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MACHINE GUNS.
a. General.
(1) The basic machine guns is the "Nambu," Model 11 (1922) 6.5-mm light machine gun, which is a modification of the French Hotchkiss. Other types that have been directly copied are the Lewis, the Vickers, and in one instance the Oerlikon. These weapons will be found listed in the following pages. A matter of note is that Japanese machine guns generally do not employ slow initial extraction and therefore stoppages are frequent. The Japanese, on order to overcome this, have employed various methods of oiling ammunition either by automatic or gravity oilers, built directly on to the weapon, or oiling ammunition before loading into box magazines. To complicate the ammunition picture even further, they have indicated that their 6.5-mm machine guns normally used a reduced charge, possibly to overcome stoppage and to avoid pre-oiling. Also their 7.7-mm light and heavy machine guns are built to use either rimmed, semi rimmed or rimless ammunition, which, with one exception noted in the following pages, is not interchangeable.
(2) Submachine guns. No submachine gun of Japanese manufacture, comparable to me Thompson, M3 or Reising has been found, although several German Solothurn 7.63-mm (.30 cal.) and 9-mm (.35 cal.) SMGs and Schmeisser MP 28[11], SMGs have been recovered.
b. Model 11 (1922) 6.5-mm light machine gun.
(1) General description. This is a gas operated, air-cooled, machine gun with hopper feed which holds 6-5 round clips of ammunition. Positive identification can be made from the following markings, which appear on the top of the receiver and read "11th year model." It is equipped with a blade front-sight and a V notched rear leaf-sight sliding on a ramp. There is no windage or drift adjustment. The safety lever is turned down to a vertical position to make the weapon safe.
(2) Characteristics.
- Caliber 6.5-mm (0.256 inch).
- Hopper capacity, 6-5 round clips.
- Weight 22 1/2 pounds.
- Muzzle velocity 2,440 feet per second.
- Sight graduations 300 to 1,500 meters.
- Cyclic rate of fire 500 rounds per minute.
(3) Ammunition. Clips of 5 rounds standard or reduced charge 6.5-mm ball rifle ammunition are used.
c. Model 96 (1936) 6.5-mm light machine gun.
(1) General description. This is a gas-operated, magazine-fed, air-cooled, full automatic light machine gun. Its appearance is somewhat similar to that of the British Bren. The markings read "Model 96" are stamped on the top of the receiver. This weapon has a blade front sight and a leaf rear sight controlled by a "click" drum. The graduations are from 200 to 1,500 meters and there is a windage adjustment. There is also a telescopic sight with a 10º field of view and a 2 1/2 magnification. A safety lever is located on the left side of the trigger housing and is set at horizontal to "fire," and vertical for "safe."
(2) Characteristics.
- Caliber 6.5-mm (0.256 inch).
- Weight (without bayonet or magazine) 20 pounds.
- Magazine capacity 30 rounds
- Muzzle velocity 2,410 feet per second.
- Cyclic rate of fire 550 rounds per minute.
(3) Ammunition. 6.5-mm semi rimmed cartridges in boxes marked (G) are provided for this weapon. These have the same dimensions as the standard 6.5-mm cartridge although the Japanese have indicated that these have a reduced propelling charge. The regular rifle ammunition may cause stoppages, but can safely be used.
d. Model 99 (1939) 7.7-mm light machine gun.
(1) General description. This is a gas-operated, magazine-fed, air-cooled, light machine gun (fig. 180). Its appearance is almost identical to model 96 with two exceptions, that it has an adjustable rear monopod and a barrel locking nut instead of a barrel catch. It can further be identified by the markings on the top of the receiver meaning "99 Model." It has a blade front sight and a rear peep sight controlled by a "click" drum graduated from 200 to 1,500 meters. There is a windage adjustment. A telescopic sight 10º field of view and 2 1/2 X magnification is also provided. The safety lever on the right side of the trigger housing is set at horizontal to fire", and vertical for "safe".
(2) Characteristics.
- Caliber 7.7-mm (0.303 inch).
- Length over-all 42 inches.
- Weight (without magazine or bayonet) 20 pounds.
- Magazine capacity 30 rounds.
- Muzzle velocity 2,300 feet per second.
- Cyclic rate of fire 800 rounds per minute.
(3) Ammunition. The weapon uses 7.7-mm rimless ammunition only. This ammunition can be used in model 92 heavy machine gun, but the semi-rimmed ammunition for model 92 cannot be used in this gun.
e. Model 92 (1932) 7.7-mm Lewis type MG.
(1) General description. This weapon is an air-cooled, gas operated, drum-fed, full automatic gun. With the exception that the cocking handle is on the left and that there is no provision allowing it to be changed to the right side of the gun, if so desired, this weapon is a duplicate of the British Lewis. It can easily be recognized by its similarity to the latter weapon. The markings meaning "92 Model" are stamped on the receiver. Without removing the gun from its mount, the main portion of the tripod head can be moved from a horizontal to a vertical position, making a satisfactory AA mount. The can be done in approximately 15 second.
(2) Characteristics.
- Caliber 7.7-mm (0.303 inch).
- Length over-all 56 inches.
- Weight (without tripod) 26 pounds.
- Traverse 360º.
- Elevation (with mount in AA position) 85º.
- Magazine capacity 47 rounds. (Magazines having 97 round capacity also have been found)
- Muzzle velocity 2,400 feet per second (approximately).
- Cyclic rate of fire 600 rounds per minute.
- Sight:
- ---Front Blade type.
- ---Rear Folding leaf peep-sight graduated from 0 to 1,700 meters
(3) Ammunition. 7.7-mm rimmed ammunition, Japanese copy of British 0.303, and British MK VII .303 in. ball ammunitions.
f. Model 92 (1932) 7.7-mm heavy machine gun.
(1) General description. This is the standard Japanese heavy machine gun. It is a gas-operated, strip-fed, full automatic, air-cooled, modified Hotchkiss-type weapon. Its forerunner, which may still be used, was the Model 3 (1914) which fired 6.5-mm ammunition. Markings which appear on the receiver read "92 Model." The standard sights consist of a blade front sight and a rear peep sight mounted on a post adjustable for windage and range (300 to 2,700 meters). Special antiaircraft front and rear sights are provided, and there are 3 variations of optical rear sights, which are often used. The weapon is set on safety by turning the trigger thumb piece.
(2) Characteristics.
- Caliber 7.7-mm (0.303 inch).
- Weight (including tripod) 122 pounds.
- Strip capacity 30 round clips.
- Cyclic rate of fire 450 rounds per minute.
- Muzzle velocity 2,400 feet per second.
(3) Ammunition. This gun uses 7.7-mm semi rimmed ammunition (Ball, tracer, AP and incendiary). It can also use the 7.7-rimless ammunition if loaded on strips. |
