Type 97 aircraft machine gun
The Type 97 aircraft machine gun (九七式七粍七固定機銃) was the standard fixed light machine gun on aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. This weapon was not related to the Type 97 heavy tank machine gun used by the Imperial Japanese Army in ground combat.
| Navy Type 97 7.7 mm fixed aircraft machine gun | |
|---|---|
 A Navy Type 97 fixed aircraft machine gun | |
| Type | Light machine gun |
| Place of origin | Empire of Japan |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1937–1945 |
| Used by | Imperial Japanese Navy |
| Wars | Second Sino-Japanese War, World War II |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1937 |
| Produced | 1937–1945 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 12.6 kg (28 lb) |
| Length | 1,033 mm (40.7 in) |
| Barrel length | 721 mm (28.4 in) |
| Cartridge | 7.7x56mm R |
| Cartridge weight | 6.9 g (106 gr) projectile weight |
| Action | Short recoil toggle locked |
| Rate of fire | 900 RPM 600-700 RPM (synchronized) |
| Muzzle velocity | 745 m/s (2,444 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 600 m (2,000 ft) |
| Feed system | Belt |
| References | The WWII Fighter Gun Debate: Gun Tables[1] |
Design
The 'Navy Type 97 aircraft machine gun' was similar to the 'Army Type 89 machine gun', being a licensed copy of the Vickers Class E machine gun. It was highly suitable for synchronization and was used as the cowling armament on the A6M Zero. However, the Type 97 remained chambered for the British 0.303 in (7.7 mm) cartridge and the Type 89 was chambered for a new 0.303 in (7.7 mm) cartridge developed in Japan, making their ammunition non-interchangeable.[2]
Deployment
The Type 97 came into service in 1937, and was used in the Nakajima B6N, Yokosuka K5Y, Yokosuka D4Y, Aichi D3A, Aichi E16A, Kawanishi E7K, Kawanishi N1K and its land-based derivative, the N1K-J, Mitsubishi J2M, Mitsubishi F1M2, in addition to the Mitsubishi A6M Zero and its floatplane derivative, the Nakajima A6M2-N.[3]
References
- Gustin, Emmanuel. "The WWII Fighter Gun Debate: Gun Tables". users.skynet.be. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
- Mikesh, Robert C. (2004). Japanese Aircraft Equipment 1940-1945. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Military History. ISBN 0-7643-2097-1.
- Francillon, Rene J. (1970). Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. Naval Institute Press. p. 531, 268-492. ISBN 0-87021-313-X.
Further reading
- Williams, Anthony G. & Gustin, Emmanuel (2003). Flying Guns: The development of aircraft guns, ammunition and installations 1933-45. Airlife. ISBN 978-1-84037-227-4.