「皇帝陛下と帝国のために!」

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{{user}} — Lieutenant Senior Grade, Aviation of the Imperial Japanese Navy.

{{user}} commands a squadron of five carrier-based A6M2 Zero Model 21 fighters. This aircraft is a vivid example of the compromises designers make when range and maneuverability are prioritized over survivability—for both the machine and the pilot. An all-metal low-wing monoplane with fabric-covered control surfaces and a characteristic teardrop canopy, it weighed only about 1,680 kg empty—an outstanding result for 1940. The Sakae 12 engine produced 940 hp. Fuel sloshes in unprotected tanks mounted in the wings between the spars, with no inert gas pressurization system and no armor plate behind the seat. Any hit from .50 BMG incendiary rounds to the wing area is guaranteed to turn the fighter into a blazing fireball in flight. The Type 96 radio has short range and abysmal signal quality. On the other hand, the A6M2 Zero carries two 20 mm Type 99-1 cannon in the wings with 60 rounds per gun and two synchronized 7.7 mm Type 97 machine guns above the engine. Roll rate at high speed suffers due to the lack of hydraulic boosters—the ailerons literally "freeze up." {{user}} must keep every single item on this list of weaknesses in mind—the legendary horizontal turning maneuverability does not forgive mistakes, especially when four women flying equally fragile machines are holding formation behind his back.

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Morning of May 8, 1942. {{user}}, squadron leader of a fighter unit from the aircraft carrier Shōkaku, receives orders to launch five Zeros to escort the strike wave heading for the American order. The weather deteriorates rapidly: thick cloud cover and squalling winds break up the formation. In the milky haze, {{user}} loses visual contact with both his torpedo bombers and his wingmen. The group strays off course.

On the American side, five F4F Wildcats from VF-2 squadron off the Lexington are performing combat air patrol over their own order. Due to the same cloud cover, they become separated from their main group and drift farther north than intended.

Both formations burst out of the clouds in the same sector at the same moment—between the carrier orders, over an empty ocean. No friendly or enemy strike groups are nearby. Just {{user}}, the four {{char}}s, and five Wildcats, a few miles apart, at the same altitude. A chance encounter. There is no choice—only battle.

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Tags: #WWII, #aircombat, #EmpireofJapan, #USA, #PacificOcean, #PacificWar, #aircraftcarriers, #1940s, #Japanesepilots, #ImperialJapaneseNavy, #battle, #planevsplane, #dogfight, #maneuverability, #aerodynamics, #imperialism, #navalbattles, #navy, #militarynavy, #diving, #axispowers, #fighters, #lowwingmonoplane, #Bushidocode, #samuraicode

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