The Type 94 37-mm AT gun was introduced in 1936. The design originated as an improvement to the Type 11 37 mm infantry gun, which was also used as a primitive anti-tank weapon.[5] However, its short bore, low muzzle velocity, short range and slow reloading time gave it a limited capacity against enemy armor. Development of a replacement began in July 1933 and was completed a year later. Initial testing indicated that a trained crew could fire up to 30 rounds per minute; however, Army planners felt that the initial design was too heavy. A modified design was tested in 1935, and actual production began in 1936; however, the weapon retained its original “Type 94” (imperial year 2594 = western year 1934) designation. Approximately 3,400 units were produced.[6] It later was developed into the Type 1 37 mm anti-tank gun.
As with many Japanese designs, it had a very low profile and was intended to be operated from a squatting or prone position. The gun had a gun shield to protect the gunner and open carriage-style legs which could be spread to improve the stability. The breech had a semi-automatic cartridge case ejection system to improve reloading time. When the shell was loaded, the rear of the cartridge case tripped a catch closing the breechblock. The recoil action of firing opened the breech and extracted the cartridge case.[7]
The carriage was equipped with either wooden spoked or perforated steel wheels, and the whole assembly could be broken down into four pack loads each weighing less than 100 kilograms to permit transport in four horse loads. Sighting was by a straight telescopic sight. The gun could fire either high-explosive or armor-piercing rounds.[7]
The Type 94 37mm AT guns were typically assigned in groups of four to combat infantry regiments. Each weapon was manned by a squad of 11 personnel, and was kept in contact with the regimental headquarters (typically up to 300 meters away) by field telephone or messenger runners. With the standard AP shell, it could penetrate 1.7 inches (43 mm) of armor at 500 yards (460 meters).[8] The Army Technical Bureau continued to experiment with ways to increase muzzle velocity through 1941.[9]
The Type 94 37mm AT gun was effective against Soviet lightly armored BT tanks in the Nomonhan Incident of 1939,[10] but was considered obsolete against more advanced Allied tanks, such as the M4 Sherman, by the start of the Pacific War. However, it remained in service on most fronts in World War II for lack of a better replacement.[11] The Type 1 47 mm Anti-Tank Gun was put into service starting in early 1942, and was intended to replace it, but was never available in large enough numbers to do so completely.
Surviving examplesedit
One of the few remaining Type 94 guns is on display at the Missouri Yacht Club in Lake Lotawana, Missouri.
Referencesedit
^ Military catalogue of the Japanese military, p. 95
^ Banking and Monetary Statistics, 1914-1941, Part I, p. 673
^Chamberlain, Peter (1974). Anti-tank weapons. Gander, Terry. New York: Arco Pub. Co. p. 30. ISBN0668036079. OCLC 1299755.
^War Department TM-E-30-480 Handbook on Japanese Military Forces September 1944 p 400
^Nakanishi. Japanese Infantry Arms in World War II.
^Bishop, The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II
^US Department of War, Japanese Tank and Anti-Tank Warefar 2012-11-16 at the Wayback Machine. United States Government Printing Office. Washington D.C., page 108-109.
^Nakanishi, Japanese Infantry Arms in World War II
Bibliographyedit
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.
Nakanishi, Ritta Japanese Infantry Arms in World War II, Dainipponkaiga Company 1991, ISBN4-499-22690-2
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 September 1944
"兵器臨時定価、予価、表送付の件 Military catalogue of the Japanese military". National Archives of Japan. Ministry of the Army.
"Banking and Monetary Statistics, 1914-1941, Part I". Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.). January 1943 [1943].
