The Type 38 75 mm field gun (三八式野砲, Sanhachi-shiki yahō) was a 1905 German design which was purchased by the Empire of Japan as the standard field gun of the Imperial Japanese Army at the end of the Russo-Japanese War. The Type 38 designation was given to this gun as it was accepted in the 38th year of Emperor Meiji's reign (1905).[2]
Type 38 75 mm field gun at Base Borden Military Museum
Although Japan had extensive experience with artillery, as the result of its war with Russia in 1904-05,[3][4] and had the technology and industrial infrastructure to construct medium or large caliber naval weapons prior to World War I, planners at the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff turned to Krupp in Germany, for the latest trend in artillery design. Initial units of Krupp 7.5 cm Model 1903 were imported, and then eventually over 2,000 units, designated "Type 38" in Japan, were produced under license by the army’s Osaka Arsenal.[5]
The original Type 38 gun had a conical interrupted screw, a single box type trail which limited gun elevation to only 16°30'. Also, there were no equilibrators as the trunnions were at the gun barrel's center of balance. All of these shortcomings were remedied with a redesign following World War I.[6]
After World War I, these weapons were considered largely obsolete. However, by this time, Japanese production capabilities had improved, and the Type 38 underwent a re-design in Japan to improve the carriage, with a corresponding increase in elevation, range and rate of fire to 10-12 rounds per minute.[7]
Designedit
The Type 38 75 mm field gun was a thoroughly conventional design for its day, complete with crew seats on the gun shield and a solid box trail. It had a hydrospring recoil system, interrupted screw type breechblock, and a 1/16-inch gun shield.[7]
Side view of the improved Type 38 with an inset shot of the breech
At some point prior to the Second Sino-Japanese War (sources differ as to when) the Type 38 was extensively modified. The piece was trunnioned forward and equilibrators were added to compensate for muzzle heaviness. It was given a hollow box trail that allowed elevation to 43°. The new version was called the "improved Type 38".[5] Some 400 units were produced in Japan, and it is unclear exactly how many Type 38s were upgraded to the improved version. However, both types were still in service in limited numbers by the start of World War II, despite efforts to replace the design with the Type 90 75 mm field gun.[1]
Bishop, Chris (eds) The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II. Barnes & Nobel. 1998. ISBN0-7607-1022-8
(British) General Staff, War Office. "The Russo-Japanese War"; Reports From British Officers Attached To The Russian Forces In The Field. Vol. III, July 1907.
Chamberlain, Peter and Gander, Terry. Light and Medium Field Artillery. Macdonald and Jane's (1975). ISBN0-356-08215-6
Chant, Chris. Artillery of World War II, Zenith Press, 2001, ISBN0-7603-1172-2
McLean, Donald B. Japanese Artillery; Weapons and Tactics. Wickenburg, Ariz.: Normount Technical Publications 1973. ISBN0-87947-157-3.
Mayer, S.L. The Rise and Fall of Imperial Japan. The Military Press (1984) ISBN0-517-42313-8
Neuffer, William LT. "What Lessons In The Employment Of Field Artillery Should Be Deduced From The Experiences Of The Russo-Japanese War?" The Field Artillery Journal (Artilleristische Monatshefts. No. 35 November 1909); by William Neuffer, Lieutenant of the 3rd Bavarian (Prince Leopold) Regiment of Field Artillery
US Department of War Special Series No 25 Japanese Field Artillery October 1944
US Department of War, TM 30-480, Handbook on Japanese Military Forces, Louisiana State University Press, 1994. ISBN0-8071-2013-8
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Type 38 75 mm Field Gun.
