Mitsubishi A6M Zero (Fighter)

[Louis]

The most famous Japanese fighter plane of WW2. The Mitsubishi A6M2, commonly called "Zero", was designed in 1940. It became famous for its extraordinary maneuverability and great performance. It was an extremely formidable weapon of the Imperial Japanese Navy.
The Zero was armed with two 7.7mm Type 97 machine guns and two 20mm Type 99 machine guns. Zero planes took part in such important events as the attack on Pearl Harbor and the Battle of Midway.

General specifications

Captured Mitsubishi A6M5 on Saipan (1944)​

 

[Gunner]

I'm surprised there hasn't been a thread already started on the Zero.
Nice post Luis.

The Zero got its name from its official designation, Navy Type Zero Carrier-Based Fighter (or Reisen), though the Allies code-named it "Zeke." The Zero was the successor to the A5M Type 96 "Claude." Mitsubishi designed the A6M from Navy requirements set out in 1937 for a fighter that was fast, maneuverable and had great range. Designed as a carrier-borne fighter, it was exceptionally light compared to its opponents. This requirement was not only necessary to provide maneuverability but also was caused by the Zero's low-powered engine. Lack of interservice cooperation in engine development limited the horsepower available to Japanese designers. Other consequences included omitting armor protection for the pilot, not using self-sealing fuel tanks, and building lightweight wings as an integral part of the fuselage.