Japanese anti-tank artillery … All Japanese small-caliber anti-aircraft guns from the moment of development were considered as dual-use systems. In addition to fighting low-altitude air targets in the frontal zone, they, if necessary, had to fire at enemy armored vehicles. Due to the lack of a developed design school and traditions of independent design of samples of small arms and artillery weapons, Japan was forced to acquire licenses or copy foreign samples to equip its own armed forces. This fully applies to small-caliber anti-aircraft guns.
Small-caliber anti-aircraft guns
In 1938, the 20 mm Type 98 automatic cannon entered service, the principle of operation of which was repeated by the French 13, 2 mm Hotchkiss M1929 machine gun. The 20 mm rapid-fire anti-aircraft gun was developed as a dual-use system: to combat lightly armored ground and air targets. For firing from the Type 98, a 20 × 124 mm round was used, which is also used in the Type 97 anti-tank gun. The 20-mm armor-piercing tracer projectile weighing 109 g left the barrel 1400 mm long with an initial speed of 835 m / s. At a distance of 250 m, along the normal, it penetrated 30-mm armor, that is, the armor penetration of the Type 98 was at the level of the Type 97 anti-tank rifle.
The 20 mm cannon could be towed by a horse team or light truck at a speed of up to 15 km / h. The high bed rested on two wooden wheels. In the combat position, the anti-aircraft gun was hung out on three supports. If necessary, the fire could be fired from the wheels, but the accuracy of the fire dropped.
An experienced crew of six people could bring the anti-aircraft installation into a combat position in three minutes. For mountain rifle units, a collapsible modification was created, individual parts of which could be transported in packs. The anti-aircraft gun had the ability to fire in the 360 ° sector, vertical guidance angles: from -5 ° to + 85 °. Weight in firing position - 373 kg. Rate of fire - 300 rds / min. Combat rate of fire - up to 120 rds / min. Food was supplied from a 20-charge store. The maximum firing range is 5.3 km. The effective firing range was about half that.
The production of the Type 98 small-caliber anti-aircraft gun lasted from 1938 to 1945. About 2,400 20-mm anti-aircraft guns were sent to the troops. For the first time Type 98 entered the battle in 1939 in the vicinity of the Khalkhin-Gol River. This weapon was used by the Japanese not only for firing at aircraft, but also used in the anti-tank defense of the front edge. The armor penetration characteristics of the Type 98 made it possible to penetrate the armor of light M3 / M5 Stuart tanks, M3 half-track armored personnel carriers and tracked carriers of the Marine Corps at close range.
Disassembled, easily portable and camouflaged, the 20mm cannons caused a lot of problems for the Americans and the British. Very often, 20-mm machine guns were mounted in bunkers and shot through the area for a kilometer. Their shells posed a great danger to amphibious assault vehicles, including lightly armored LVT amphibians and fire support vehicles based on them.
In 1944, the Type 98 began production of a paired 20-mm Type 4 anti-aircraft gun, created using the Type 98 artillery unit. Until the Japanese surrender, the troops received about 500 twin mounts. Like single-barreled assault rifles, the twin guns took part in battles in the Philippines and were used for anti-amphibious defense.
In 1942, the 20-mm Type 2 anti-aircraft gun entered service. This model was created thanks to military-technical cooperation with Germany and was a variant of the 20-mm anti-aircraft gun 2, 0 cm Flak 38, adapted for Japanese ammunition. Compared to the Type 98, the German copy was faster, more accurate and more reliable. The rate of fire increased to 420-480 rds / min. The mass in the firing position is 450 kg, in the stowed position - 770 kg. At the very end of the war, an attempt was made to launch a paired version of this anti-aircraft gun into production. But due to the limited capabilities of Japanese industry, it was not possible to produce a significant number of such installations.
After the end of World War II, a significant number of captured 20-mm anti-aircraft guns were at the disposal of the Chinese communists, who used them during the Korean War. Also, cases of the combat use of Japanese small-caliber installations were noted in the second half of the 1940s during the hostilities of the Indonesian forces against the Dutch military contingent and in Vietnam when repelling the raids of French and American aircraft.
The most famous and widespread Japanese small-caliber anti-aircraft machine gun was the 25-mm Type 96. This automatic anti-aircraft gun was developed in 1936 on the basis of the Mitrailleuse de 25 mm contre-aéroplanes gun of the French company Hotchkiss.
The 25-mm anti-aircraft gun was very widely used in single, twin and triple installations, both on ships and on land. The most serious difference between the Japanese model and the original was the equipment of the German company Rheinmetall with a flame arrester. The gun was towed; in the combat position, the wheel drive was separated.
