Who did this plane serve with Japanese army or navy, & it did do home defence didnt it

IJN, and yes as far as home defence...

I believe it was an Imperial Japanese Navy plane, but by the time it was in service there were no more carriers remaining, so it was strictly land based.

the J in its name indicates that it is strictly landbased.

carrier based fighters had the designation A.

Thanks for the headsup Frankyboy. I never knew that. Thanks again, Taint

well, the japanese navy name system is actually very similar to the one the US navy used !

A6M2
A = carrier based fighter
6 = contract with the developper
M = developper ,here Mitsubishi
2 = second variant

to compare with
F6F3
F = fighter
6 = contract number
F = Grumman
3 = variant

J2M was never intended as a carrier fighter.

It first saw action at Philippine Sea based on Guam, and was then used in the Home Islands primarily to intercept B-29s.

Like the N1K1/2, the J2M was never intended for carrier ops...

Yes it was a Navy interceptor designed by Jiro Horikoshi of A6M fame, it was designed in Oct. 1938 as a land based Navy interceptor, as per issue of a Navy order for such an a/c, and it did`nt see mass production till 5yrs. later. Only 476 were manufactured including prototypes, and was used primarily as a Home defense fighter in the later stages of the war.

IJN designation system

A= Carrier Fighter
B= Carrier Attack Bomber
C= Reconnaissance Plane
D= Carrier Bomber
E= Reconnaissance Seaplane
F= Observation Seaplane
G= Attack Bomber
H= Flying Boat
J= Land-based Fighter
K= Trainer
L= Transport
M= Special Floatplane
MX= Special Purpose Aircraft
N= Fighter Seaplane
P= Bomber
Q= Patrol Plane
R= Land-based Reconnaissance
S= Night Fighter