The A6M3/3a Zero fighter (Model 22) was designed to correct some of the shortcomings of its A6M3 (Model 32) predecessor, which included reduced flight range. This entailed the Model 22 being given standard-length 12m wings and receiving a larger fuel tank, measures which were largely successful. A version was also produced with longer machine gun barrels. The Model 22 was first assigned to flight groups from early 1943, and saw action in the hotly-contested Solomon Islands area.