Type 90 75 mm field gun

The Type 90 75 mm field gun (九〇式野砲, Kyūmaru-shiki yahō) was a field gun used by the Imperial Japanese Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War, Soviet-Japanese Border Wars and World War II. The Type 90 designation was given to this gun as it was accepted in the year 2590 of the Japanese calendar (1930).[2] It was intended to replace the Type 38 75 mm field gun in front line combat units, but due to operational and budgetary constraints, the Type 38 continued to be used.[3]

For other articles with similar titles see Type 90 (disambiguation).
Type 90 75 mm field gun
Type 90 75 mm field gun at the U.S. Army Field Artillery Museum, Ft. Sill, OK
TypeField gun
Place of origin Empire of Japan
Service history
In service1932-1945
Used byImperial Japanese Army
WarsSecond Sino-Japanese War
Soviet-Japanese Border Wars
World War II
Production history
Produced1932-1945
No. built786
Specifications
Mass1,400 kg (3,086 lb) (firing)
2,000 kg (4,409 lb) (travel)
Length5.23 m (17 ft 2 in) (firing)
3.8712 m (12 ft 8.41 in) (traveling)
Barrel length2.883 metres (9 ft 6 in) L/38.4
Width1.50 m (4 ft 11 in) Track
1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) Maximum
Height1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Shell75 x 424mm R[1]
Shell weight6.56 kilograms (14.5 lb)
Caliber75 mm (2.95 in)
ActionManual
BreechHorizontal sliding-block
RecoilHydro-pneumatic
CarriageSplit trail
Elevation-8° to +43°
Traverse25° left, 25° right
Rate of fire2 minutes 15 rpm,
15 minutes 4 rpm
Continuous 100-120 rph
Muzzle velocity683 m/s (2,241 ft/s)
Maximum firing range14,960 metres (16,360 yd)
Sightspanoramic

History and development

Prior to World War I, the Imperial Japanese Army was largely equipped with Krupp cannons from Germany. After the Versailles Treaty, the Japanese switched to the French Schneider company, and purchased numerous examples for test and evaluation. With an army rearmament program starting in 1931, a new 75 mm field gun loosely based on the French Schneider et Cie Canon de 85 mle 1927 built for Greece[4][5][6] was introduced, and labeled the "Type 90".[7]

However, few units were built, and the design never achieved its intended purpose of replacing the Type 38 75 mm field gun. The Schneider design was very complex and expensive to build, requiring very tight dimensional tolerances that were beyond the limits of Japanese industry at the time. In particular, the recoil system required a high amount of complex maintenance, which was difficult to sustain in front line combat service.[8]

Design

The Type 90 75 mm field gun was unique among Japanese artillery pieces in that it had a muzzle brake. The carriage was of the split trail type. The Type 90 was built in two version: one with wooden wheels suitable for animal (horse) draft, and another with solid rubber tires and a stronger suspension for towing by motor vehicles. The latter weighed 200 kilograms (440 lb) more.[9]

The Type 90 75 mm field gun was capable of firing high-explosive, armor-piercing, shrapnel, incendiary, smoke and illumination shells. Its range of 15,000 metres (16,000 yd) for a weight of 1,400 kilograms (3,100 lb) compared well with its contemporaries.

Combat record

The Type 90 75 mm field gun was issued primarily to units based in Manchukuo, and was rarely deployed to the Pacific theatre of operations. Its initial use in combat was against the Soviet Red Army at the Battle of Nomonhan. When deployed later against Allied forces, it was often used as an anti-tank gun, as its high speed shells were effective against armored vehicles.[10] It was also used at the Battle of the Philippines, Battle of Iwo Jima and Battle of Okinawa, often deployed together with armored units. The Type 90 continued to be used as field artillery until the surrender of Japan.[11]

Variants

The Type 90 formed the basis for the Type 3 75 mm tank gun used in the Type 3 Ho-Ni III Gun tank and Type 3 Chi-Nu medium tank.[5][12]

References

Notes
  1. "75-77 MM CALIBRE CARTRIDGES". www.quarryhs.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-09-05.
  2. War Department TM-E-30-480 Handbook on Japanese Military Forces September 1944 p 400
  3. Bishop, Chris. The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II
  4. War Department Special Series No 25 Japanese Field Artillery October 1944
  5. Tomczyk 2005, p. 3.
  6. History of War
  7. Mayer, S. L. The Rise and Fall of Imperial Japan, pp. 57-59
  8. Mayer, S. L. The Rise and Fall of Imperial Japan, p. 59
  9. US Department of War. TM 30-480, Handbook on Japanese Military Forces
  10. MacLean, Donald B. Japanese Artillery: Weapons and Tactics
  11. Taki's Imperial Japanese Army: "Type 90 75mm Field Gun"
  12. Tomczyk 2007, p. 9.

Bibliography
  • Bishop, Chris (eds). The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Barnes & Nobel, 1998, ISBN 0-7607-1022-8
  • McLean, Donald B. Japanese Artillery: Weapons and Tactics, Wickenburg, Ariz. Normount Technical Publications, 1973, ISBN 0-87947-157-3
  • Mayer, S. L. The Rise and Fall of Imperial Japan, The Military Press, 1984, ISBN 0-517-42313-8
  • Tomczyk, Andrzej (2005). Japanese Armor Vol. 4. AJ Press. ISBN 978-8372371676.
  • Tomczyk, Andrzej (2007). Japanese Armor Vol. 5. AJ Press. ISBN 978-8372371799.
  • US Department of War Special Series No 25 Japanese Field Artillery October 1944
  • US Department of War. TM 30-480, Handbook on Japanese Military Forces, Louisiana State University Press, 1994, ISBN 0-8071-2013-8

Further reading
  • Chamberlain, Peter and Gander, Terry. Light and Medium Field Artillery. Macdonald and Jane's, 1975, ISBN 0-356-08215-6
  • Chant, Chris. Artillery of World War II, Zenith Press, 2001, ISBN 0-7603-1172-2
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