Type 38 Machine Gun

Introduced Year : 1907

Caliber : 6.5 mm

Barrel Length : 443 mm

Length : 144.8 cm

Weight : 55.5 kg

Muzzle Velocity : 450 m/sec

Rate of Fire : 450 rounds/min

Magazine : 30 rounds

In 1901, IJA imported Hotchkiss machine gun and got a licence of its production. It was called Type Ho Machine Gun and used in Russo-Japanese War. Numbu improved Hotchkiss machine gun and it was adopted as Type 38 Machine Gun. Type 38 Machine Gun was used at Qingdao in WWI and was still used in China Incident.

Type 11 Light Machine Gun

Introduced Year : 1922

Caliber : 6.5 mm

Barrel Length : 443 mm

Length : 110 cm

Weight : 10.2 kg

Muzzle Velocity : 730 m/sec

Rate of Fire : 500 rounds/min (Max.), 120 rounds/min (Practical)

Magazine : 30 rounds

Type 11 was the first light machine gun that Japan has produced. The charactaristic of Type 11 was that it used the ammo clip of Type 38 Rifle for its ammunition. The magazine of Type 11 contained 6 clips of Type 38 Rifle. However, this loading mechanism was so complicated that it caused lots of troubles in action.

Type 96 Light Machine Gun

Introduced Year : 1936

Caliber : 6.5 mm

Barrel Length : 550 mm

Length : 107 cm

Weight : 9 kg

Muzzle Velocity : 735 m/sec

Rate of Fire : 550 rounds/min

Magazine : 30 rounds

Type 96 had a curved magazine contained with 30 rounds, and a telescopic sight could be attached at the right side of the gun. Type 96 was a reliable and effective machine gun for Japanese infantry.

Type 99 Light Machine Gun

Introduced Year : 1939

Caliber : 7.7 mm

Barrel Length : 550 mm

Length : 119 cm

Weight : 11.4 kg

Muzzle Velocity : 670 m/sec

Rate of Fire : 800 rounds/min (Max.), 250 rounds/min (Practical)

Magazine : 30 rounds

Because Japan adopted Type 99 7.7 mm rifle, 7.7 mm light machine gun was also developed. Type 99 was the basically same design as Type 96, but Type 99 had a mono-pod at the stock and a flash-hider at the muzzle.

Type 3 Heavy Machine Gun

Introduced Year : 1914

Caliber : 6.5 mm

Barrel Length : 737 mm

Length : 119.8 cm

Weight : 55 kg

Muzzle Velocity : 740 m/sec

Rate of Fire : 450 rounds/min (Max.), 200 rounds/min (Practical)

Magazine : 30 rounds

Range : 4,000 m

Type 3 was the air cooled heavy machine gun. It used an ammo strip for loading rounds. It was also used as AA machine gun with the anti-aircraft mount as shown in above photo.

Type 92 Heavy Machine Gun

Introduced Year : 1932

Caliber : 7.7 mm

Barrel Length : 721 mm

Length : 115.6 cm

Weight : 55.3 kg

Muzzle Velocity : 800 m/sec

Rate of Fire : 450 rounds/min (Max.), 200 rounds/min (Practical)

Magazine : 30 rounds

Range : 4,500 m

Type 92 was the basically same design as Type 3, but its caliber became 7.7 mm.

Type 1 Heavy Machine Gun

Introduced Year : 1941

Caliber : 7.7 mm

Barrel Length : 589 mm

Length : 107.7 cm

Weight : 31.8 kg

Rate of Fire : 450 rounds/min

Magazine : 30 rounds