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1-1-2001 Small Arms, Japanese Robert J. Bunker Claremont Graduate University

Recommended Citation Bunker, Robert J. "Small arms, Japanese." World War II in the Pacific: An Encyclopedia. New York: Garland Publishing, 2001. 537-539.

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re­ in strength. Forbidden co withdraw by Slim, the 5th and Irrawaddy River coward Mandalay co draw Japanese the all irs 7th Indian Divisions found themselves isolated by serves there. \XIhen the enemy had fully committed , the Irrawaddy Japanese advance. Slim demanded char they stand fast avai lable reserves, IV Corps struck across he The Japanese and he put into effect the aerial resupply operation and capwred Meikrila on March 3, 1945. li ghtning strike, had promised. He also energetically launched relief opera­ were thrown off balance by this daring, ed Mandalay tions that rescued the beleaguered troops and han1mer and as a result, :iOv"CCII Corps also captured the Japanese Fifteenth Army. Caught betvveen rhe rwo during late March. co the British crossing forces, the Japanese were forced co withdraw in ratters The Japanese reacted violently ed numerous counterattacks through the jungle back inro Burma. Slim's success dem­ of the Irrawaddy and launch si­ gehead bur suffered crippling onstrated the efficacy of his operational approach, co eliminate the British brid forces then decisively defeated lenced his critics, and greatly boosted troop morale. losses in the process. Slim's during March 15-31, 1945. However, these reverses led Japan co reinforce irs forces the Japanese at Meikrila of resupply again, Slim kept his forces in Burma, and it launched a renewed major invasion Malcing use of aerial rapidly to scorm Rangoon on May 2, India via Imphal and Kohima berween March and July moving forward monsoon mins began to fall. The recap­ 1944 that again sorely rested Slim's troops and their mo­ 1945, as the first brought to a conclusion one of the best­ rale. In the face of superior strength, Slim's forces were ture of Rangoon dur­ and most boldly enacted British ground cam­ compelled to make a fighting withdrawal on Imphal, conceived rhe of World War II. ing which a lightning Japanese advance surrounded paigns cook demoralized and badly beaten troops and 17th Indian Division. Slim had co do an about-face and Slim co a standard of proficiency umnarched in division before it could withdraw inco the de­ restored them rescue the the the British army of World War II. He also beca me fensive perimeter British and Indian forces established of the war decisively co defeat the Jap­ in early April. Aided by the arrival of only Allied general outside Imphal the anese army on the Asian mainland and co prevail over much needed reinforcements from India, Slim's troops enemy with limited air support. His battlefield achieve­ brought the Japanese offensive co a grinding halt during ments showed him to be a great soldier of sharp intelli­ May 1944 in a protracted barrie of attrition. judgment. In rhe opinion of many au­ Japanese offensive, in early 1945 gence and shrewd After iliwaning rhe by thorities, Slim was the best commander produced Slim prepared to launch an ambitious counteroffensive of Grear Britain during World War II. aimed at recapturing Burma. During the summer 1944, he exploited his success by cap wring crossings over FURTHER READINGS the Chindwin River at Sitta.ng and Kalewa, despite atro­ (1973). jumping-off points Calvert, Michael. Slim cious monsoon conditions, to acquire of Lewin, Ronald. Slim, the Standardbearer: A Biography action. He then developed lines of for future offensive Slim, KG, GCB, GCMG, to Field-Marshal the Viscount supply via Tamu through rhe Kalew Valley to Kalewa GCVO, GBE, DSO, MC(l976). provide the logistic base for a renewal of offensive opera­ William J. Viscount. Defeat into Victmy (1956). of 1944, Slim prepared to Slim, tions. During the late summer Russell A. Hart engage and destroy rhe enemy on the Shwebo Plain dur­ ing the winter of 1944-1945 via an encirclement opera­ SEE ALSO Army, Japanese; China-Burma-India Theater tion on Mandalay. Bur mounting signs of]apanese inten­ of Operations tions co effect a general withdrawal behind the highly defensible barrier of the Irrawaddy River compelled Slim co scrap these plans. Small Arms, Japanese Instead, he now planned to make a deep penetration Japanese army and naval-infantry forces relied on a stan­ into Burma co capture Meikrila, the key base and com­ dard assortment of small arms in World War II. These center of the Japanese Burma Area Com­ munications arms can be grouped in co rifles and carbines, piscols, light Such a bold and deep advance through the jungle mand. machine guns, and submachine guns. Heavy machine ilie Japanese rear could only succeed if Slim managed into guns, while not normally considered small arms, will also rhe enemy as co his inrenrions. Using elaborate co confuse be covered under this topical heading. Japanese small­ and deception measures, he transferred the IV security arms ammunition could be identified, in many instances, from Tamu co Pokokku on the Irrawaddy, within Corps by the following colored bands: pink (ball), black (armor­ Meikrila, unseen by the enemy. At the striking distance of and green (tracer). the piercing), same time, the XXXIII Corps frontally attacked across 538 Small Arms, Japanese weapon was replaced by the Model 96 (1936) 6.5-mm Japanese The two basic rifle models in service by rhe light machine gun. Although rhe Model 96 externally re­ 6.5-mm were rhe 38 and rhe 99. The Model 38 (1905) sembled rhe British Bren gun, with irs magazine feed and ed on the German ri fl e, also known as rhe Arisaka, was bas carrying handle, it was based on French and Czech inter­ fiued co rake rhe Model Mauser bolr-acrion design and nal designs . This light machine gun had a bipod mount A carbine version of this rifle, the 30 (1897) bayoner. and was fiued co rake the Model 30 (1897) bayonet. 