| Type 2 20 mm AA machine cannon | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Autocannon |
| Place of origin |  Empire of Japan |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1942–1945 |
| Used by | Imperial Japanese Army |
| Wars | World War II |
| Production history | |
| Produced | 1942–1945 |
| No. built | 16 |
| Variants | 20 mm Twin AA machine cannon |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 550 kg (1,210 lb) |
| Barrel length | 1.4 m (4 ft 7 in) L/70 |
| Shell | 20 x 142 mm |
| Caliber | 20 mm (0.79 in) |
| Barrels | 1 |
| Action | Gas operated |
| Elevation | -15° to +95° |
| Traverse | 360° |
| Rate of fire | 420 to 480 rounds/min (maximum) |
| Muzzle velocity | 950 m/s (3,100 ft/s) |
| Maximum firing range | 5,500 m (18,000 ft) (horizontal) 3,500 m (11,500 ft) (altitude) |
| Feed system | 20 round box |
The Type 2 20 mm AA machine cannon was a Japanese-designed anti-aircraft gun. It entered service in 1942.
Design
Introduced 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. 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. It was driven by electric motors, obtaining its power from a generator trailer. 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.
Variant
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.
References
Notes
- ^ Taki’s Imperial Japanese Army Page: "AA Weapons"
- Ness 2014, p. 170.
- ^ 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
- 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
External links
- Global Security: "Type-2 20mm light automatic anti-aircraft gun
- Taki's Imperial Japanese Army Page - Akira Takizawa
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