Type 4 75 mm AA Gun
Encyclopedia
The was an anti-aircraft gun developed by the Imperial Japanese Army
, which went into production in 1943. Due to the lack of raw materials available and the great damage by air raids to its industrial infrastructure, only 70 units were made. These units were retained for defense of the Japanese home islands during World War II
.
company of Sweden had designed a new 75 mm AA gun which was purchased by the Royal Swedish Navy. This was developed into a mobile anti-aircraft gun with a wheeled carriage, which was exported to the Republic of China
, Persia, and Thailand
.
Japanese forces captured examples of the Bofors M29 75mm AA gun from the National Revolutionary Army
of the Kuomintang
government of China, and the Army Technical Bureau was impressed with its performance, which was much superior to the existing Japanese Type 88 75 mm AA Gun
. By “reverse engineering
” a close copy was designed and went into production in 1943. However, by late 1943 Japan lacked the raw materials and its industrial infrastructure was too damaged by air raids
to follow through with mass production. Only 70 units were completed before the surrender of Japan
.
A variant design was used as the main armament on the Type 4 Chi-To
medium tank
.
with sliding breech
, mounted on a central pedestal. The firing platform was supported by four legs, each of which had adjustable screwed foot for leveling.
and against the perceived threat of Allied invasion
.
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
, which went into production in 1943. Due to the lack of raw materials available and the great damage by air raids to its industrial infrastructure, only 70 units were made. These units were retained for defense of the Japanese home islands during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
History and development
In 1927, the BoforsBofors
The name Bofors has been associated with the iron industry for more than 350 years.Located in Karlskoga, Sweden, the company originates from the hammer mill "Boofors" founded 1646. The modern corporate structure was created in 1873 with the foundation of Aktiebolaget Bofors-Gullspång...
company of Sweden had designed a new 75 mm AA gun which was purchased by the Royal Swedish Navy. This was developed into a mobile anti-aircraft gun with a wheeled carriage, which was exported to the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
, Persia, and Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
.
Japanese forces captured examples of the Bofors M29 75mm AA gun from the National Revolutionary Army
National Revolutionary Army
The National Revolutionary Army , pre-1928 sometimes shortened to 革命軍 or Revolutionary Army and between 1928-1947 as 國軍 or National Army was the Military Arm of the Kuomintang from 1925 until 1947, as well as the national army of the Republic of China during the KMT's period of party rule...
of the Kuomintang
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
government of China, and the Army Technical Bureau was impressed with its performance, which was much superior to the existing Japanese Type 88 75 mm AA Gun
Type 88 75 mm AA Gun
The was an anti-aircraft gun used by the Imperial Japanese Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II. It replaced the earlier Type 11 75 mm AA Gun in front line combat service, and at the time was equal in performances to any of its contemporaries in western armies and was...
. By “reverse engineering
Reverse engineering
Reverse engineering is the process of discovering the technological principles of a device, object, or system through analysis of its structure, function, and operation...
” a close copy was designed and went into production in 1943. However, by late 1943 Japan lacked the raw materials and its industrial infrastructure was too damaged by air raids
Air raids on Japan
During World War II the Allied forces conducted many air raids on Japan which caused extensive destruction to the country's cities and killed over 300,000 people. These attacks began with the Doolittle Raid in mid-April 1942, but did not resume until June 1944 when United States Army Air Forces ...
to follow through with mass production. Only 70 units were completed before the surrender of Japan
Surrender of Japan
The surrender of Japan in 1945 brought hostilities of World War II to a close. By the end of July 1945, the Imperial Japanese Navy was incapable of conducting operations and an Allied invasion of Japan was imminent...
.
A variant design was used as the main armament on the Type 4 Chi-To
Type 4 Chi-To
The was one of several new medium tanks developed by the Imperial Japanese Army towards the end of World War II. The Type 4 Chi-To was by far the most advanced Japanese wartime tank to reach the production phase...
medium tank
Medium tank
Medium tank was a classification of tanks; the medium being intermediate in size and weight and armament between heavy tanks and light tanks.The medium tank concept has been eclipsed by the main battle tank.-History:...
.
Design
The Type 4 75 mm AA gun had a single piece gun barrelGun barrel
A gun barrel is the tube, usually metal, through which a controlled explosion or rapid expansion of gases are released in order to propel a projectile out of the end at a high velocity....
with sliding breech
Breech-loading weapon
A breech-loading weapon is a firearm in which the cartridge or shell is inserted or loaded into a chamber integral to the rear portion of a barrel....
, mounted on a central pedestal. The firing platform was supported by four legs, each of which had adjustable screwed foot for leveling.
Combat record
Coming into service towards the end of the war, all seventy Type 4s that were operational were retained on the home islands as part of the bolstering of Japan's defenses against Allied air raidsAir raids on Japan
During World War II the Allied forces conducted many air raids on Japan which caused extensive destruction to the country's cities and killed over 300,000 people. These attacks began with the Doolittle Raid in mid-April 1942, but did not resume until June 1944 when United States Army Air Forces ...
and against the perceived threat of Allied invasion
Operation Downfall
Operation Downfall was the Allied plan for the invasion of Japan near the end of World War II. The operation was cancelled when Japan surrendered after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Soviet Union's declaration of war against Japan. The operation had two parts: Operation...
.