Type II machine pistol
Encyclopedia
The was a submachine gun
of Japanese origin chambered in the 8mm Nambu round and was issued to Japanese Naval units.
The machine gun was produced in relatively small numbers for the IJN during the invasion of Shanghai. During its trial periods it was found that the 8mm round which it used had a tendency to jam the weapon further restricting its use by both the Imperial Marines and army. After adopting several changes to the body a much smaller and lighter variant was introduced, christened the "bull pup" by American G.I.'s who encountered it in combat as it was so rare. It had a 50 round cartridge magazine extending from the pistol grip, a unique feature which would not resurface in sub machine gun design for nearly fifteen years predating the Sa vz. 23 and IMI Uzi.
The other sub-machine gun used by the Japanese military, the Type 100
, was much more numerous. It was also used by the Imperial Army as well as the Navy. The Type 100 was the only finalized sub-machine gun used by the Japanese although it was more cumbersome than the Type II.
Submachine gun
A submachine gun is an automatic carbine, designed to fire pistol cartridges. It combines the automatic fire of a machine gun with the cartridge of a pistol. The submachine gun was invented during World War I , but the apex of its use was during World War II when millions of the weapon type were...
of Japanese origin chambered in the 8mm Nambu round and was issued to Japanese Naval units.
The machine gun was produced in relatively small numbers for the IJN during the invasion of Shanghai. During its trial periods it was found that the 8mm round which it used had a tendency to jam the weapon further restricting its use by both the Imperial Marines and army. After adopting several changes to the body a much smaller and lighter variant was introduced, christened the "bull pup" by American G.I.'s who encountered it in combat as it was so rare. It had a 50 round cartridge magazine extending from the pistol grip, a unique feature which would not resurface in sub machine gun design for nearly fifteen years predating the Sa vz. 23 and IMI Uzi.
The other sub-machine gun used by the Japanese military, the Type 100
Type 100 submachine gun
The was a Japanese submachine gun used during World War II, and the only submachine gun produced by Japan in any quantity. It was made in two basic variants referred to by American and British observers as the Type 100/40 and the Type 100/44, the latter also known as the Type 100...
, was much more numerous. It was also used by the Imperial Army as well as the Navy. The Type 100 was the only finalized sub-machine gun used by the Japanese although it was more cumbersome than the Type II.
Further reading
- Chris Bishop et al. The Complete Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II. Brown Books, 1998.