38 (1905) carbine, which was shoner and lighter Model The Japanese also used other machine-gun models rhan rhe original model, was also manufac tured. A carbine during World War II. The Model99 (1939) 7.7-mm light variam, rhe Model 44 (19 11) carbine, was slighdy longer machine gun was basically rhe same as rhe Model 96 ex­ than the Model 38 carbine and came with a folding spike cept that it was based on a larger caliber. The BRNO, ZB bayoner. A sniper's version of rhe Model 38 rifl e, the (1925) 7.92-mm light machine gun also saw considerable Model 91 (1931), was essemial ly rhe same as the original service. Originally of Czech manufacture, it was pur­ except for rhe inclusion of a telescopic sigh c. Some Italian­ chased by the Japanese prior to the war, looted from rhe made 6.5-mm rifles were also used by rhe Japanese. in thei r captured arsenals. Because T he Model 99 (1939) 7.7-mm rifle succeeded rhe Chinese, and produced British ammunition seized by Model 38 as rhe need arose during rhe war for a more of rhe large quamities of imitations powerful servi ce rifle. It was basical ly the same as the rhe Japanese, attempts were made to produce Model 38 excep t it was shorter and had a larger caliber. of Allied weapons. A long variam of rhe Model 99, a sniper variant, and an The Japanese used very few submachine guns in rhe experimental model reworked co use light-machine-gun war because they did nor appreciate rheir value until well magazines were also produced. Both rhe Model 38 and into rhe conflict. Those machine weapons rhar were en­ rhe Model 99 rifle could be fiued with spigot, rifled, and countered were mostly German Bergmanns, Swiss-made cup-type grenade launchers, which fired fragmentation, Solorhurns, or captured Allied models. Still, three Japa­ smoke, and high- ex plosive antipersonnel grenades. To­ nese submachine-gun designs were manufactured either ward rhe en d of the war, a few Japanese 7.7-mm semi­ in small quantities or as prototypes. The Type 0 (1940) were auco maric rifles, based on captured U.S . Garands, 8-mm submachine gun was used by Japanese naval infan­ also manufacwred. try and by paratroopers at Leyte in 1944. The experi­ design was based on the The standard Japanese pisco! mental 6.5-mm light machine glln was a cheap, easy-to­ pisco!. Modeled in appearance after Nambu (1914) 8-mm make weapon produced dming the final Japanese German Luger yet differem in irs internal functioning, rhe emergency and is notable for irs blowback operation. The this se miaucom aric pisco! is named after irs Japanese in­ experimental 8-mm machine gun, which was very com­ vencor, Colonel Kijiro Nambu. A wooden combination pact and had a special rare-of-fire selector, was never shoulder-stock-holster was developed to turn this pistol placed in production. imo a ca rbine bm was obsolete prior to cl1e war in rhe The Model 92 (1932) 7.7-mm heavy machine gun Pacific. T he Nambu was superseded by the Model 14 the standard Japanese heavy machine gun. It ( 1925) 8-mm pistol, a significandy modified version. The represented Hotchkiss-type weapon and was mounted Modell4 was mass-produced and became the major Jap­ was a modified targets; however, an anese pistol used in World War II. A rare 7-mm version, on a tripod for use against ground reserved solely for rhe use of staff officers, was also adapter allowed it to be used against aircraft. A Model92 manufac wrecl. variant based on the Lewis-type machine gun, which was Two other Japanese pistols were also in service. The drum-fed rather than strip-fed, also existed. Another var­ Model 94 (1934) 8-mm pistol was of poor design and iant, known as the Type 0 heavy machine gun, was lighter ini tial ly produced for export, mostly to Japanese living in than the standard Model 92 and simpler in design, mak­ South America. It was supplied to aircraft crews and in­ ing it one of the best heavy-machine-gun designs of me famry forces during the war. The model26 (1893) 9-mm war. revo lver was based on a hinged-frame Smith & Wesson The Model 93 (1933) 13-mm twin heavy machine quamiry model. It was the only revo lver ever produced in gun, which was tripod-mounted and had a sreel chair for light ma­ by. the Japanese. The Model 11 ( 1922) 6.5-mm me gunner, was used against both tanks and aircraft. based on the French Hotchkiss yet was chme gun was Model 93 ammunition has a different colored-band sys­ ampered b y irs reliance on 5-round ammunition clips h tem man Standard small-arms ammunition: black (ball), fed into .a hopper instead of a more standard feed system. whi~e (armor-piercing) , and red (tracer). A single-barreled At one nme standard to the Japanese infantry squad, this vers10n of rht's heavy mac htne' gun was al so pro d uce d· 538 Small Arms, Japanese weapon was replaced by the Model 96 (1936) 6.5-mm Japanese The rwo basic rifle models in service by the light machine gun. Although the Model 96 externally re­ were rhe 38 and the 99. The Model 38 (1905) 6.5-mm sembled the British Bren gun, with its magazine feed and on the German rifle, also known as the Arisaka, was based carrying handle, it was based on French and Czech inter­ fitted to take rhe Model Mauser bolt-action design and nal designs. This light machine gun had a bipod mount bayonet. A carbine version of this rifle, the 30 (1897) and was fitted to take the Model 30 (1897) bayonet. 