The Fairey Fulmar was indeed faster than the biplanes further used in the FAA, but still basically an addapted light bomber (derived from the Fairey Battle of the RAF) and much slower than the A6M-2, currently in use at the time on the IJN carriers. The A6M was at least 260 kph faster anyway. In any sort of direct confrontation the superior speed of the leightweight single seat A6M had the upperhand over the lumbering twin seated large and not so well turning and climing Fairey Fulmar. The slower Swordfish might have had a bigger change to survive, basically as it was very slow, with just around 150 kph or so, forcing the A6M to use drastic measures to slow down and take aim. (By increasing drag, such as lowering the landinggear, also used as a tactic by the even faster Bf-109's during the Chanaldash of the German Brest Fleet.)
FAIREY FULMAR MARK I:
_____________________ _________________ _______________________
spec metric english
_____________________ _________________ _______________________
wingspan 14.15 meters 46 feet 5 inches
wing area 31.77 sq_meters 342 sq_feet
length 12.24 meters 40 feet 1 inch
height 4.27 meters 14 feet
empty weight 3,955 kilograms 8,720 pounds
MTO weight 4,855 kilograms 10,700 pounds
max speed at altitude 400 KPH 250 MPH / 215 KT
service ceiling 6,255 meters 21,500 feet
endurance 4 hours
_____________________ _________________ _______________________
Specifications (A6M2 Type 0 Model 21)
Data from The Great Book of Fighters
[23]
General characteristics
Performance
- Never exceed speed: 660 km/h (356 kn, 410 mph)
- Maximum speed: 533 km/h (287 kn, 331 mph) at 4,550 m (14,930 ft)
- Range: 3,105 km (1,675 nmi, 1,929 mi)
- Service ceiling: 10,000 m (33,000 ft)
- Rate of climb: 15.7 m/s (3,100 ft/min)
- Wing loading: 107.4 kg/m² (22.0 lb/ft²)
- Power/mass: 294 W/kg (0.18 hp/lb)
Armament
- Guns:
Divergence of trajectories between 7.7 mm and 20mm ammunition
- Bombs:
- 2× 60 kg (132 lb) bombs or
- 1× fixed 250 kg (551 lb) bomb for kamikaze attacks