A5M “Claude”, Japanese Carrier Fighter

Francillon (1979)

Mitsubishi A5M4 "Claude"

Specifications:

"Claude", also known as the Type 96, was the first modern Japanese carrier fighter, though it retained such anachronisms as fixed landing gear. It was designed at a time when the Navy doctrine was beginning to emphasize the preemptive strike against enemy carriers. This led to a requirement for a fighter capable of escorting attack aircraft rather than merely providing local fleet defense. This new mission required unprecedented performance. The design team took great pains to reduce drag, introducing such innovations as flush rivets, and were so confident of their work that they felt free to retain the fixed landing gear to avoid the weight and complexity of retractable gear. The final aircraft exceeded the Navy speed requirement by 54 knots and it also had a better climb rate than required. However, the Navy insisted on the addition of split flaps to improve its maneuverability before adopting the aircraft in late 1936.

"Claude" was one of the best fighters in the world in its day. It proved that Japanese aircraft designers were as capable as any in the world and that Japan had entered a new era of self-sufficiency in aircraft design and construction. Its remarkable performance put an end to anti-fighter sentiment in the Japanese Navy. However, Bergerud believes that its successes in China masked its defects. The success of the "Claude" led the Japanese into the trap of believing that the turning fight was still the correct air tactical doctrine. As a result, maneuverability remained a prime performance characteristic in the minds of Japanese aircraft designers at a time when designers in other nations were coming to the opposite conclusion.

"Claude" remained the standard Japanese carrier fighter up until shortly before the outbreak of war, and it remained in use on second-line carriers and land bases until sufficient Zeros were available. Some were still assigned to Shoho's air group when she was sunk at Coral Sea in May 1942. However, by 1941, its performance and firepower were entirely inadequate.  Production resumed in 1944 for kamikaze use.

One can only speculate what might have been had this remained the first line Japanese carrier fighter into 1942.

Photo Gallery

References

Bergerud (2000)

Francillon (1979)

Gunston (1988)

Lundstrom (2006)
Peattie (2001)

The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia © 2007, 2009-2010, 2014 by Kent G. Budge. Index

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