The Type 99 Arisaka (九九式短小銃 Kyūjūkyū-shiki tan-shōjū, lit. "99th year infantry rifle") was a Japanese bolt-action sniper rifle designed by General Giichi Dōgane in 1939 and produced by a variety of arsenals in Japan, Korea and Manchuria from 1939 to 1945. The sixth and final iteration of the Arisaka rifle, the Type 99 acted as the Japanese Army's service rifle throughout World War II.
History[]
When World War II hit, the armament of the Imperial Japanese Army consisted of mainly Type 38 rifles; however, it became apparent to the Japanese that the 6.5mm cartridge used by the Type 38 Arisaka was no longer adequate, and that the 7.7mm cartridge used by the Hino Type 92 was far superior than said 6.5mm cartridge. As such, a new rifle had to be developed to chamber this cartridge.[1]
Gen. Giichi Dōgane, the head of the Kokura Arsenal,[2] was tasked to develop this rifle. The resulting design was known as the Type 99, so named as it was designed in 1939, the 2599th year of the Japanese Imperial calendar. The weapon was adopted in 1939. The weapon was produced from 1939 to 1945 by a variety of different arsenals such as the Nagoya[3] and Kokura Arsenals;[4] a number of rifles were also produced by smaller companies such as Tōyō Kōgyō (now known as Mazda).[5]
With the Japanese in grave danger of losing the war, cost saving steps had to be implemented to speed up production, and so over time the standards of manufacturing declined significantly in an attempt to speed up production; these Arisakas were known as "last ditch" or "substitute standard" Type 99s due to their crude fit and finish.[4] Production ended in 1945 with about 2,500,000 produced. After the war, many were taken home by the Allies as war trophies, with their Imperial Chrysanthemum Seals ground off.[6]
Design Details[]
The Type 99 is a bolt-action rifle with a five-round internal box magazine fed by stripper clips. The Type 99 is heavily based on the older Type 38 rifle, and as such both rifles are nearly identical from a technical standpoint.[6]
Regarded as one of the strongest bolt-action military rifles made,[7] the Type 99 was originally fitted with many additional items such as anti-aircraft sights, sliding bolt covers and monopods, but near the end of the war all these provisions were removed.[6][8] The Model 99 may also take the Type 30 bayonet.[6]
Variants[]
A number of variants of the Type 99 exist, including a short rifle, a long rifle, a paratrooper rifle and a sniper rifle.
Takedown version meant to be used by paratroopers. 22,000 produced.
- Type 99 sniper rifle
Accurized version of the Type 99 with a 4× Type 99 sniper scope attached,[9] although sometimes it could be found with a 2.5× Type 97 optic.[10] 10,000 produced.
Ammunition[]
The Type 99 used 7.7×58mm Arisaka ammunition as it was regarded as superior over the 6.5×50mmSR Arisaka rounds used prior.[1]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Honeycutt Jr., Fred, L., Anthony, F. Patt, Military Rifles of Japan: Fifth Edition, 2006
- ↑ https://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?314689-Article-on-Type-97-20mm-Anti-tank-Rifle
- ↑ https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/58/1589/nagoya-type-99-rifle-77-mm-japanese
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/1023/620/four-japanese-arisaka-type-99-bolt-action-rifles-a-arisaka-typ
- ↑ https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/74/3531/arisaka-99
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 http://www.nambuworld.com/t99.htm
- ↑ Hatcher, General Julian S., Hatcher's Notebook, 1966
- ↑ Voigt, Don, The Japanese Type 99 Arisaka Rifle: 2010 Edition, 2012 revision, 2012
- ↑ https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/71/1511/world-war-ii-japanese-type-99-sniper-rifle-with-4x-sniper-scope
- ↑ https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/71/3510/japanese-type-99-short-rifle-cutback-bolt-action-sniper