A single-barreled 25-mm anti-aircraft gun weighed 790 kg, twin - 1110 kg, built - 1800 kg. The single-barrel unit was serviced by 4 people, the twin-barreled unit by 7 people, and the built-in unit by 9 people. For food, magazines for 15 shells were used. The rate of fire of a single-barreled machine gun was 220-250 rds / min. Practical rate of fire: 100-120 rds / min. Vertical guidance angles: from -10 ° to + 85 °. The effective firing range is up to 3000 m. The altitude reach is 2000 m. The fire was fired with 25-mm rounds with a sleeve length of 163 mm. The ammunition load could include: high-explosive incendiary, fragmentation tracer, armor-piercing, armor-piercing tracer shells. At a distance of 250 meters, an armor-piercing projectile weighing 260 g, with an initial speed of 870 m / s, pierced 35-mm armor. For the first time, the Japanese massively used 25-mm anti-aircraft guns for firing at ground targets during the battle for Guadalcanal.
Considering that the Japanese industry has produced about 33,000 25mm mounts, the Type 96 has become widespread. Despite their relatively small caliber, they were quite powerful anti-tank weapons. A dozen armor-piercing shells, fired from a short range, were quite capable of "gnawing" the frontal armor of the Sherman.
Paired and triple anti-aircraft guns were placed in pre-equipped positions, and due to their large mass, maneuvering under enemy fire was impossible. Single-barreled 25-mm could be rolled by the crew, and they were often used to organize anti-tank ambushes.
After the Japanese occupied a number of British and Dutch colonies in Asia, a significant number of 40-mm Bofors L / 60 anti-aircraft guns and ammunition fell into their hands.
40mm anti-aircraft machine gun used by the Japanese
In addition to using captured towed Bofors, the Japanese purposefully dismantled 40-mm sea mounts from captured and sunken ships in shallow water. Former Dutch anti-aircraft guns Hazemeyer, which used twin 40-mm "Bofors", were permanently installed on the coast and used in the defense of the islands.
For the Bofors L / 60 anti-aircraft gun created in Sweden, a 40x311R shot with various types of shells was adopted. The main one was considered a fragmentation-tracer 900 g projectile, equipped with 60 g of TNT, leaving the barrel at a speed of 850 m / s. A solid 40-mm armor-piercing tracer projectile weighing 890 g, with an initial speed of 870 m / s, at a distance of 500 m could penetrate 50 mm armor, which, when fired from a short distance, made it dangerous for medium tanks.
In 1943, in Japan, an attempt was made to copy and start mass production of the Bofors L / 60 under the designation Type 5. The guns were actually assembled by hand at the Yokosuka naval arsenal with a production rate at the end of 1944 of 5-8 guns per month. Despite the manual assembly and individual fitting of parts, the quality and reliability of the Japanese 40-mm anti-aircraft guns were very low. The released several dozen of these anti-aircraft guns, due to the small number and unsatisfactory reliability, did not have any effect on the course of hostilities.
Anti-aircraft and universal guns caliber 75-88 mm
An acute shortage of specialized artillery forced the Japanese command to use medium-caliber anti-aircraft guns in anti-tank and anti-amphibious defense. The most massive Japanese anti-aircraft gun, designed to combat air targets at altitudes up to 9000 m, was the 75-mm Type 88. This gun entered service in 1928 and had become obsolete by the early 1940s.
Although the 75-mm Type 88 anti-aircraft gun could fire up to 20 shells per minute, the excessive complexity and high cost of the gun caused a lot of criticism. The process of transferring the gun from the transport to the combat position and vice versa was very time consuming. Particularly inconvenient for deploying anti-aircraft guns in a combat position was such a structural element as a five-beam support, in which it was necessary to move four beds apart and unscrew five jacks. Dismantling two transport wheels also took a lot of time and effort from the crew.
In the transport position, the gun weighed 2740 kg, in the combat position - 2442 kg. The anti-aircraft gun had a circular fire, vertical guidance angles: from 0 ° to + 85 °. The Type 88 was fired with a 75x497R shell. In addition to a fragmentation grenade with a remote fuse and a high-explosive fragmentation projectile with a shock fuse, the ammunition load included an armor-piercing projectile weighing 6, 2 kg. Having left the barrel with a length of 3212 mm with an initial speed of 740 m / s, at a distance of 500 m when hit at a right angle, an armor-piercing projectile could penetrate 110 mm thick armor.
Faced with a shortage of effective anti-tank weapons, the Japanese command began to deploy 75-mm anti-aircraft guns in the defense of the islands in tank-hazardous areas. Since the change of position was extremely difficult, the guns were actually used stationary.
In the mid-1930s in China, Japanese troops captured several Dutch-made 75-mm Bofors M29 anti-aircraft guns. On the basis of this sample in 1943 in Japan, a 75-mm Type 4 cannon was created. In terms of range and reach in height, the Type 88 and Type 4 were practically equal. But the Type 4 turned out to be much more convenient to operate, and deployed to position much faster.
