Zeros in Blood Red Skies part 2 - The A6M3 Mod 32, or why changing a winning formula can go wrong

A6M3 Mod 32 showing the signature clipped wingtips

A6M3 Mod 32

Although the A6M2 had been phenomenally successful the Japanese did not rest on their laurels. Steps were taken to try and improve the A6M2 by fitting a bigger engine to improve speed and high-altitude performance. They also tried clipping and redesigning the wings to improve roll rate and handling in a dive, both things the original Zero as not great at. The result was designated the A6M3 Mod 32, and was pushed into production with some urgency in April 1942. They immediately ran into problems caused mainly by the tightness of the original design. The new engine needed more space and to accommodate it, and to fit it in some structural and design changes were needed. This included reducing the size of the internal fuel tanks and moving the engine mounting nearer the cockpit. These changes upset that fine balance of the A6M2 and it was found that the A6M3 was marginally faster and dived better as planned, but the change in the centre of gravity meant it handled less well, and the reduction in fuel capacity caused the range to be reduced significantly. This loss in range was particularly problematic as it meant the A6M3 could not operate over Guadalcanal from the main bases in Rabaul, the major combat zone at the time. On a more positive note the 20mm cannons were upgraded to more modern versions (the Type 99 Mk II) with more ammunition provided. 

The A6M3 Mod 32 was produced in limited quantities and due to the short range tended to be only deployed defensively and as a combat trainer.  It was quickly replaced in production by the A6M3 Mod 22, which saw many of the changes reversed or revised to restore the lost range.

When it was first encountered by the allies the distinctive clipped wings meant they were unsure if this was a new aircraft, and so for a while it was given the reporting code name “Hap” after General “Hap” Arnold, then Commanding General of the USAAF. Arnold took exception and the Hap was quickly renamed “Hamp”, and then simply “Zeke 32”.

How can we represent the A6M3 Mod 32 in BRS? From our beta tests it has the following stats. 

Speed has increased to 343 mph, so still Speed 7. The armament changes now allow an upgrade to FP2, however the reduced range mean Deep Pockets has gone. The changes to the overall balance results in Tight Turn being replaced by Rapid Roll, which is slightly less useful because it allows you to turn at the start OR and of your move, not at any time, but is still quite potent. The A6M3 Mod 32 remains Vulnerable. The loss of Deep Pockets also helps offset the increase in points cost caused by the increased firepower.

A6M3 Zero 1942 7 (343mph) Agility 3 Firepower 2 Rapid Roll -Vulnerable - 32 points

In BRS the A6M3 is still quite a handful, particularly as the synergy with Aggressive Tactics is still there. In some ways it is better than the A6M2 - more firepower for instance, and though Rapid Roll is not as good a trait as Tight Turn, in this case having only a single trait means there is no chance you will not have it available. As with the A6M2 you really want to avoid head on attacks against well armed fighters and tail chases against bombers. 

It is "highly" unlikely that we will see an official model of the A6M3 from Warlord any time soon. However as with the A6M2 the A6M3 is visually quite similar to the A6M5 model, so all that would be required to convert to this version would be to (carefully) clip the wings with some nail clippers and file the edges smooth, or again as with the A6M2, a model is available from Armaments in Miniature.

A6M3 Mod 32 captured in US markings showing the clipped wings

Next , the final production version, the A6M5