Type 2 20 mm AA machine cannon

Type 2 20 mm AA machine cannon
Type Autocannon
Place of origin Empire of Japan
Service history
In service 1942–1945[1]
Used by Empire of Japan
Wars World War II
Production history
Produced 1942–1945[1]
Variants 20 mm Twin AA machine cannon[1]
Specifications
Weight 550 kg (1,210 lb)[1]
Barrel length 1.4 m (4 ft 7 in) L/70[1]

Caliber 20 mm (0.79 in)[1]
Barrels 1[1]
Action Gas operated
Elevation -15° to +95°[1]
Traverse 360°[1]
Rate of fire 300 rounds/min (maximum)[1]
Muzzle velocity 950 m/s (3,100 ft/s)[1]
Maximum firing range 5,500 m (18,000 ft) (horizontal)
3,500 m (11,500 ft) (altitude)[1]
Feed system 20 round box

The Type 2 20 mm AA machine cannon was a Japanese-designed anti-aircraft gun, based on the German Flak 38. It entered service in 1942.

Design

Introduced in 1942, the gun was similar to the Type 98 20 mm AA machine cannon, but these could be elevated to 95 degrees and had a central fire-control system.[1] The central fire-control system developed for the Type 2 could control and direct six of the guns at once. The gun was based on the German 2 cm Flak 30/38/Flakvierling.[1] The Type 2 number was designated for the year the gun was accepted, 2602 in the Japanese imperial year calendar, or 1942 in the Gregorian calendar.[2]

Variant

Type 2 20 mm Twin AA machine cannon

Two of the guns mounted together formed a variant known as the Type 2 20 mm Twin AA machine cannon. The prototype Type 98 20 mm AAG Tank was equipped with this twin Type 2 variant as its main armament. The Type 98 20 mm AAG did not enter production.[3]

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Taki’s Imperial Japanese Army Page: "AA Weapons"
  2. War Department TM-E-30-480 Handbook on Japanese Military Forces, September 1944, p. 400.
  3. Tomczyk 2007, p. 14.

Bibliography

  • Tomczyk, Andrzej (2007). Japanese Armor Vol. 5. AJ Press. ISBN 978-8372371799.
  • War Department TM-E-30-480 Handbook on Japanese Military Forces September 1944
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