38 (1905) carbine, which was shorter and lighter Model The Japanese also used other machine-gun models than the original model, was also manufactured. A carbine during World War II. The Model99 (1939) 7.7-mm light variant, the Model 44 (1911) carbine, was slightly longer machine gun was basically the same as the Model 96 ex­ than the Model 38 carbine and came with a folding spike cept that it was based on a larger caliber. The BRNO, ZB bayonet. A sniper's version of the Model 38 rifle, the (1925) 7.92-mm light machine gun also saw considerable Model 91 (1931), was essentially the same as the original service. Originally of Czech manufacture, ir was pur­ except for the inclusion of a telescopic sight. Some Italian­ chased by the Japanese prior to rhe war, looted from the made 6.5-mm rifles were also used by the Japanese. in their captured arsenals. Because The Model 99 (1939) 7.7-mm rifle succeeded rhe Chinese, and produced British ammunition seized by Model 38 as the need arose during the war for a more of rhe large quantities of imitations powerful service rifle. It was basically the same as the the Japanese, attempts were made to produce Model 38 except it was shorter and had a larger caliber. of Allied weapons. A long variant of the Model 99, a sniper variant, and an The Japanese used very few submachine guns in the experimental model reworked to use light-machine-gun war because they did nor appreciate their value until well magazines were also produced. Both the Model 38 and into rhe conflict. Those machine weapons that were en­ the Model 99 rifle could be fitted with spigot, rifled, and countered were mostly German Bergmanns, Swiss-made cup-rype grenade launchers, which fired fragmentation, Solothurns, or captured Allied models. Still, three Japa­ smoke, and high-explosive antipersonnel grenades. To­ nese submachine-gun designs were manufactured either ward the end of the war, a few Japanese 7.7-mm semi­ in small quantities or as prototypes. The Type 0 (1940) automatic rifles, based on capmred U.S. Garands, were 8-mm submachine gun was used by Japanese naval infan­ also manufactured. try and by paratroopers at Leyre in 1944. The experi­ design was based on the The standard Japanese pistol mental 6.5-mm light machine gun was a cheap, easy-to­ 8-mm pistol. Modeled in appearance after Nambu (1914) make weapon produced during the final Japanese German Luger yet different in its internal functioning, the emergency and is notable for irs blowback operation. The this semiautomatic pistol is named after its Japanese in­ experimental 8-mm machine gun, which was very com­ ventor, Colonel Kijiro Nambu. A wooden combination pact and had a special rate-of-fire selector, was never shoulder-stock-holster was developed to turn this pistol placed in production. into a carbine but was obsolete prior to the war in the The Model 92 (1932) 7.7-mm heavy machine gun Pacific. The Nambu was superseded by the Model 14 the standard Japanese heavy machine gun. Ir (1925) 8-mm pistol, a significantly modified version. The represented weapon and was mounted Model 14 was mass-produced and becan1e the major Jap­ was a modified Hotchkiss-type targets; however, an anese pistol used in World War II. A rare 7-mm version on a tripod for use against ground reserved solely for the use of staff officers, was als~ adapter allowed it ro be used against aircraft. A Model92 manufactured. variant based on the Lewis-rype machine gun, which was Two other Japanese pistols were also in service. The drum-fed rather than strip-fed, also existed. Another var­ Model 94 (1934) 8-mm pistol was of poor design and iant, known as the Type 0 heavy machine gun, was lighter initially produced for export, mostly to Japanese living in ~ha~ the standard Model 92 and simpler in design, mak­ South America. It was supplied to aircraft crews and in­ tng It one of the best heavy-machine-gun designs of the fantry forces during the war. The model26 (1893) 9-mm war. revolver was based on a hinged-frame Smid1 & Wesson The Model 93 (1933) 13-mm rwin heavy machine quanriry model. It was the only revolver ever produced in gun, which was tripod-mounted and had a sreel chair for light ma­ by tl1e Japanese. The Modell! (1922) 6.5-mm the gunner, was used against both ranks and aircraft. gun was based on the French Hotchkiss chine yet was Model 93 ammunition has a different colored-band sys­ irs reliance on 5-round ammunition dips hampered by tem than standard small-arms ammunition: black (ball), fed into _a hopper instead of a more standard feed system. 1 d white. (a rmor-pterctng· · ) , and red (tracer). A single-barre e Ar one nme standard to the Japanese infantry squad, this vers10n of tilt. s h eavy mac h.me gun was also pro d uce d ·