Anti-aircraft 75-mm cannon Tour 4
The bombing of Japanese factories and an acute shortage of raw materials did not allow the mass production of Type 4 guns to begin. In total, about 70 Type 4 anti-aircraft guns were released until August 1945, and they did not have a noticeable effect on the course of the war.
On the basis of the Type 4 anti-aircraft gun, a 75-mm Type 5 tank gun was created, which was intended to arm the Type 5 Chi-Ri medium tank and Type 5 Na-To tank destroyer. A 75-mm projectile weighing 6, 3 kg left a barrel 4230 mm long with an initial speed of 850 m / s. At a distance of 1000 m, an armor-piercing projectile normally penetrated 75 mm of armor.
The Type 5 Chi-Ri tank was comparable to the American M4 Sherman in terms of security. The long-barreled gun of the Japanese tank made it possible to fight any Allied armored vehicles used in the Pacific theater of operations. The Type 5 Na-To tank destroyer, based on the Type 4 Chi-So tracked transporter, was covered with 12 mm bulletproof armor and could successfully operate from an ambush. Fortunately for the Americans, the Japanese industry, operating in an acute shortage of raw materials, was overwhelmed with military orders, and things did not progress beyond the construction of several prototypes of tanks and self-propelled guns.
In 1914, the Japanese Navy entered service with the "anti-mine" rapid-fire 76, 2-mm Type 3 cannon. After modernization, this gun had an increased vertical aiming angle, and it was able to fire at air targets. For the 1920s-1930s, the versatile 76, 2-mm cannon had good characteristics. With a combat rate of fire of 12 rds / min, it had an altitude reach of 6000 m. But due to the lack of fire control devices and centralized guidance, in practice, the effectiveness of such fire was low, and Type 3 guns could only conduct defensive fire.
In the second half of the 1930s, most of the 76-mm "dual-use" guns were forced out of the ship's decks by 25-mm Type 96 anti-aircraft guns. After some refinement, approximately 60 of the released Type 3 guns were placed on the shore. They were supposed to conduct defensive anti-aircraft fire, perform the functions of field and coastal defense guns.
The Type 3 gun, mounted on a pedestal pedestal, weighed 2,400 kg. The muzzle velocity of 5.7 kg of the armor-piercing projectile was 685 m / s, which made it possible to fight American medium tanks at a distance of up to 500 m.
In addition to its own 75-mm anti-aircraft and 76, 2-mm universal guns, the Imperial Japanese army used British 76, 2-mm Q. F. 3-in 20cwt anti-aircraft guns and American 76, 2-mm M3 anti-aircraft guns captured in Singapore and the Philippines. In total, the imperial army in 1942 had about 50 captured three-inch anti-aircraft guns. However, these artillery systems by that time were outdated and did not represent much value. One and a half dozen 94-mm British QF 3.7-inch AA guns captured by Japanese troops in Singapore were quite modern. But the Japanese did not have serviceable original fire control devices at their disposal, which made it extremely difficult to use captured anti-aircraft guns for their intended purpose. In this regard, most of the British and American anti-aircraft guns were used for firing at sea and ground targets in the line of sight.
In 1937, in Nanjing, the Japanese army captured several German-made 88 mm 8.8 cm SK C / 30 naval guns, which the Chinese used as serfs.
The 88-mm gun 8.8 cm SK C / 30 weighed 1230 kg, and after being placed on a concrete or metal base, it had the possibility of circular fire. Vertical guidance angles: from -10 ° to + 80 °. The muzzle velocity of an armor-piercing projectile weighing 10 kg is 790 m / s. A fragmentation grenade weighing 9 kg, left the barrel at a speed of 800 m / s, and had an altitude reach of more than 9000 m. The combat rate of fire was up to 15 rds / min.
On the basis of the captured 88-mm naval gun 8.8 cm SK C / 30, the Type 99 anti-aircraft gun was created, which entered service in 1939. At a direct fire range, an 88-mm armor-piercing projectile could penetrate the armor of any American or British tank used during World War II in Asia. However, a major drawback of the Type 99, which prevented its effective use in anti-tank defense, was the need to disassemble the gun when changing position. According to reference data, from 1939 to 1943, from 750 to 1000 guns were fired. They were used not only in air defense, but also actively participated in the defense of the islands, on which the Americans landed amphibious assault forces. It is likely that the Type 99 88mm cannons have wrecked and destroyed tanks.
Anti-aircraft and universal guns of caliber 100-120 mm
The 100-mm Type 14 anti-aircraft gun, which was put into service in 1929, was very powerful for its time. Outwardly and structurally, it resembled the 75 mm Type 88 gun, but was heavier and more massive.
