As you know, not a big fan of the A6M after 9/42. I, like all other JFB's have to suffer with it until A7M comes around. After the A6M3a (which give you best range) the next 2 "interesting" models are the:InHarmsWay wrote: Sat Nov 22, 2025 3:10 pm ...
Todays subject is the venerable zero airframe. I have just switched over my last production factory making the A6M5 to the J7W1 Shinden (now have 9 factories). I do have 3 research factories still on the A6M5b (which should arrive May '43). This was a gutsy call, as I still need the zero for KB until the Sam shows up. KB is fully outfitted with the A6M5 model, and I have 168 in the pool. A further ~130 in units that will get the George soon enough. That means I have about 300 for KB replacements over the next 6 months?? As an emergency backup, I have about the same number of A6M3a in inventory and existing formations as well. Looking at the zero, it feels like the later model is not that much better, and best to concentrate on other airframes.
A6M5c - this adds armor, and has the improved weapons and DUR of the A6M5 series. I sometimes build this one when it arrives for defense on atolls as it is SR=1. The armor helps conserve pilots when on defense. Truthfully, there are a number of IJA SR=1 planes that quite a bit better for this role (Tony in particular, Tojo also)
A6M8 - changes to the Ha-33 engine, slight increase in speed. Apparently a favorite with the general public. I actually haven't built this one in over a decade now ...
So, will 600 A6M's last you until your A7M arrives? All depends on what you plan for that time period and how the KB will be used, right? Not something I can answer.
If you are keeping the initiative, that would mean you are planning to offensively use the KB, then maybe ... you might need to get creative; like offload the KB air groups, convert the fighters to George and then attack as LBA ... depending upon where you are and your target, this works quite well. Doesn't work everywhere of course. Benefit is, the ships don't have to be there .... they can be "spotted" some great distance off giving you much better chance of surprise ... Note: when I do this, I tend to swap out a LOT of my pilots from the VERY, VERY best to simply Very GOOD with the intent of promoting the survivors up to the next tier.
If you plan to cede the initiative and move the KB into a "fleet in being", then that should present no problem. In this case, re-read my earlier post about your empire size not being bigger than 2 - 3 days KB sailing time and shrink it accordingly ... else you will pay a terrible price in lost units ...
; Julia Child
