Type 1 37 mm anti-tank gun

Type 1 37 mm anti-tank gun
Type 1 37 mm anti-tank gun
Type Anti-tank gun
Place of origin Japan
Service history
In service 1941–1945
Used by Imperial Japanese Army
Wars World War II
Production history
Designed 1941
No. built 2,300
Specifications
Weight 725 pounds (329 kg)
Barrel length 1.85 m (50 calibers)
Shell 37×254 mm. R
Caliber 37 mm
Action Breech loading
Elevation -10 to +36 degrees
Muzzle velocity 780 m/s
Maximum firing range 6,000 meters
Sights Straight telescope.

The Type 1 37 mm anti-tank gun (一式機動三十七粍速射砲, Isshiki Kidō sanjyūnana-miri sokushahō) was an anti-tank gun developed by the Imperial Japanese Army, and used in combat during World War II.[1] The Type 1 number was designated for the year the gun was accepted, 2601 in the Japanese imperial year calendar, or 1941 in the Gregorian calendar.[2]

History and development

Soldiers examine a captured Japanese 37mm anti-tank gun, January 1945

After the Nomonhan Incident, the shortcomings of the Type 94 37 mm anti-tank gun had become obvious, and the Imperial Japanese Army started the development of a new anti-tank gun to be more effective against the new Soviet tanks. However, as a new design would take time, as an interim measure, the existing Type 94 37 mm AT gun was modified with a longer barrel to provide for greater armor penetration. As the Type 1 37 mm AT Gun, it was introduced to combat units in 1941.[3] Approximately 2300 units were produced.

Design

The Type 1 37 mm AT Gun was basically a Type 94 37 mm AT gun with a slightly longer gun barrel.[4] As with the Type 94, it had a very low profile and was intended to be operated from a squat or prone position. The gun had a gun shield to protect the gunner. It used a semi-automatic breech block with a horizontal sliding wedge. When the gun was fired the spent shell casing was automatically ejected and upon loading a fresh shell the breech block closed automatically. A hydrospring recoil mechanism was housed under barrel. The weapon had a split trail which opened to an angle of 60 degrees for firing to improve stability.[3] Transport was by towing behind a truck or horse, via two steel disc wheels fitted with sponge rubber filled tires.

Combat record

The Type 1 37 mm AT Gun was available only in limited quantities, and the additional barrel length provided for only an incremental improvement in performance over the more numerous Type 94 37 mm AT gun.[5] It was marginally effective against the Allied M3 Stuart light tank in the Pacific War, but not against the M4 Sherman which was soon fielded in large numbers by the Allies. It was fielded in a wide variety of areas, but most notably Southeast Asia, and continued to be used with diminishing effectiveness until the end of World War II.

Type 1 37 mm tank gun

A variant known as the Type 1 37 mm tank gun was used as the main armament of the Type 2 Ke-To, and Type 2 Ka-Mi tanks. The tank gun had the following specifications:[6]

  • Calibre: 37 mm
  • Barrel length: 1.699 m (5 ft 6.9 in) (L45)
  • Elevation: -15 to +25 degrees
  • AZ angle of fire: 20 degrees
  • Muzzle velocity: 800 m/s (2,600 ft/s)[7][8]
  • Penetration: 25 mm (0.98 in) at 1,000 m (1,100 yd)

References

  1. ↑ Bishop, The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II
  2. ↑ War Department TM-E-30-480 Handbook on Japanese Military Forces September 1944 p. 400
  3. 1 2 Chant, Artillery of World War II. p. 61
  4. ↑ Taki's Imperial Japanese Army: "Type 1 37mm Anti-Tank Gun"
  5. ↑ MacLean. Japanese Artillery; Weapons and Tactics
  6. ↑ Taki's Imperial Japanese Army: "Tank Guns" Type 1 37mm Tank Gun
  7. ↑ Hara 1973, p. 13.
  8. ↑ Taki lists the muzzle velocity as 785 m/s (2,580 ft/s)

Bibliography

  • Bishop, Chris (eds) The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II. Barnes & Nobel. 1998. ISBN 0-7607-1022-8
  • Chant, Chris. Artillery of World War II, Zenith Press, 2001, ISBN 0-7603-1172-2
  • Hara, Tomio (1973). Japanese Combat Cars, Light Tanks, and Tankettes. AFV Weapons Profile No. 54. Profile Publications Limited.
  • McLean, Donald B. Japanese Artillery; Weapons and Tactics. Wickenburg, Ariz.: Normount Technical Publications 1973. ISBN 0-87947-157-3.
  • Nakanishi, Ritta Japanese Infantry Arms in World War II, Dainipponkaiga Company 1991, ISBN 4-499-22690-2
  • US Department of War, TM 30-480, Handbook on Japanese Military Forces, Louisiana State University Press, 1994. ISBN 0-8071-2013-8
  • War Department TM-E-30-480 Handbook on Japanese Military Forces September 1944
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