In order to address the shortcomings of the Type 88 75 mm AA gun, the Army Technical Bureau developed a larger version with superior range, designated the Type 3. It was one of the few weapons in the Japanese inventory capable of reaching the USAAFB-29 Superfortress bombers that were attacking cities and other targets in the Japanese home islands.[3] However, despite its superior range and firepower, the Type 3 gun could not be produced in sufficient quantities to be truly effective, due to costs, lack of raw materials and damage to Japan's industrial infrastructure by Allied air raids. Only 120 units were completed before production was discontinued, although the units produced continued to be used until the surrender of Japan.[4]
Designedit
Gun barrel preserved at JGSDF Air Defence Artillery School, ChibaGun muzzle
The Type 3 12 cm AA gun had a single piece gun barrel with sliding breech, mounted on a central pedestal. The firing platform was supported by five legs, each of which (along with the central pedestal) had adjustable screwed foot for leveling.[5]
Coming into service towards the end of the war, most of the Type 3s were retained on the home islands as part of the bolstering of Japan's defenses against Allied air raids and against the perceived threat of an Allied invasion. These guns were deployed to cover military targets around Tokyo, Osaka, Kobe and the Yawata Steel Works in Kitakyushu. Overseas, they were deployed to guard the oil fields at Palembang in the Netherlands East Indies[6] Units in Tokyo were credited with downing at least ten B-29 bombers.[7]
Referencesedit
Notesedit
^War Department TM-E-30-480 Handbook on Japanese Military Forces September 1944, p. 400
^Mayer, the Rise and Fall of Imperial Japan. p. 64
^Bishop, The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II.
Bishop, Chris (eds) The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II. Barnes & Nobel. 1998. ISBN0-7607-1022-8
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 (1884) ISBN0-517-42313-8
US Department of War, TM 30-480, Handbook on Japanese Military Forces, Louisiana State University Press, 1994. ISBN0-8071-2013-8
War Department TM-E-30-480 Handbook on Japanese Military Forces, October 1, 1944
External linksedit
Taki's Imperial Japanese Army
May 08, 2024
type, 三式十二糎高射砲, shiki, jyūni, senchi, kōshahō, anti, aircraft, used, quantity, imperial, japanese, army, during, world, type, number, designated, year, accepted, 2603, japanese, imperial, year, calendar, 1943, gregorian, calendar, replaced, earlier, type, japa. The Type 3 12 cm AA gun 三式十二糎高射砲 San shiki jyuni senchi Kōshahō was an anti aircraft gun used in quantity by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II The Type 3 number was designated for the year the gun was accepted 2603 in the Japanese imperial year calendar or 1943 in the Gregorian calendar 1 It replaced the earlier Type 88 75 mm AA Gun in Japanese service 2 Type 3 12 centimeter anti aircraft gunA Japanese Type 3 anti aircraft gunTypeAnti aircraft gunPlace of origin Empire of JapanService historyIn service1943 1945Used byImperial Japanese ArmyWarsWorld War IIProduction historyNo built120SpecificationsMass19 8 tonsBarrel length6 71 m 20 ft L 56Shell120 x 851mm RCaliber120 millimetres 4 7 in BarrelssingleElevation8 to 90 degreesTraverse360 degreesRate of fire20 rpmMuzzle velocity853 m s 2 800 ft s Effective firing range8 5 km against a target at 12 000 m Effective ceiling 12 000 m 39 000 ft Maximum firing range11 4 km against a target at 6 000 m Maximum ceiling 20 000 m 66 000 ft Contents 1 History and development 2 Design 3 Combat record 4 References 4 1 Notes 4 2 Bibliography 5 External linksHistory and development editSee also 12 7 cm 40 Type 89 naval gun In order to address the shortcomings of the Type 88 75 mm AA gun the Army Technical Bureau developed a larger version with superior range designated the Type 3 It was one of the few weapons in the Japanese inventory capable of reaching the USAAF B 29 Superfortress bombers that were attacking cities and other targets in the Japanese home islands 3 However despite its superior range and firepower the Type 3 gun could not be produced in sufficient quantities to be truly effective due to costs lack of raw materials and damage to Japan s industrial infrastructure by Allied air raids Only 120 units were completed before production was discontinued although the units produced continued to be used until the surrender of Japan 4 Design edit nbsp Gun barrel preserved at JGSDF Air Defence Artillery School Chiba nbsp Gun muzzle The Type 3 12 cm AA gun had a single piece gun barrel with sliding breech mounted on a central pedestal The firing platform was supported by five legs each of which along with the central pedestal had adjustable screwed foot for leveling 5 Combat record editSee also Type 99 88 mm AA Gun Coming into service towards the end of the war most of the Type 3s were retained on the home islands as part of the bolstering of Japan s defenses against Allied air raids and against the perceived threat of an Allied invasion These guns were deployed to cover military targets around Tokyo Osaka Kobe and the Yawata Steel Works in Kitakyushu Overseas they were deployed to guard the oil fields at Palembang in the Netherlands East Indies 6 Units in Tokyo were credited with downing at least ten B 29 bombers 7 References editNotes edit War Department TM E 30 480 Handbook on Japanese Military Forces September 1944 p 400 Mayer the Rise and Fall of Imperial Japan p 64 Bishop The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II 1 Taki s Imperial Japanese Army Bishop The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II Chant Artillery of World War II MacLean Japanese Artillery Weapons and Tactics Bibliography edit Bishop Chris eds The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II Barnes amp Nobel 1998 ISBN 0 7607 1022 8 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 1884 ISBN 0 517 42313 8 US Department of War TM 30 480 Handbook on Japanese Military Forces Louisiana State University Press 1994 ISBN 0 8071 2013 8 War Department TM E 30 480 Handbook on Japanese Military Forces October 1 1944External links editTaki s Imperial Japanese Army Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Type 3 12 cm AA gun amp oldid 1168969720, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
