Pacific.
During the final phases, it was also adapted for use in kamikaze operations. Japan produced more Zeros than any other model of combat aircraft during the war.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Carrier-based fighter aircraft
National origin: Japan
Manufacturer: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Designer: Jiro Horikoshi
First flight: 1 April 1939
Introduction to service: 1 July 1940
Retired: 1945 (Japan)
Primary user: Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service
Produced: 1939–1945
Number built: 10,939
Variants: Nakajima A6M2-N floatplane modification
THE BOOK:
Kagero is based in Lublin, Poland. This book is in English.
It is soft cover of 96 pages in 8 ¼” x 11 ¾” page format.
The cover art shows a color illustration of a Zero flying above the clouds in the early evening. It is in dark green with a pale green rudder, upper wing tips and undercarriage. A bare metal spinner and propeller. It has a red no. 31-130 on its rudder sides.
It is a A6M3 Model 22 from the 331st Kokutai, Balikpapan , Borneo, 1944.
The book contains 85 black and white wartime photos.
These include a photo of the Japanese aircraft carriers Shokaku Zuikaku, Shoho and Akagi. Pictures of pilots. Two photos of the U.S. carrier Lexington. One showing it on fire. The Kaga on fire. A SBD Dauntless on the deck of the U.S. Hornet. Soryu being bombed. Ryujo. A6M-N float planes. F6F Hellcats aboard U.S. Saratoga.
Line drawings include:
A 1/48th scale 7-view of a A6M2-N “Rufe” float plane, including illustrations of its internal bulkheads and one side-view of the pontoons.
A 1/72nd scale 4-view of the A6M2-N.
Color profiles include:
Two of the A6M2-N
Three of the A6M2
Six of the A6M2 model 21
Four of the A6M2 model 22
One of the A6M2 model 32
There is a page in the book that shows 86 absolutely TINY black and white cover arts of other Kagero books. These are so small that it is near impossible to read the titles of the books. Kagero should have done this page with fewer and larger images.
Kagero’s decal sheet for A6M2 model 21 is recommended However, what scale this sheet is – is not indicated!
This book will be of great interest to modelers planning on building a A6M or A6M-N and to aircraft historians alike.
I sincerely wish to thank Casemate Publishers, the N. American distributor of Kagero books for this review sample. All Kagero titles can be viewed on Casemate’s web-site at:
The Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" was a long-range carrier-based fighter aircraft formerly manufactured by Mitsubishi Aircraft Company, a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy from 1940 to 1945. The A6M was designated as the Mitsubishi Navy Type 0 carrier fighter, (rei-shiki-kanjō-sentōki), or the Mitsubishi A6M Rei-sen.
The A6M was usually referred to by its pilots as the Reisen , (zero fighter), "0" being the last digit of the imperial year 2600 (1940) when it entered service with the Imperial Navy. The official Allied reporting name was "Zeke", although the name "Zero" (from Type 0) was used colloquially by the Allies as well.
The Zero is considered to have been the most capable carrier-based fighter in the world when it was introduced early in World War II, combining excellent maneuverability and very long range. The Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service (IJNAS) also frequently used it as a land-based fighter.
In early combat operations, the Zero gained a reputation as a dogfighter, achieving an outstanding kill ratio of 12 to 1, but by mid-1942 a combination of new tactics and the introduction of better equipment enabled Allied pilots to engage the Zero on generally equal terms. By 1943, the Zero was less effective against newer Allied fighters due to design limitations. It lacked hydraulic boosting for its ailerons and rudder, rendering it extremely difficult to maneuver at high speeds, and it could not be equipped with a more powerful aircraft engine.
By 1944, with Allied fighters approaching the A6M levels of maneuverability and consistently exceeding its firepower, armor, and speed, the A6M had largely become outdated as a fighter aircraft. However, as design delays and production difficulties hampered the introduction of newer Japanese aircraft models, the Zero continued to serve in a front-line role until the end of the war in the Pacific.
During the final phases, it was also adapted for use in kamikaze operations. Japan produced more Zeros than any other model of combat aircraft during the war.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Carrier-based fighter aircraft
National origin: Japan
Manufacturer: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Designer: Jiro Horikoshi
First flight: 1 April 1939
Introduction to service: 1 July 1940
Retired: 1945 (Japan)
Primary user: Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service
Produced: 1939–1945
Number built: 10,939
Variants: Nakajima A6M2-N floatplane modification
THE BOOK:
Kagero is based in Lublin, Poland. This book is in English.
It is soft cover of 96 pages in 8 ¼” x 11 ¾” page format.
The cover art shows a color illustration of a Zero flying above the clouds in the early evening. It is in dark green with a pale green rudder, upper wing tips and undercarriage. A bare metal spinner and propeller. It has a red no. 31-130 on its rudder sides.
It is a A6M3 Model 22 from the 331st Kokutai, Balikpapan , Borneo, 1944.
The book contains 85 black and white wartime photos.
These include a photo of the Japanese aircraft carriers Shokaku Zuikaku, Shoho and Akagi. Pictures of pilots. Two photos of the U.S. carrier Lexington. One showing it on fire. The Kaga on fire. A SBD Dauntless on the deck of the U.S. Hornet. Soryu being bombed. Ryujo. A6M-N float planes. F6F Hellcats aboard U.S. Saratoga.
Line drawings include:
A 1/48th scale 7-view of a A6M2-N “Rufe” float plane, including illustrations of its internal bulkheads and one side-view of the pontoons.
A 1/72nd scale 4-view of the A6M2-N.
Color profiles include:
Two of the A6M2-N
Three of the A6M2
Six of the A6M2 model 21
Four of the A6M2 model 22
One of the A6M2 model 32
There is a page in the book that shows 86 absolutely TINY black and white cover arts of other Kagero books. These are so small that it is near impossible to read the titles of the books. Kagero should have done this page with fewer and larger images.
Kagero’s decal sheet for A6M2 model 21 is recommended However, what scale this sheet is – is not indicated!
This book will be of great interest to modelers planning on building a A6M or A6M-N and to aircraft historians alike.
I sincerely wish to thank Casemate Publishers, the N. American distributor of Kagero books for this review sample. All Kagero titles can be viewed on Casemate’s web-site at:
Highly Recommended.