"Formidable" by steelrazer

DAZ|Studio • Aviation • posted on Feb 03, 2021

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Description

The legendary Mitsubishi A6M Reisen was indeed a formidable adversary of the Allies in the Pacific War. The A6M Reisen, or Zero, was code named "Zeke" by the Allies, but was more often referred to as Zero. The aircraft got its name from the last digit of the imperial year it was introduced into service, 2600, or 1940 in western calendars. Designed and manufactured by the Mitsubishi Aircraft industry for the Japanese Imperial Navy. Combining excellent maneuverability with long range the Reisen was considered the most capable carrier based fighter of its time. With an early kill ratio of 12 to 1, it's hard to argue the opinion. Part of the reason for its agility in combat was the sacrifice of armor and self-sealing fuel tanks, and as the Allies' aircraft and tactics improved over the course of the war, the omission of these features proved to be significant. The Reisen saw service for the entirety of the war, used both by the imperial navy and army, finally being used in kamikaze missions. Overall, the Resen, Zero, or Zeke, whatever you may call it garnered the respect of adversary pilots, and considering its design, careful engineering, craftsmanlike assembly, and impressive performance, should elicit a second thought to the derogatory phrase of years past, "Made in Japan".