Type 92 Heavy Machine Gun
Encyclopedia
entered service in 1932 and was the standard Japan
ese heavy machine gun
used during World War II
. It was used extensively by the Imperial Japanese Army
and Collaborationist forces
. Captured weapons were also used extensively by Chinese National Revolutionary Army
troops and the North Korean army during the Korean War
. The Type 92 refers to the Japanese Imperial year 2592 - 1932 in the Gregorian calendar
in which the gun entered service.
, with its calibre increased to 7.7 mm, and like the Type 3 was air cooled, ammo strip fed, and based on the Hotchkiss M1914. It could use both a rimless and semi-rimmed 7.7x58mm Shiki round. A 7.7 round could be used if need or if other ammunition supplies dwindled. Rounds fired from the gun traveled at about 2,400 ft/s, and the rate of fire was about 450 rpm. It was sometimes used as a light anti-aircraft
gun during the Pacific War
. It was nicknamed "woodpecker
" by Allied
soldiers because of the characteristic sound it made when fired. The Type 92 had a maximum range of 4,500 meters, but a practical range of 800 meters.
The gun was intended to be fired on a tripod with a team of 3 men. The unusual tripod was designed with removable carry poles, so that the weapon could be transported fully assembled for quicker deployment.
An unusual characteristic of this gun was the placement of its iron sights – canted slightly to the right instead of center. A number of different sights were produced for the weapon, the Type 93 and Type 94 periscopic sights
as well as the Type 96 telescopic sight
. A ring-type anti-aircraft sight was also produced.
A major problem with the 'woodpecker' was the short clip. This led to a lowering in the rate of fire, and could cause jams in the loading mechanism. To alleviate this the Japanese oiled the rounds in the factories producing the ammunition. However, this caused the problem to escalate, as the grease picked up dirt during operations. This grime was then deposited directly into the breech mechanism, causing worse jamming. This was a problem common to the Japanese machine gun.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese heavy machine gun
Heavy machine gun
The heavy machine gun or HMG is a larger class of machine gun generally recognized to refer to two separate stages of machine gun development. The term was originally used to refer to the early generation of machine guns which came into widespread use in World War I...
used during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. It was used extensively by the Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
and Collaborationist forces
Collaborationist Chinese Army
The Collaborationist Chinese Army in the Second Sino-Japanese War went under different names at different times depending on which collaborationist leader or puppet regime it was organized under....
. Captured weapons were also used extensively by Chinese National Revolutionary Army
National Revolutionary Army
The National Revolutionary Army , pre-1928 sometimes shortened to 革命軍 or Revolutionary Army and between 1928-1947 as 國軍 or National Army was the Military Arm of the Kuomintang from 1925 until 1947, as well as the national army of the Republic of China during the KMT's period of party rule...
troops and the North Korean army during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. The Type 92 refers to the Japanese Imperial year 2592 - 1932 in the Gregorian calendar
Gregorian calendar
The Gregorian calendar, also known as the Western calendar, or Christian calendar, is the internationally accepted civil calendar. It was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom the calendar was named, by a decree signed on 24 February 1582, a papal bull known by its opening words Inter...
in which the gun entered service.
Design
The Type 92 was essentially a scaled-up version of the Type 3 Heavy Machine GunType 3 Heavy Machine Gun
, also known as the Taishō 14 Machine Gun, was a Japanese air-cooled heavy machine gun, based on the design of the Hotchkiss M1914. Although the Hotchkiss used 8mm cartridges, from 1914 Japan produced the Type 3 under license from Hotchkiss using the 6.5x50mm Arisaka ammunition.It used an ammo...
, with its calibre increased to 7.7 mm, and like the Type 3 was air cooled, ammo strip fed, and based on the Hotchkiss M1914. It could use both a rimless and semi-rimmed 7.7x58mm Shiki round. A 7.7 round could be used if need or if other ammunition supplies dwindled. Rounds fired from the gun traveled at about 2,400 ft/s, and the rate of fire was about 450 rpm. It was sometimes used as a light anti-aircraft
Anti-aircraft warfare
NATO defines air defence as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action." They include ground and air based weapon systems, associated sensor systems, command and control arrangements and passive measures. It may be to protect naval, ground and air forces...
gun during the Pacific War
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
. It was nicknamed "woodpecker
Woodpecker
Woodpeckers are near passerine birds of the order Piciformes. They are one subfamily in the family Picidae, which also includes the piculets and wrynecks. They are found worldwide and include about 180 species....
" by Allied
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
soldiers because of the characteristic sound it made when fired. The Type 92 had a maximum range of 4,500 meters, but a practical range of 800 meters.
The gun was intended to be fired on a tripod with a team of 3 men. The unusual tripod was designed with removable carry poles, so that the weapon could be transported fully assembled for quicker deployment.
An unusual characteristic of this gun was the placement of its iron sights – canted slightly to the right instead of center. A number of different sights were produced for the weapon, the Type 93 and Type 94 periscopic sights
Periscope
A periscope is an instrument for observation from a concealed position. In its simplest form it consists of a tube with mirrors at each end set parallel to each other at a 45-degree angle....
as well as the Type 96 telescopic sight
Telescopic sight
A telescopic sight, commonly called a scope, is a sighting device that is based on an optical refracting telescope. They are equipped with some form of graphic image pattern mounted in an optically appropriate position in their optical system to give an accurate aiming point...
. A ring-type anti-aircraft sight was also produced.
A major problem with the 'woodpecker' was the short clip. This led to a lowering in the rate of fire, and could cause jams in the loading mechanism. To alleviate this the Japanese oiled the rounds in the factories producing the ammunition. However, this caused the problem to escalate, as the grease picked up dirt during operations. This grime was then deposited directly into the breech mechanism, causing worse jamming. This was a problem common to the Japanese machine gun.