Hi Taisuke ! Did you visit Yamato museum ?
Yes !! I was impressed big Yamato model !! And I saw this Zero type 62.
Zero has some family ! What does this Zero have feature ?
Type 62 can have heavy weapons. It had two roles, fighter and bomber.
Zero is developed in 1940, the concept is “light”. Because Japanese navy wanted to fighter that has mobility, long distance.
Type 62 was produced from April 1945. In this time, Japanese fighter should fought F6F,P-51,P-47,B-29.
They had tough, so Zero should have heavy guns to shoot down them. And in this time, Zero was required as role of bomber. So the frame thickness was increased and more tough to dive high speed as bomber.
As the result, Type 62 can has 6 guns, more powerful engine, and 250～500kg bomb ×1. But it became “heavy” and engine power was less than Americans. Zero’s concept as fighter was limit.
Why Zero should have role of bomber ? Japanese navy has Suisei “Judy”.
Judy is good bomber, but the engine’s production is difficult.
I see. Actually, it is more efficient to make one plane that have two roles.
Successor’s development was too late, and there were some planes that develop minor change Zero from Type62, but it was end as plan.
So this Type 62 could be called “Last Zero fighter”.
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