The Type 2 rifle (二式小銃 Ni-shiki Shōjū), more commonly known as the TERA Type 2 (二式テラ銃 Ni-shiki Tera Jū), was a Japanese takedown bolt-action rifle designed in 1942 and produced by the Nagoya Arsenal from 1943 to 1945. A specialized variant of the Arisaka rifle, the Type 2 was Japan's attempt to emulate the Germans in the manufacture of paratroop rifles.
History[]
During World War II, Japan did not make extensive use of paratrooper technology and development of the related accoutrements was also slow; the experiences of airborne attacks in Sumatra and other places may have provided the impetus to develop a rifle specifically for use by paratroopers.[1]
The precursors to the Type 2 were the Type 100 and Type 1 paratrooper rifles.[2] The TERA Type 2 was designed in 1942 using these designs as a basis as to how to collapse the gun. Production of the Type 2 was carried out by the Nagoya Arsenal, with the rifle produced between 1943 and 1945; the Type 2 remains the only paratroop rifle used by the Japanese which was produced in any significant quantity.[1]
In use, the rifles were used by Japanese paratroopers; production ended in 1945 with the end of the war with some 21,200 produced (although some sources say 19,000[2]). Some rifles were taken home by the Allies as war prizes[1] and were sometimes used as film props.
Design Details[]
The Type 2 is a bolt-action rifle with a five-round internal box magazine fed by stripper clips. The Type 2 is heavily based on the older Type 99 rifle, and as such both rifles are nearly identical from a technical standpoint.[3]
As mentioned above, the Type 2 is a takedown weapon; the weapon can be separated into two halves with the assistance of a wedge holding both parts of the weapon in place. This wedge was held together by a screw. The rifle is also capable of taking the standard Type 30 bayonet. Peep sights and anti-aircraft sights were provided with the weapon.[1]
Ammunition[]
As the Type 2 is based on the Type 99, the Type 2 takes 7.7×58mm Arisaka ammunition.[3]
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- "TERA" is a contraction of the Japanese words 挺進落下傘 (Teishin Rakkasan, lit. "raiding parachutes").