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Seems like most of this match was a dog fight with that Model 81A-1. Also if you play World of Warplanes, just FYI, the new Japanese line of aircraft is set to come out this week, as well as a new game mode. The A6M2 was actually the first production model, as the A6M1 were prototypes for testing. The design was ordered by the Japanese Navy as a replacement for their carrier based A5M. Unlike previous navy planes, the Zero featured a closed cockpit and retractable landing gears making it more aerodynamic, helping it's speed and maneuverability. To make the aircraft as light as possible, no armor was used for the Pilot or critical components. This made the aircraft fast but vulnerable. Another weight saving technique was to creation of a new experimental alloy called Extra Super Duralumin, which was lighter and stronger then standard aluminium alloy. This new metal was coated in an anti-corrosive coating post manufacturing. The popular "Zero" name comes from pilots giving it this unofficial name. According to the Japanese the A6M and it's variants was officially referred to as "Type 0". Because of this, some Japanese came to call the aircraft Rei-sen or Zero-sen, loosely translating into "Fighter Zero". The allied naming convention gave the aircraft the official designation of "Zeke", although too many Americans would come to know the aircraft simply as "Zero".

The A6M2 Type 0 Model 11 became the first production version of the famed "Zero" aircraft. An initial batch were sent to China before flight testing had been concluded. They proved to be superior to the Polikarpov I-16 that they engaged in their initial combat experience. When word of their success reached the United States it was largely discredited by the military. The opinion was that Japan couldn't have built such an advanced aircraft. This opinion would change once US airmen encountered the Zero for the first time. In this match, it's one of the rare times I've went into "GA Mode" in a fighter. Toward the end of the battle, a single enemy aircraft is remaining and is way out of my range. So..... I use my guns on some of the ground targets to assist in air superiority points. Many of the Anti-Aircraft guns around me have been disabled, and the targets I've selected are unarmored and easy for me to take out. I figured, worst case, it would force the enemy to come to me rather than trying to wait the battle out and let the clock run down.