Also, the "A" doesn't make any sense where it's situated. What does it
modify, the first 2 or the second?

Good question, as far as I know it means a minor modification, so
neither of the digits are modified: it refers in aircraft basically to
armament and other equipment changes.

That's exactly what it meant in the case of the A6M5 Model C --
something to do with the cannon.

So definitely it can't be hung onto the 22, as in 22A. Since the
second 2 refers to the engine, it would logically be 2A2. But I think
it would properly be rendered A6M2 Model A. '

Since the engine remained the same after the Sakae replaced the
Nakajima radial that powered the original Zero (21), the navy
evidently ignored the engine and appended only the airframe
modification to the "short" designation, thus: A6M2, A6M5, etc.


all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put CUB in subject line)

see the Warbird's Forum at www.warbirdforum.com
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