Type 97 Light Machine Gun

Infobox Weapon
name=Type 97 7.7 mm Tank Machine Gun
|

caption=A Type 97 tank machine gun, shown with telescopic sight, magazine and jacket guard.
origin=flagcountry|Empire of Japan
type=Light machine gun
is_ranged=yes
service=1937-1945
used_by=
wars=Second Sino-Japanese War Soviet-Japanese Border Wars World War II
designer=
design_date=1937
manufacturer=
production_date=1937-1945
number=18,000
variants=
weight= 12.4 kilograms
length= 1145 mm
part_length= 700 mm
width=
height=
crew=
cartridge=7.7x58mm Arisaka
caliber=
action=Gas-operated
rate= 500 round/min
velocity=2,375 fps (724 m/s)
range=540 meters
max_range=3420 meters
feed=20 round detachable box magazine
sights= Blade front sight and aperture back sight,
Telescopic 1.5 power sightThe nihongo|Type 97 Light Machine Gun|九七式車載重機関銃|Kyūnana-shiki Shasai-jūkikanjū was the standard machine gun used on tanks and armored vehicles of the Imperial Japanese Army in World War II, and also as a light machine gun by Infantry forces. [Bishop, The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II ]

History and development

Initially, the Type 11 Light Machine Gun was modified by the Army Technical Bureau for use on tanks and other armored vehicles, and was produced for this application under the designation “Type 92 Mobile Machine Gun”. However, the basic design issues with the Type 11 remained, including its tendency to jam under the slightest amount of grit or dirt, and the low lethality and lack of stopping power of its 6.5x50mm Arisaka cartridges.

During the early stages of the Second Sino-Japanese War, Japanese forces captured a number of Czech ZB vz/26 light machine guns from China’s National Revolutionary Army, whose numerous design advantages led to the development of the Japanese Type 92 heavy machine gun. This was used in a modified form for armored vehicles until 1940, when the Japanese Army switched to a rimless 7.7 mm cartridge. The resulting final design was designated to Type 97.

Design

The Type 97 Machine Gun was mechanically similar to the Czech ZB vz/26, with a different stock and pistol grip. It had a straight, vertical, 20 round box magazine and used the same 7.7 mm cartridges as were used in the Type 99 Rifle. The light gun barrel was easy to overheat, which meant the gunner had to fire in bursts, or the barrel would be shot out. [ [http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/Japan/IJA/HB/HB-9.html#III] TM-E 30-480 (1945) ]

When fitted to a tank, a fixed focus 1.5X telescopic sight with a 30 degree field of view was used. To prevent injury to the gunner, a heavy rubber eye pad was attached to the rear of the sight.

When used as an infantry weapon, a bipod was used.

Combat record

The Type 97 came into active service in 1937, and was used on all Japanese tanks and other armored vehicles until the end of the war. It was much less common as a stand-alone infantry gun due to its weight. [Morse, "Japanese Small Arms of WW2; Light Machine Guns Models 11, 96, 99, 97 & 92" ] The Imperial Japanese Navy also used the weapon in their combat vehicles as the Type 92 Jyu-Sokosha. [ http://www.dragonsoffire.com/photos_Type97TankMachineGub.htm] Dragonsoffire.com ]

References

*cite book|author= Bishop, Chris (eds) |title= The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II |publisher= Barnes & Nobel |year=1998|id= ISBN 0760710228
*cite book|author= Mayer, S.L. |title= The Rise and Fall of Imperial Japan |publisher= The Military Press |year=1984|id= ISBN 0517423138
*cite book|author=Morse, D.R. |title=Japanese Small Arms of WW2; Light Machine Guns Models 11, 96, 99 97 & 92 |publisher=Firing Pin Enterprizes |year=1996|id= ASIN: B000KFVGSU
*cite book|author=Popenker, Maxim |title=Machine Gun: The Development of the Machine Gun from the Nineteenth Century to the Present Day|publisher=Crowood |year=2008|id= ISBN 1847970303
*cite book|author=Rottman, Gordon L. |title=Japanese Infantryman 1937-1945|publisher=Osprey Publishing |year=2005|id= ISBN 1841768189
*

External links

* [http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/Japan/IJA/HB/HB-9.html#III US Technical Manual E 30-480]
* [http://www.dragonsoffire.com/photos_Type97TankMachineGub.htm Dragonsoffire.com]

Notes