External linksedit
Type 38 on Taki's Imperial Japanese Army page
US Technical Manual E 30-480
December 09, 2023
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The Type 38 75 mm field gun 三八式野砲 Sanhachi shiki yahō was a 1905 German design which was purchased by the Empire of Japan as the standard field gun of the Imperial Japanese Army at the end of the Russo Japanese War The Type 38 designation was given to this gun as it was accepted in the 38th year of Emperor Meiji s reign 1905 2 Type 38 75 mm field gunSide view of the Type 38 with its ammunitionTypeField gunPlace of originEmpire of JapanService historyIn service1905 1945Used byImperial Japanese Army North Vietnam Taiwan Kuomintang China WarsWorld War ISecond Sino Japanese WarSoviet Japanese Border Wars World War II First Indochina WarProduction historyDesignerKruppManufacturerOsaka ArsenalNo built 3 059 all types 1 VariantsType 38 improved SpecificationsMass947 kg 2 088 lb Type 38 1 135 7 kg 2 504 lb improved Type 38 Length5 2 m 17 ft 1 in Firing 8 94 m 29 ft 4 in traveling Barrel length2 286 m 7 ft 6 in L 31WidthTrack 4 ft 6 in 1 37 m maximum 5 ft 2 in 1 57 m Height4 ft 10 in 1 47 m ShellFixed QF 75 x 294mm RShell weight6 kg 13 lb Caliber75 mm 2 95 in BreechInterrupted screw Type 38 horizontal sliding wedge improved Type 38 RecoilHydro springCarriageBox trailElevation 8 to 16 30 Type 38 8 to 43 improved Type 38 Traverse3 30 right 3 30 leftRate of fire2 minutes 15 rpm15 minutes 4 rpmcontinuous 100 120 rphMuzzle velocity510 m s 1 673 ft s Effective firing range8 350 m 9 130 yd Type 38 Maximum firing range11 600 m 12 700 yd improved Type 38 Feed systemHandSightsPanoramic Contents 1 History and development 2 Design 3 Combat record 4 References 4 1 Notes 4 2 Bibliography 5 External linksHistory and development edit nbsp Type 38 75 mm field gun at Base Borden Military MuseumAlthough Japan had extensive experience with artillery as the result of its war with Russia in 1904 05 3 4 and had the technology and industrial infrastructure to construct medium or large caliber naval weapons prior to World War I planners at the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff turned to Krupp in Germany for the latest trend in artillery design Initial units of Krupp 7 5 cm Model 1903 were imported and then eventually over 2 000 units designated Type 38 in Japan were produced under license by the army s Osaka Arsenal 5 The original Type 38 gun had a conical interrupted screw a single box type trail which limited gun elevation to only 16 30 Also there were no equilibrators as the trunnions were at the gun barrel s center of balance All of these shortcomings were remedied with a redesign following World War I 6 After World War I these weapons were considered largely obsolete However by this time Japanese production capabilities had improved and the Type 38 underwent a re design in Japan to improve the carriage with a corresponding increase in elevation range and rate of fire to 10 12 rounds per minute 7 Design editThe Type 38 75 mm field gun was a thoroughly conventional design for its day complete with crew seats on the gun shield and a solid box trail It had a hydrospring recoil system interrupted screw type breechblock and a 1 16 inch gun shield 7 nbsp Side view of the improved Type 38 with an inset shot of the breechAt some point prior to the Second Sino Japanese War sources differ as to when the Type 38 was extensively modified The piece was trunnioned forward and equilibrators were added to compensate for muzzle heaviness It was given a hollow box trail that allowed elevation to 43 The new version was called the improved Type 38 5 Some 400 units were produced in Japan and it is unclear exactly how many Type 38s were upgraded to the improved version However both types were still in service in limited numbers by the start of World War II despite efforts to replace the design with the Type 90 75 mm field gun 1 The Type 38 75 mm field gun improved was capable of firing high explosive armor piercing warhead shrapnel incendiary smoke and illumination and gas shells 8 Combat record editDespite its obsolescence the Type 38 75 mm field gun was found in theatres of operation in the Second Sino Japanese War Soviet Japanese Border Wars and in the Pacific War 9 References editNotes edit a b Taki Imperial Japanese Army War Department TM E 30 480 Handbook on Japanese Military Forces September 1944 p 400 Neuffer British General Staff p 106 amp 117 a b Meyer The Rise and Fall of Imperial Japan page 97 US Department of War Special Series No 25 Japanese Field Artillery October 1944 a b US Department of War TM 30 480 Handbook on Japanese Military Forces Bishop The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II Chant Artillery of World War II Bibliography edit Bishop Chris eds The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II Barnes amp Nobel 1998 ISBN 0 7607 1022 8 British General Staff War Office The Russo Japanese War Reports From British Officers Attached To The Russian Forces In The Field Vol III July 1907 Chamberlain Peter and Gander Terry Light and Medium Field Artillery Macdonald and Jane s 1975 ISBN 0 356 08215 6 Chant Chris Artillery of World War II Zenith Press 2001 ISBN 0 7603 1172 2 McLean Donald B Japanese Artillery Weapons and Tactics Wickenburg Ariz Normount Technical Publications 1973 ISBN 0 87947 157 3 Mayer S L The Rise and Fall of Imperial Japan The Military Press 1984 ISBN 0 517 42313 8 Neuffer William LT What Lessons In The Employment Of Field Artillery Should Be Deduced From The Experiences Of The Russo Japanese War The Field Artillery Journal Artilleristische Monatshefts No 35 November 1909 by William Neuffer Lieutenant of the 3rd Bavarian Prince Leopold Regiment of Field Artillery US Department of War Special Series No 25 Japanese Field Artillery October 1944 US Department of War TM 30 480 Handbook on Japanese Military Forces Louisiana State University Press 1994 ISBN 0 8071 2013 8 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Type 38 75 mm Field Gun External links editType 38 on Taki s Imperial Japanese Army page US Technical Manual E 30 480 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Type 38 75 mm field gun amp oldid 1099641661, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
