World War II Database

1.  BILL says:
5 Mar 2009 11:15:02 AM

Mitsubishi A6M3 Model 32 code name (Hamp) or Zeke 32 by the Allies.

2.  Bill says:
20 Dec 2011 09:23:00 AM

The A6M3 first flew in June 1941, powered by
a 1130hp Sakae 21 air-cooled radial engine production was delayed, until sufficient numbers of Sakae engines were delivered armed
w/2x7.7mm machine guns w/500rpg and 2x20mm cnnons w/100rpg

Another modification, to the fighter, was deleting the folding wingtips, this reduced the wingspan and gave a slight increase in speed. Mitsubishi and Nakajima built A6M3s.
The Model 32s short range was not enough to
operate over Guadalcanal, even with the 72.6 gallon drop tank other Kokutais operated over the Solomon Islands. The A6M3 wasn't well received by front-line pilots and many of the fighters were returned to Japan and used as fighter-trainers.
When flown against the Allies, intelligence reports thought it was a new fighter having
square wingtips, but captured A6M3s were
inspected and found to be another version of the A6M Zero fighter, given the code of Zeke 32 (Hamp). As the war continued improvements
were made to the A6M the 903rd A6M3 was taken
off the production line, and converted as a prototype for the A6M5 Model 52 series fighter.