The Type 97 sniper rifle (九七式狙撃銃, Kyū-nana-shiki sogekijū) is a Japanese bolt-action rifle, based on the Type 38 rifle. Following the standard practice of the time, it was adapted from an existing infantry rifle. The only difference between this rifle and the original Type 38 is that it had a lightened stock, a 2.5 power telescopic sight and a mid-band setup for a monopod, although later models had this deleted. The rifle entered service in 1937. When fired, the mild 6.5x50mm Arisaka cartridge gave off little flash or smoke and made counter-sniper activity difficult. The lack of flash and smoke comes from the length of the barrel; a 794 millimetres (31.3 in) long barrel allows the cartridge propellant to fully burn and attain the optimum combination of accuracy and bullet velocity. The scope was offset to the left, to allow stripper clip loading. Like other Mauser pattern rifles, it has a five-round box magazine. The rifle can be loaded with either a 5-round stripper clip, or single rounds.
The Type 97 was manufactured at the Nagoya Arsenal and Kokura Arsenal, with approximately 14,500 produced at the Nagoya Arsenal,[4] and 8,000 at the Kokura Arsenal.[5]
Combat historyedit
After fighting German-trained Chinese snipers,[citation needed] the Japanese Army decided to develop snipers for themselves. Training in camouflage, field craft and other such techniques was common to normal Japanese infantry, so snipers were specially trained only in shooting and given a sniper rifle.
Type 97 was the standard Japanese sniper rifle, a regular Type 38 Arisaka fitted with a scope. The Type 97 was used frequently by Japanese snipers, often hidden in palm trees or more usually hidden positions, with deadly results. As they were chambered for the 6.5x50SR Japanese cartridge, which produced virtually no smoke or flash from the long barrel of the Type 38 or Type 97, it was a difficult rifle to spot at ranges greater than 150 yards. Experienced US troops knew they had to continue their advance when fired on by Japanese snipers in order to get closer and spot the sniper.[citation needed]
Soto, Victor A.; Allan, Francis C. (2015). Japanese Sniper Rifles of the Second World War. USA: Lodestone Publications.
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March 16, 2024
type, sniper, rifle, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, decemb. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Type 97 sniper rifle news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2009 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Type 97 sniper rifle 九七式狙撃銃 Kyu nana shiki sogekiju is a Japanese bolt action rifle based on the Type 38 rifle Following the standard practice of the time it was adapted from an existing infantry rifle The only difference between this rifle and the original Type 38 is that it had a lightened stock a 2 5 power telescopic sight and a mid band setup for a monopod although later models had this deleted The rifle entered service in 1937 When fired the mild 6 5x50mm Arisaka cartridge gave off little flash or smoke and made counter sniper activity difficult The lack of flash and smoke comes from the length of the barrel a 794 millimetres 31 3 in long barrel allows the cartridge propellant to fully burn and attain the optimum combination of accuracy and bullet velocity The scope was offset to the left to allow stripper clip loading Like other Mauser pattern rifles it has a five round box magazine The rifle can be loaded with either a 5 round stripper clip or single rounds Type 97 rifleType 97 sniper rifleTypeSniper riflePlace of originEmpire of JapanService historyIn service1938 1945Used byImperial Japanese ArmyWarsSecond Sino Japanese WarWorld War II Korean WarChinese Civil WarVietnam WarProduction historyDesigned1937Produced1938 1943 1 No built22 500 2 SpecificationsMass4 64 kg 10 lb 4 oz 3 Length1 275 mm 50 2 in Barrel length794 mm 31 3 in Cartridge6 5x50mm ArisakaActionBolt actionMuzzle velocity760 m s 2 500 ft s Effective firing range1 500 m 1 600 yd with telescopic sightFeed system5 round internal magazine stripper clip loadedSights2 5x Telescopic sightThe Type 97 was manufactured at the Nagoya Arsenal and Kokura Arsenal with approximately 14 500 produced at the Nagoya Arsenal 4 and 8 000 at the Kokura Arsenal 5 Combat history editAfter fighting German trained Chinese snipers citation needed the Japanese Army decided to develop snipers for themselves Training in camouflage field craft and other such techniques was common to normal Japanese infantry so snipers were specially trained only in shooting and given a sniper rifle Type 97 was the standard Japanese sniper rifle a regular Type 38 Arisaka fitted with a scope The Type 97 was used frequently by Japanese snipers often hidden in palm trees or more usually hidden positions with deadly results As they were chambered for the 6 5x50SR Japanese cartridge which produced virtually no smoke or flash from the long barrel of the Type 38 or Type 97 it was a difficult rifle to spot at ranges greater than 150 yards Experienced US troops knew they had to continue their advance when fired on by Japanese snipers in order to get closer and spot the sniper citation needed References edit Soto and Allan p 20 amp p 23 Soto and Allan p 18 Soto and Allan p 15 Soto and Allan p 20 Soto and Allan p 23 Bibliography edit Soto Victor A Allan Francis C 2015 Japanese Sniper Rifles of the Second World War USA Lodestone Publications nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Type 97 sniper rifle Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Type 97 sniper rifle amp oldid 1199913407, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
