what was japan's basic side arm... im guessing we had the thompson and the sten gun.. and the the germans had the mp-44 and mp-40s but what did japan's solders carry?
The Type 100 ([FONT="]一〇〇式機関短銃[/FONT] Hyaku-shiki kikantanju) was a Japanese submachine gun used extensively during World War II, and the only submachine gun produced by Japan in any quantity. Designed and built by the Nambu Arms Manufacturing Company, the Type 100 was a robust, if unremarkable, submachine gun that was first delivered to the Imperial Army in 1942. Japan was surprisingly late to introduce the submachine gun to its armed forces; the MP40 had been ubiquitous in the Wehrmacht since 1939. The Type 100 was a well made gun, albeit with several strange features, including a complicated ammunition feed device that, for safety purposes, ensured that a round was completely chambered before firing, a complex system compounded by the curious bottle shaped round the Type 100 used. Atypically for a submachine gun, a bayonet lug was fixed under the barrel. Despite its shortcomings and complexities, the Type 100 featured sophisticated sights and a high quality chrome plated barrel to aid cleaning and reduce wear. Some models also featured a bipod or a complicated muzzle brake. A number of Type 100 variants were produced during the course of the war; one with a folding stock and another that could be disassembled and stored in a pouch worn on the front of the torso for paratroopers (few with the folding stock were made as it weakened the weapon's structure in combat situations) and a 1944 version that was greatly simplified in order to hasten production at a time when Japan was being pushed into retreat across the Pacific theatre and demand for submachine guns was at an all time high. The 1944 variant was slightly longer, featured simple iron sights. Corners were cut in production, leaving many Type 100s with roughly finished stocks and poorly welded parts. Despite these simplifications, Japan lacked the industrial infrastructure to produce sufficient quantities of the Type 100 to stem the rapid Allied advance. By 1945, 30,000 had been built, a comparatively low number to the 1,300,000 plus Thompson submachine guns built by the US.
what was japan's basic side arm... im guessing we had the thompson and the sten gun.. and the the germans had the mp-44 and mp-40s but what did japan's solders carry? The Australians fought the Japanese in the Pacific with the Owen Sub Machine Gun invented by a young Australian Evelyn Owen. This machine gun could be dropped in mud and water and still fire perfectly. The Aussies were really inventive and made a double and triple magazine assembly in the field. Australia also used the Thompson and the Austen (Australian made version of the Sten)! From site: http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-weapons/omc.htm Australian made, active service in 5 "wars" and very effective. Owen Mk 1 (full production) Submachine Gun. The cut away trigger box is stamped OWEN 9MM. MK I - 43 on the top and LYSAGHT PK. AUSTRALIA PAT. PENDING on the lower arm. This gun was originally painted green as traces are still in the trigger area but the paint has been stripped off leaving a parkerised finish. The serial number is stamped on the top of the action. The butt is the skeleton frame type with a clip for an oil bottle. This weapon is fitted with a khaki webbing sling and is complete with a magazine. This gun is in Second World War configuration and has not been refurbished with a safety catch. Owen Mk 2/3 (Full production) Submachine Gun. The trigger box has two lightening cuts to each side. The Right side is stamped MK 2/3 OWEN 9MM. MKII (crossed out) 43 on the top rail and LYSAGHT PK. AUSTRALIA PAT. PENDING on the bottom rail. A letter 'C' in white paint is on the right side in front of the butt. The serial number is stamped on the top of the receiver over 10/50/F. This weapon is painted all over (including the magazine) in a khaki/green camoflage colour. The detachable butt is wood with plain sides. It has a new Mk 3 reinforced barrel with a bayonet lug as well as an external rotating sleeve safety device at the rear of the action.
That's funny Spidge, Last night I was building a post for the Sten/Thompson thread outlining that there might be some confusion on there over the Owen/Austen but closed the window by accident and couldn't be bothered to restart. You've even got the same pics I was looking at. Owen=Top Gun. Nice one. Adam.
That's funny Spidge, Last night I was building a post for the Sten/Thompson thread outlining that there might be some confusion on there over the Owen/Austen but closed the window by accident and couldn't be bothered to restart. You've even got the same pics I was looking at. Owen=Top Gun. Nice one. Adam. Spooky: You know the saying.......two great minds!
"Japan was surprisingly slow to adopt submachine guns, although they are the ideal jungle weapon, and their intention of dominating the Pacific had been germinating for several years. Sensible weapon develpment was not, however, a feature of the pre-WWII Japanese High Command." Ian Hogg, Military Small Arms of the Twentieth Century. By "weapons," Hogg means small arms in this context. The Type 100, of which about 26,000 were produced in the three models mentioned above by Kyt, was essentially a modified Bergmann. It is chambered for the standard 8mm Nambu pistol cartridge, a bottle-necked round that is weak compared to most other handgun cartridges of the day. "The guns were not really successful, largely because little factory space could be spared for a continuous development program and hence little effort was given to improving the weapons." Hogg, op. cit. Given the small production numbers, it is doubtful that the arm saw extensive use in either the Pacific or CBI theaters. JT
