Type 3 aircraft machine gun

Type 3 (三式, San-Shiki) was a Japanese Navy aircraft machine gun used during World War II. It was based on the American M2 Browning machine gun but used the 13.2x99mm Hotchkiss cartridge.

Type 3 machine gun
Type 3 Aircraft machine gun
TypeMachine gun
Place of originImperial Japanese Navy Air Service (IJNAS)
Service history
Used byImperial Japanese army
WarsWorld War II
Specifications
Mass28 kilograms (61.7 lb)
Length1,500 mm (59 in)
Barrel length900 mm (35 in)
Cartridge13.2 × 99 mm (52 g)
ActionRecoil operation
Rate of fire800 RPM
Muzzle velocity780 m/s (2,600 ft/s)
Feed systemBelt
SightsIron

History

The Type 3 was a copy of the 0.50-inch (12.7 mm) M2 Browning and had very similar ammunition to that of the 13.2 mm Hotchkiss M1929 machine gun. Despite the small difference in calibers, it was possible to use M2 Browning tapes in the Japanese machine gun, which apparently took place during World War II. The machine gun was produced from 1943 to 1945. It came in flexible and fixed versions which differed slightly in construction details. The flexible version featured a longer barrel.[1]

The fixed version was used on later models of the Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighter.[2] and Kawanishi N1K-J Shiden.[3] In the mobile version, Type 3 was partially replaced by the end of World War II by the Type 2 machine gun.[3]

See also

Notes

    Literature
    • René J. Francillon: Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. Londyn: Putnam, 1979. ISBN 0-370-30251-6.
    • Robert C. Mikesh: Japanese Aircraft Equipment 1940-1945. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing, 2004. ISBN 0-7643-2097-1.
    • Anthony G. Williams: Rapid Fire: The Development of Automatic Cannon and Heavy Machine Guns for Armies, Navies, and Air Forces. Airlife Publishing, Ltd, 2000. ISBN 978-1840371222.

    References
    1. Robert C. Mikesh: Japanese Aircraft Equipment 1940-1945. s. 129.
    2. René J. Francillon: Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. s. 531.
    3. A. G. Williams: Rapid Fire. s. 172.


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