Type 92 heavy machine gun

Type 92

Type 92 Japanese machine gun
Type Heavy machine gun
Place of origin Empire of Japan
Service history
In service 1932–50s
Used by Empire of Japan
Wars Second Sino-Japanese War
World War II
Korean War
Chinese Civil War
Hukbalahap Rebellion
Production history
Designer Kijiro Nambu
Designed 1932
Produced 1932–41
Number built 45,000
Specifications
Weight 55.3 kg (122 lb) w/ tripod
Length 1,156 mm (3 ft 9.5 in)
Barrel length 721 mm (2 ft 4.4 in)
Cartridge 7.7×58 mm Type 92
Caliber 7.7 mm
Action Gas-operated
Rate of fire 400–450 rounds per min.
Muzzle velocity 800 m/s (2,600 ft/s)
Effective firing range 800 m (870 yd)
Feed system 30-round Hotchkiss-type metal strip

The Type 92 Heavy Machine Gun (九二式重機関銃 Kyūni-shiki jū-kikanjū) entered service in 1932 and was the standard Japanese heavy machine gun used during World War II. It was used extensively by the Imperial Japanese Army and Collaborationist Chinese forces.[1] Captured weapons were also used extensively by Chinese National Revolutionary Army troops against the Japanese during World War II, and the North Korean army against the UN forces during the Korean War.[1] The Type 92 refers to the Japanese Imperial year 2592 – 1932 in the Gregorian calendar – in which the gun entered service.[2] Designed by Kijiro Nambu and built by Hino Motors and Hitachi, total production was about 45,000 guns.[3]

Design

The Type 92 was essentially a scaled-up version of the Type 3 Heavy Machine Gun, with its calibre increased to 7.7 mm, and like the Type 3 was air cooled, ammo strip fed, and based on the Hotchkiss M1914.[4] It could use both a rimless and semi-rimmed 7.7x58mm Shiki round.[1] A 7.7 mm round could be used if needed or if other ammunition supplies dwindled.[2] Rounds fired from the gun traveled at about 730 m/s (2,400 ft/s), and the rate of fire was about 450 rpm. It was sometimes used as a light anti-aircraft gun during the Pacific War. It was nicknamed "woodpecker" by Western Allied soldiers because of the characteristic sound it made when fired, and the "chicken neck" (Chinese: 雞脖子) by Chinese soldiers due to its appearance.[1] The Type 92 had a maximum range of 4,500 meters, but a practical range of 800 meters.

The gun was intended to be fired on a tripod with a team of 3 men. The unusual tripod was designed with removable carry poles, so that the weapon could be transported fully assembled for quicker deployment.[2]

An unusual characteristic of this gun was the placement of its iron sights – canted slightly to the right instead of center. A number of different sights were produced for the weapon, the Type 93 and Type 94 periscopic sights as well as the Type 96 telescopic sight. A ring-type anti-aircraft sight was also produced.

A major problem with this weapon was the short strip. This led to a lowering in the rate of fire, and could cause jams in the loading mechanism. To alleviate this the Japanese oiled the rounds in the factories producing the ammunition. However, this caused the problem to escalate, as the grease picked up dirt during operations. This grime was then deposited directly into the breech mechanism, worsening the problem. This was a problem common among Japanese machine guns.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Japanese 7.7mm Heavy Machine Gun Type 92". Korean War – Weapons & History. Retrieved 2015-12-11.
  2. 1 2 3 "Japanese Machine Guns". Nambu World. Retrieved 2015-12-11.
  3. ↑ "Ground Guns". JapaneseWeapons.net. Retrieved 2015-12-11.
  4. ↑ Weapons: An International Encyclopedia from 5000 B.C. to 2000 A.D. St. Martin's Press. 1991. ISBN 0-312-03950-6.
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