The Type 2 20 mm AA machine cannon was a Japanese-designed anti-aircraft gun. It entered service in 1942.
| Type 2 20 mm AA machine cannon | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Autocannon |
| Place of origin |  Empire of Japan |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1942–1945[1] |
| Used by | Imperial Japanese Army |
| Wars | World War II |
| Production history | |
| Produced | 1942–1945[1] |
| No. built | 16[2] |
| Variants | 20 mm Twin AA machine cannon[1] |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 550 kg (1,210 lb)[1] |
| Barrel length | 1.4 m (4 ft 7 in) L/70[1] |
| Shell | 20 x 142 mm |
| Caliber | 20 mm (0.79 in)[1] |
| Barrels | 1[1] |
| Action | Gas operated |
| Elevation | -15° to +95°[1] |
| Traverse | 360°[1] |
| Rate of fire | 420 to 480 rounds/min (maximum)[3] |
| Muzzle velocity | 950 m/s (3,100 ft/s)[1] |
| Maximum firing range | 5,500 m (18,000 ft) (horizontal) 3,500 m (11,500 ft) (altitude)[1] |
| Feed system | 20 round box |
Design
editIntroduced in 1942, compared to the earlier Type 98 20 mm AA machine cannon, Type 2 20 mm had higher maximum rate of fire, could be elevated to 95 degrees and had a central fire-control system.[3] The central fire-control system developed for the Type 2 could control and direct six of the guns at once. The gun was based on the German 2 cm Flak 30/38/Flakvierling.[1] It was driven by electric motors, obtaining its power from a generator trailer.[4] The Type 2 number was designated for the year the gun was accepted, 2602 in the Japanese imperial year calendar, or 1942 in the Gregorian calendar.[5]
Variant
edit
Two of the guns mounted together formed a variant known as the Type 2 20 mm twin AA machine cannon. The prototype Type 98 20 mm AAG tank was equipped with this twin Type 2 variant as its main armament. The Type 98 20 mm AAG tank did not enter production.[6]
References
editNotes
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Taki’s Imperial Japanese Army Page: "AA Weapons"
- ^ Ness 2014, p. 170.
- ^ a b Global Security: "Type-2 20mm light automatic anti-aircraft gun"
- ^ Ness 2014, p. 179.
- ^ War Department TM-E-30-480 Handbook on Japanese Military Forces, September 1944, p. 400.
- ^ Tomczyk 2007, p. 14.
Bibliography
edit- Ness, Leland (2014). Guide to Japanese Ground Forces 1937–1945: Volume 2: Weapons of the Imperial Japanese Army & Navy Ground Forces. Helion & Company. ISBN 978-19099-8275-8.
- Tomczyk, Andrzej (2007). Japanese Armor Vol. 5. AJ Press. ISBN 978-8372371799.
- War Department TM-E-30-480 Handbook on Japanese Military Forces September 1944