| Type 92 | |
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A Type 92 Machine gun complete with tripod and feed tray |
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| Type | Heavy Machine Gun |
| Place of origin | Empire of Japan |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1932-1950s |
| Used by | Empire of Japan others |
| Wars | World War II, Korean War, Chinese Civil War |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Kijiro Nambu |
| Designed | 1932 |
| Produced | 1932-1941 |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 55.3 kg (122 lb) w/ tripod |
| Length | 1,156 mm (45.5 in) |
| Barrel length | 721 mm (2 ft 4.4 in) |
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| Cartridge | 7.7x58 mm Type 2 |
| Caliber | 7.7 mm |
| Action | Gas-Operated |
| Rate of fire | 400-450 rounds per min. |
| Muzzle velocity | 800 m/s (2,600 ft/s) |
| Effective range | 800 m (870 yd) |
| Feed system | 30-Round Hotchkiss-type metal strip |
The Type 92 Heavy Machine Gun (九二式重機関銃 Kyuuni-shiki juu-kikanjuu) entered service in 1932 and was the standard Japanese heavy machine gun used during World War II. It was used extensively by the Imperial Japanese Army and Collaborationist forces.[1] Captured weapons were also used extensively by Chinese National Revolutionary Army troops and the North Korean army during the Korean War.[1] The Type 92 refers to the Japanese Imperial year 2592 - 1932 in the Gregorian calendar in which the gun entered service.[2]
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The Type 92 was essentially a scaled-up version of the Type 3 Heavy Machine Gun, with its calibre increased to 7.7 mm, and like the Type 3 was air cooled, ammo strip fed, and based on the Hotchkiss M1914.[3] It could use both a rimless and semi-rimmed 7.7x58mm Shiki round.[1][4] A 7.7 round could be used if need or if other ammunition supplies dwindled.[2] Rounds fired from the gun traveled at about 2,400 ft/s, and the rate of fire was about 450 rpm.[4] It was sometimes used as a light anti-aircraft gun during the Pacific War.[4] It was nicknamed "woodpecker" by Allied soldiers because of the characteristic sound it made when fired.[1][4] The Type 92 had a maximum range of 4,500 meters, but a practical range of 800 meters.
The gun was intended to be fired on a tripod with a team of 3 men. The unusual tripod was designed with removable carry poles, so that the weapon could be transported fully assembled for quicker deployment.[2]
An unusual characteristic of this gun was the placement of its iron sights – canted slightly to the right instead of center.[4] A number of different sights were produced for the weapon, the Type 93 and Type 94 periscopic sights as well as the Type 96 telescopic sight. A ring-type anti-aircraft sight was also produced.
A major problem with the 'woodpecker' was the short clip. This led to a lowering in the rate of fire, and could cause jams in the loading mechanism. To alleviate this the Japanese oiled the rounds in the factories producing the ammunition. However, this caused the problem to escalate, as the grease picked up dirt during operations. This grime was then deposited directly into the breech mechanism, causing worse jamming. This was a problem common to the Japanese machine gun.
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