History

The A6M5b replaced the 7.7 mm Type 97 gun on the right side of the fuselage with a Browning-derived 13.2 mm Type 3 gun (790 m/s muzzle velocity, 900 m range, 800 rounds per minute, 240 rounds), requiring a larger opening that gave the cowling a distinctive asymmetric look. Each wing cannon gained a leading-edge fairing, a 45 mm armoured-glass windscreen and a larger propeller spinner were fitted, and the ventral drop tank gained fins and a slanted mounting pipe. The first example was completed in April 1944 and it was produced until October that year.