Whoa A6M3a with range of 11

[Captain Ed]

It is Nov 42 in my PBEM and I have begun to upgrade my A6M2`s on my carriers to A6M3a`s the range is still the same as the A6M2`s will this correct itself the units are in port fully operational in a CV TF. I do not want to go on an operation with these that would be gamey.[:D] I have upgraded 4 CVs and they all have the range of A6M2s[&:]

[sspahr]

There's no problem -- the A6M3a is not the same plane as the A6M3, and it is supposed to have a range of 11 (at least in the default scenarios).

[Captain Ed]

The A6M2`s have ranges of normal 8 and extended 11. The A6M3 or A6M3a should have ranges of 6 and 8.

[sspahr]

No, the A6M3a has the same range as the the A6M2. Cruise speed and endurance are different, but the range comes out the same. Check the in-game aircraft database or the the database editor.

Historically, the A6M3a was a reversion to the A6M2 airframe with the new engine from the A6M3. I've read that this was done because of pilots' dissatisfaction with the short legs of the A6M3 model.

In the game the A6M2 upgrades to the A6M3a. Nothing upgrades to the A6M3; without PDU on the only A6M3 units will be those who start or enter equipped with that plane.

[Captain Ed]

You are right[&o]. I was under the impression that the A6M3 and the A6M3a were the same aircraft with the later being the carrier capable version. Begs the question why produce the A6M3 at all.

[ChezDaJez]

You are right . I was under the impression that the A6M3 and the A6M3a were the same aircraft with the later being the carrier capable version. Begs the question why produce the A6M3 at all.

sspahr is correct.

The A6M3 was basically a A6M21 with the folding wingtips removed and a new version of the Sakae 21 engine with 1130hp installed. The engine had twin superchargers giving it better high altitude performance. Removal of the wingtips was an effort to improve its roll rate but fuel was reduced from 156 gallons to 134 gallons as a result. The roll improvement was minimal and the reduction in fuel made it unsuitable for long range bomber escort. Only 343 were built.

The A6M3a had the original wings tips reinstalled and fuel capacity returned to the original 156 gallons but kept the new engine.

Chez

[pauk]

i'm playing with PDU and have A6M3 - it is april 1942.

Would be gamey to upgrade CV groups to A6M3?

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: pauk

i'm playing with PDU and have A6M3 - it is april 1942.

Would be gamey to upgrade CV groups to A6M3?

You cannot. You can upgrade Land based zeros to A6M3s but you can upgrade carrier trained groups only to A6M3a

[doktorblood]

Ya, they clipped the wingtips on the A6m3-32 to reduce it's wing aspect ratio and improve high speed roll rate, reducing fuel capacity and lift in the trade-off, hence the shorter range. It was carrier capable though, but is broken in WITP and shore-bound. They should fix it.