Details of the later ZERO Fighters A6M5 follow-on versions

[kettbo]

OK, last chance on numbers produced for the last few series A6M? Interesting info to add?

 

[kettbo]

from WIKI

A6M6c Type 0 Model 53c This was similar to the A6M5c, but with self-sealing wing tanks and a Nakajima Sakae 31a engine featuring water-methanol engine boost.

A6M7 Type 0 Model 63 Similar to the A6M6 but intended for attack or Kamikaze role.


Mitsubishi Type 0 A6M (Zero, Zeke, Hamp) - Technical Information
A6M6 Zero
Only one example was assembled.

A6M7 Model 62 Zero
Last production model of the Zero with a bomb rack of use as a fighter-bomber.

A6M7 Model 63 Zero
The model 63 indicates that this particular aircraft was equipped with Nakajima Sakae 31-B aircraft engine without methanol water injection and having a two stage supercharger.

Some more info here:
Japan's Mitsubishi A6M6, A6M7, A6M8,"Zero"- World War II Vehicles, Tanks, and Airplanes
click on the various tabs

so some more info yet not much to go by for production numbers
A6M7 production starting in May...obvioulsy not many built
A6M8, seems like 2 built

Wonder what unit got any of the A6M7, any combat reports???

 

[Vincenzo]

for the japanese wiki last production model was type 62, there is a good table with months production 零式艦上戦闘機 - Wikipedia

 

[Shinpachi]

Hello, George! Thanks for your PM and sorry I was forgetting my excel file of the A6Ms specs for all types.
I made up the list in English to post somewhere in this forum several months ago.
Unzip the file attached.

Wish above helps.

View attachment Specifications of Prototype 12 Carrier Fighter and Type 0 Carrier Fighter Model 11- 63.zip

 

[kettbo]

Thank you Shinpachi!
Noted your "unknown" for A6M7 production beginning May 1945
I'll keep looking... getting determined in the face of a "_"

I will post-up some pictures later today

 

[Shinpachi]

You are welcome George and Thanks for your so friendly acceptance of my apology

 

[kettbo]

I mentioned I sculpted the A6M5 for RAIDEN in 1/285
I shot a batch of planes in primer today, at least one of each major type present, photo opportunity!

A6M2, A6M3, and A6M5

 

[Shinpachi]

So cute
What a nice job you are doing!
Thanks for sharing, George

 

[Aurum]

for the japanese wiki last production model was type 62, there is a good table with months production 零式艦上戦闘機 - Wikipedia

Thanks allot for this link. I am also very interested in Zero production figures.
Does anybody know the origin of this statistics where it was published?

 

[Shinpachi]

The Japanese wiki editor notes his sources as -

JACAR - Japan Center for Asian Historical Records
"Zero Fighter" by Jiro Horikoshi, published by Kohjinsha in 1970
"Zero Fighter" by Jiro Horikoshi and Masatake Okumiya, published by Gakken-M paperback
"Sea of Fire - Testimony of a press cameraman aboard an aircraft carrier (for the Battle of Midway)" by Teiichi Makishima, Kohjinsha 2001
"A Fighter Pilot's Life - from Zero to FSX for his 90years" by Maema Takanori, published by Kodansha 2005
"Coral Sea in the Dawn" by Shiro Mori, published by Bunsyun paperback 2009

 

[Aurum]

The Japanese wiki editor notes his sources as -

JACAR - Japan Center for Asian Historical Records
"Zero Fighter" by Jiro Horikoshi, published by Kohjinsha in 1970
"Zero Fighter" by Jiro Horikoshi and Masatake Okumiya, published by Gakken-M paperback
"Sea of Fire - Testimony of a press cameraman aboard an aircraft carrier (for the Battle of Midway)" by Teiichi Makishima, Kohjinsha 2001
"A Fighter Pilot's Life - from Zero to FSX for his 90years" by Maema Takanori, published by Kodansha 2005
"Coral Sea in the Dawn" by Shiro Mori, published by Bunsyun paperback 2009

These sources do not content Zero production figures.
JACAR - Japan Center for Asian Historical Records - is great bank of documents so it could contain variety of documents.

As far as I understand, Zero production figures are not from US Strategic Bombing Survey

 

[Shinpachi]

Have you checked those books by yourself?

 

[Aurum]

Have you checked those books by yourself?

Hye, Shinpachi.
I know these figures. They are from US Strategic Bombing Survey. And there is statistics of annual production by Calendar Financional years.

So I tried to calculate quarter production figures deriving from them. It was quite interesting task by the way

But that figures that are on Wiki Zero page are definitely different from them

 

[Vincenzo]

numbers from japanese wiki
total (type 11, 21, 22, 32, 52, 54, 62) 10,018
Nakajima 6,206 Mitsubishi 3,812
calendar 1940 Mitsubishi 95 Naka 0
calendar 1941 Mitsu 403 Naka 6
calendar 1942 Mitsu 696 Naka 547
calendar 1943 Mitsu 1,009 Naka 1,762
calendar 1944 Mitsu 1,356 Naka 2,474
calendar 1945 Mitsu 253 Naka 1,417
Type 11 60 Mitsu
Type 21 741 Mitsu, 2,821 Nakajima = 3,562
Type 22 560 Mitsu
Type 32 343 Mitsu
Type 5262 2,106 Mitsu 3,385 Naka = 5,491
Type 54 2 Mitsu

 

[Aurum]

numbers from japanese wiki
...

Perfect calculation, Vincenzo! And I can calculate not worse then you.

Can you tell me where are these figures from? Who (person or organization) did them calculate? What issue were they published in firstly?

 

[Vincenzo]

i've put on a calculator page the japanese wiki table and i writed the total sum and the partial sums