Type 3 12 cm AA Gun

Infobox Weapon
name=Type 3 12 centimeter anti-aircraft gun


caption=A Japanese Type 3 anti-aircraft gun
origin=flag|Empire of Japan
type= Anti-aircraft gun
ranged=yes
is_artillery=yes
service= 1943-1945
used_by=
wars= World War II
designer=
design_date=
manufacturer=
unit_cost=
production_date=
number= 120
variants=
spec_label=
weight=19.8 tons
length=
part_length=6.71 meter (L56) barrel
width=
height=
diameter=
crew=
cartridge=
caliber=120 mm
barrels=single
action=
rate=20 rpm
velocity=853 m/s
range=8.5 km against a target at 12,000 m.
Effective ceiling 12,000 m
max_range=11.4 km against a target at 6,000 m.
Maximum ceiling 20,000 m
feed=
sights=
breech=
recoil=
carriage=
elevation=8 to +90 degrees
traverse=360 DegreesThe nihongo|Type 3 12 cm AA Gun|三式十二糎高射砲|San-shiki jyūni-senchi Koshahō was an anti-aircraft gun used in quantity by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. It replaced the earlier Type 88 75 mm AA Gun in Japanese service. [Mayer, the Rise and Fall of Imperial Japan. pp. 64]

History and development

In order to address the shortcomings of the Type 88 75 mm AA Gun, the Army Technical Bureau developed a larger version with superior range, designated the Type 3. It was one of the few weapons in the Japanese inventory capable of reaching the USAAF B-29 Superfortress bombers that were attacking cities and other targets in the Japanese home islands. [Bishop, The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II. ] However, despite its superior range and firepower, the Type 3 gun could not be produced in sufficient quantities to be truly effective, due to costs, lack of raw materials and damage to Japan’s industrial infrastructure by Allied air raids. Only 120 units were completed before production was discontinued, although the units produced continued to be used until the surrender of Japan. [ [http://www3.plala.or.jp/takihome/3aa.htm] Taki's Imperial Japanese Army]

Design

The Type 3 12 cm AA gun had a single piece gun barrel with sliding breech, mounted on a central pedestal. The firing platform was supported by five legs, each of which (along with the central pedestal) had adjustable screwed foot for leveling. [Bishop, The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II. ]

Combat record

Coming into service towards the end of the war, most the Type 3s were retained on the home islands as part of the bolstering of Japan's defenses against Allied air raids and against the perceived thread of Allied invasion. These guns were deployed to cover military targets around Tokyo, Osaka, Kobe and the Yawata Steel Works in Kitakyushu. Overseas, they were deployed to guard the oil fields at Palembang in the Netherlands East Indies [Chant, Artillery of World War II. ] Units in Tokyo were credited with downing at least ten B-29 bombers. [MacLean. Japanese Artillery; Weapons and Tactics]

References

* Bishop, Chris (eds) "The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II". Barnes & Nobel. 1998. ISBN 0760710228
* Chant, Chris. "Artillery of World War II", Zenith Press, 2001, ISBN 0760311722
* 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 (1884) ISBN 0517423138
* US Department of War, "TM 30-480, Handbook on Japanese Military Forces", Louisana State University Press, 1994. ISBN 0807120138

External links

* [http://www3.plala.or.jp/takihome/3aa.htm Taki's Imperial Japanese Army]

Notes