External linksedit
Taki's Imperial Japanese Army
US Technical Manual E 30-480
December 07, 2023
type, anti, tank, type, quick, firing, 九四式三十七粍速射砲, kyūyon, shiki, sanjyūnana, miri, sokushahō, anti, tank, developed, imperial, japanese, army, used, combat, during, second, sino, japanese, world, type, number, designated, year, accepted, 2594, japanese, imper. The Type 94 37 mm quick firing gun 九四式三十七粍速射砲 Kyuyon shiki sanjyunana miri sokushahō was an anti tank gun developed by the Imperial Japanese Army It was used in combat during the Second Sino Japanese War and World War II The Type 94 s number was designated for the year the gun was accepted 2594 in the Japanese imperial year calendar or 1934 in the Gregorian calendar 4 Type 94 37 mm quick firing gunType 94 37 mm AT gun at Royal Armouries at Fort Nelson Hampshire EnglandTypeAnti tank gun Quick firing gunPlace of origin Empire of JapanService historyIn service1936 1945Used byImperial Japanese Army North VietnamWarsSecond Sino Japanese War Soviet Japanese Border Wars World War II First Indochina WarProduction historyUnit cost8 400 yen 2 257 USD in August 1939 1 2 Produced1936 1941No built3 400SpecificationsMass324 kg 714 lb approxLength2 9 m 9 ft 6 in Barrel length1 765 m 5 ft 9 in L 46 1Width1 19 m 3 ft 11 in ShellFixed QF 37 165 mm RShell weight 69 kg 1 lb 8 oz 3 Caliber37 mm 1 45 in BreechSliding horizontal breechElevation 10 to 25 Traverse60 Rate of fire30 rpmMuzzle velocity700 m s 2 300 ft s Effective firing range2 870 m 3 140 yd Maximum firing range4 500 m 4 900 yds Sightsstraight telescopic Contents 1 History and development 2 Design 3 Combat record 4 Surviving examples 5 References 6 Bibliography 7 External linksHistory and development editThe Type 94 37 mm AT gun was introduced in 1936 The design originated as an improvement to the Type 11 37 mm infantry gun which was also used as a primitive anti tank weapon 5 However its short bore low muzzle velocity short range and slow reloading time gave it a limited capacity against enemy armor Development of a replacement began in July 1933 and was completed a year later Initial testing indicated that a trained crew could fire up to 30 rounds per minute however Army planners felt that the initial design was too heavy A modified design was tested in 1935 and actual production began in 1936 however the weapon retained its original Type 94 imperial year 2594 western year 1934 designation Approximately 3 400 units were produced 6 It later was developed into the Type 1 37 mm anti tank gun Design edit nbsp A Type 94 gun in the Military Historical Museum of Artillery Engineers and Signal Corps in Saint Petersburg Russia As with many Japanese designs it had a very low profile and was intended to be operated from a squatting or prone position The gun had a gun shield to protect the gunner and open carriage style legs which could be spread to improve the stability The breech had a semi automatic cartridge case ejection system to improve reloading time When the shell was loaded the rear of the cartridge case tripped a catch closing the breechblock The recoil action of firing opened the breech and extracted the cartridge case 7 The carriage was equipped with either wooden spoked or perforated steel wheels and the whole assembly could be broken down into four pack loads each weighing less than 100 kilograms to permit transport in four horse loads Sighting was by a straight telescopic sight The gun could fire either high explosive or armor piercing rounds 7 Combat record edit nbsp Type 94 gun on display at the National World War II MuseumThe Type 94 37mm AT guns were typically assigned in groups of four to combat infantry regiments Each weapon was manned by a squad of 11 personnel and was kept in contact with the regimental headquarters typically up to 300 meters away by field telephone or messenger runners With the standard AP shell it could penetrate 1 7 inches 43 mm of armor at 500 yards 460 meters 8 The Army Technical Bureau continued to experiment with ways to increase muzzle velocity through 1941 9 The Type 94 37mm AT gun was effective against Soviet lightly armored BT tanks in the Nomonhan Incident of 1939 10 but was considered obsolete against more advanced Allied tanks such as the M4 Sherman by the start of the Pacific War However it remained in service on most fronts in World War II for lack of a better replacement 11 The Type 1 47 mm Anti Tank Gun was put into service starting in early 1942 and was intended to replace it but was never available in large enough numbers to do so completely Surviving examples editOne of the few remaining Type 94 guns is on display at the Missouri Yacht Club in Lake Lotawana Missouri References edit Military catalogue of the Japanese military p 95 Banking and Monetary Statistics 1914 1941 Part I p 673 Chamberlain Peter 1974 Anti tank weapons Gander Terry New York Arco Pub Co p 30 ISBN 0668036079 OCLC 1299755 War Department TM E 30 480 Handbook on Japanese Military Forces September 1944 p 400 Nakanishi Japanese Infantry Arms in World War II Bishop The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II a b 1 US Technical Manual E 30 480 US Department of War Japanese Tank and Anti Tank Warefar Archived 2012 11 16 at the Wayback Machine United States Government Printing Office Washington D C page 108 109 Chant Artillery of World War II Pp 60 2 Taki s Imperial Japanese Army Nakanishi Japanese Infantry Arms in World War IIBibliography editBishop 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 Nakanishi Ritta Japanese Infantry Arms in World War II Dainipponkaiga Company 1991 ISBN 4 499 22690 2 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 September 1944 兵器臨時定価 予価 表送付の件 Military catalogue of the Japanese military National Archives of Japan Ministry of the Army Banking and Monetary Statistics 1914 1941 Part I Federal Reserve Bank of St Louis Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System U S January 1943 1943 External links editTaki s Imperial Japanese Army US Technical Manual E 30 480 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Type 94 37 mm anti tank gun amp oldid 1125489939, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
