Engineering:Type 3 aircraft machine gun
| Type 3 machine gun | |
|---|---|
 Type 3 Aircraft machine gun | |
| Type | Heavy machine gun |
| Place of origin | Japan |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1943–1945 |
| Used by | Imperial Japanese Navy |
| Wars | World War II |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | KK Nihon Seikoujo Suzuka Naval Arsenal Toyokawa Naval Arsenal |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 27.5 kilograms (60.6 lb) |
| Length | 1,530 mm (60 in) |
| Barrel length | 910 mm (36 in) |
| Cartridge | 13.2×99mm Hotchkiss (52 g) |
| Action | Short recoil-operated, rising block locked (Browning) |
| Rate of fire | 800 RPM |
| Muzzle velocity | 790 m/s (2,600 ft/s) |
| Feed system | Disintegrating Belt |
| Sights | Iron |
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.
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 prototypes of the Kawanishi N1K Shiden Kai.[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
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