"National Defence Rifle" (Japanese: 国民簡易小銃, Kokumin kan'i shōjū, lit. "National simplified rifle")[1] is the name attributed to a series of last-ditch rifles designed in Japan during the latter stages of World War II.
History[]
The National Defence Rifle was a last-ditch weapon designed in 1944 in several versions, to arm the Japanese Volunteer Fighting Corps, which was a civilian militia that would be tasked with defending Japan during an anticipated invasion attempt by the Allies, and the Japanese Special District Guard, a special type of police force. Production was to be decentralized, conducted by local workshops and factories independently, and therefore the proposed designs would have effectively been mere guidelines. However, Japan surrendered before an invasion could be launched, therefore eliminating the requirement for this gun. It was produced as a prototype only.[1]
Design[]
Several versions of the National Defence Rifle were drafted. A full-length model based on the Arisaka action, chambered for 7.7×58mm was prototyped for the military and civilian militias, whereas it was proposed that the Special District Guard would be armed with a carbine model chambered for the 8×22mm Nambu pistol cartridge. An even more rudimentary model using a matchlock action was also designed for emergency civilian use.[1]
See also[]
- Volksgewehr, German "equivalent" of this weapon
- National Defence Pistol, pistol built for a similar purpose in Japan
References[]
|