A 100-mm anti-aircraft gun could fire at aircraft flying at an altitude of 10,000 m, firing up to 10 shells per minute. Since the mass of the gun in the transport position was approaching 6000 kg, there were difficulties with its transportation and deployment. The frame of the gun rested on six extendable legs. Each leg had to be leveled with a jack. To undo the wheel drive and transfer the anti-aircraft gun from the transport to the combat position, the crew required at least 45 minutes. Since the 100-mm anti-aircraft gun turned out to be very expensive to manufacture, and its power for the first half of the 1930s was considered excessively high, only 70 units were produced. Due to the difficulty of redeployment and the small number of guns available in the ranks, the Type 14 was not used in land battles with British and American forces.
After the start of the bombing of Japan, it turned out that the 75-mm anti-aircraft guns were ineffective against the American B-17 bombers and absolutely unsuitable for countering the B-29 raids. In 1944, it became clear that Japan had finally lost its strategic initiative, the Japanese command was concerned about strengthening its air defense and anti-amphibious assault. For this, it was decided to use the Type 98 100-mm twin artillery mounts. According to American experts, this is the best Japanese all-purpose medium-caliber naval artillery mount. She possessed excellent ballistics and high rate of fire. The Type 98 was produced in a closed turret and semi-open versions. The 100-mm twin guns were deployed on Akizuki-class destroyers, Oyodo-class cruisers, and Taiho and Shinano aircraft carriers.
The total mass of a paired 100-mm installation of a semi-open type was about 20,000 kg. Effective rate of fire: 15-20 rounds / min. The initial velocity of the projectile is 1030 m / s. Vertical guidance angles: from -10 to + 90 °. A 13 kg fragmentation grenade with a remote fuse could hit targets at altitudes up to 13,000 m. An explosive charge weighing 2, 1 kg provided a radius of destruction of air targets by fragments of 14 m. Thus, the Type 98 was one of the few Japanese anti-aircraft guns capable of reaching an American B bomber. -29, flying at cruising altitude.
Between 1938 and 1944, Japanese industry delivered 169 Type 98s to the fleet. Starting in 1944, 68 of them were deployed ashore. These guns, due to their long firing range and high rate of fire, were a very good anti-aircraft weapon, and the horizontal firing range of 19,500 m made it possible to keep coastal waters under control.
In the course of operations to seize the Pacific islands, the American command was forced to allocate additional forces and means to suppress 100-mm coastal batteries. Although the Type 98 ammunition included only 100-mm grenades with remote and high-explosive shells with a contact fuse, if British or American tanks were in their direct fire zone, they would quickly turn into scrap metal. When setting a contact fuse to slow down or firing remote grenades with a fuse set to the maximum range, the energy of the projectile was quite enough to break through the frontal armor of the Sherman.
The 120mm Type 10 gun was also widely used for the defense of the islands, production of which began in 1927. It was originally intended to arm destroyers and light cruisers. Subsequently, the gun was modernized and used as a universal gun, including on the shore.
The gun had good characteristics. With a total mass of more than 8000 kg, it could send 20.6 kg of a fragmentation grenade at a distance of 16000 m. In a barrel with a length of 5400 mm, the projectile accelerated to 825 m / s. Reach in height - 8500 m. Type 10 had the possibility of circular fire, vertical guidance angles: from 5 to + 75 °. The semi-automatic wedge shutter allowed 12 rounds / min. The ammunition load included fragmentation grenades with a remote fuse, armor-piercing high-explosive, high-explosive fragmentation and incendiary fragmentation projectiles with a contact fuse.
From 1927 to 1944, about 2,000 guns were produced, about half entered the coastal artillery. The 120mm Type 10 guns were used in all major Japanese defensive battles. Air, sea and ground targets were fired from positions prepared in engineering terms.
The combat effectiveness of Japanese anti-aircraft artillery in anti-tank defense
Considering the results of the combat activities of the Japanese anti-aircraft and universal artillery in anti-tank defense, it can be stated that, on the whole, it did not meet the expectations of the Japanese command. Despite some combat successes, 20-25 mm anti-aircraft guns were too weak to effectively counter medium tanks. Despite the fact that 75-120-mm anti-aircraft guns were able to penetrate the frontal armor of British and American tanks, the mass and dimensions of Japanese artillery systems in most cases were too significant to quickly place them in the path of enemy armored vehicles. For this reason, Japanese anti-aircraft and universal guns, as a rule, fired from stationary positions, which were quickly spotted and subjected to intense artillery shelling and bombing and assault attacks from the air. The wide variety of types and calibers of Japanese anti-aircraft guns created problems with the preparation of calculations, the supply of ammunition and the repair of guns. Despite the presence of several thousand anti-aircraft guns prepared by the Japanese for firing at ground targets, it was not possible to organize an effective anti-amphibious and anti-tank defense. Much more tanks than from the fire of the Japanese anti-aircraft artillery, units of the American marines lost drowned during disembarkation from landing ships, blown up by mines and from the actions of land kamikaze.
