Type 94 37 mm Anti-Tank Gun
Encyclopedia
The was an anti-tank gun developed by the Imperial Japanese Army
, and used in combat during the Second Sino-Japanese War
and World War II
.
, which was also used as a primitive anti-tank weapon. However, its short bore
, low muzzle velocity
, short range and slow reloading time gave it only a limited capacity against enemy armor. Development of a replacement began in July 1933 and was completed a year later. Initial testing indicated that a trained crew could fire up to 30 rounds per minute; however, Army planners felt that the initial design was too heavy. A modified design was tested in 1935, and actual production began in 1936; however, the weapon retained its original “Type 94” (imperial year 2594 = western year 1934) designation. Approximately 3,400 units were produced.
One of these few remaining units is on display at the Missouri Yacht Club, Lake Lotawana, MO.
, the 3.7 cm PaK 36, some examples of which had previously been received by the Army Technical Bureau for testing. As with many Japanese designs, it had a very low profile and was intended to be operated from a squat or prone position. The gun had a gun shield
to protect the gunner and open carriage-style legs which could be spread to improve the stability. The breech
had a semi-automatic cartridge case ejection system to improve reloading time. When the shell was loaded, the rear of the cartridge
case tripped a catch closing the breechblock. The recoil action of firing opened the breech and extracted the cartridge case.
The carriage was equipped with either wooden spoke or perforated steel wheels, and the whole assembly could be broken down into four pack loads each weighing less than 100 kilograms to permit transport in four horse loads. Sighting was by a straight telescopic sight. The gun could fire either high explosive or armor piercing
rounds.
or messenger runners. The Army claimed a penetration capability of 20 mm of armor at a distance of 1000 meters, and penetration of up to 40 mm at shorter distances. However, it appears unlikely that this performance was achieved in actual combat, as the Army Technical Bureau continued to experiment with ways to increase muzzle velocity
through 1941.
The Type 94 37mm AT gun was effective against Soviet
light armor in the Nomonhan Incident of 1939, but was considered obsolete against more advanced Allied
tanks, such as the M4 Sherman
by the start of the Pacific War
. However, it remained in service on most fronts in World War II for lack of a better replacement.
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...
, and used in combat during the Second Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
and 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
The Type 94 37-mm AT gun was introduced in 1936. The design originated as an improvement to the Type 11 37 mm Infantry GunType 11 37 mm Infantry Gun
The was an infantry support gun used by the Imperial Japanese Army in the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II.-History and development:The Type 11 infantry gun entered service in 1922...
, which was also used as a primitive anti-tank weapon. However, its short bore
Gauge (bore diameter)
The gauge of a firearm is a unit of measurement used to express the diameter of the barrel. Gauge is determined from the weight of a solid sphere of lead that will fit the bore of the firearm, and is expressed as the multiplicative inverse of the sphere's weight as a fraction of a pound . Thus...
, low muzzle velocity
Muzzle velocity
Muzzle velocity is the speed a projectile has at the moment it leaves the muzzle of the gun. Muzzle velocities range from approximately to in black powder muskets , to more than in modern rifles with high-performance cartridges such as the .220 Swift and .204 Ruger, all the way to for tank guns...
, short range and slow reloading time gave it only a limited capacity against enemy armor. Development of a replacement began in July 1933 and was completed a year later. Initial testing indicated that a trained crew could fire up to 30 rounds per minute; however, Army planners felt that the initial design was too heavy. A modified design was tested in 1935, and actual production began in 1936; however, the weapon retained its original “Type 94” (imperial year 2594 = western year 1934) designation. Approximately 3,400 units were produced.
One of these few remaining units is on display at the Missouri Yacht Club, Lake Lotawana, MO.
Design
The Type 94 37 mm AT gun was based on a German (Rheinmetal-Borsig) quick fire designQuick-firing gun
A quick-firing gun is an artillery piece, typically a gun or howitzer, which has several characteristics which taken together mean the weapon can fire at a fast rate...
, the 3.7 cm PaK 36, some examples of which had previously been received by the Army Technical Bureau for testing. As with many Japanese designs, it had a very low profile and was intended to be operated from a squat or prone position. The gun had a gun shield
Gun shield
thumb|A [[United States Marine Corps|U.S. Marine]] manning an [[M240 machine gun]] equipped with a gun shieldA gun shield is a flat piece or section of armor designed to be mounted on a crew-served weapon such as a machine gun or artillery piece, or, more rarely, to be used with an assault rifle...
to protect the gunner and open carriage-style legs which could be spread to improve the stability. The 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....
had a semi-automatic cartridge case ejection system to improve reloading time. When the shell was loaded, the rear of the cartridge
Cartridge (firearms)
A cartridge, also called a round, packages the bullet, gunpowder and primer into a single metallic case precisely made to fit the firing chamber of a firearm. The primer is a small charge of impact-sensitive chemical that may be located at the center of the case head or at its rim . Electrically...
case tripped a catch closing the breechblock. The recoil action of firing opened the breech and extracted the cartridge case.
The carriage was equipped with either wooden spoke or perforated steel wheels, and the whole assembly could be broken down into four pack loads each weighing less than 100 kilograms to permit transport in four horse loads. Sighting was by a straight telescopic sight. The gun could fire either high explosive or armor piercing
Armor-piercing shot and shell
An armor-piercing shell is a type of ammunition designed to penetrate armor. From the 1860s to 1950s, a major application of armor-piercing projectiles was to defeat the thick armor carried on many warships. From the 1920s onwards, armor-piercing weapons were required for anti-tank missions...
rounds.
Combat record
The Type 94 37mm AT guns were typically assigned in groups of four to combat infantry regiments. Each weapon was manned by a squad of 11 personnel, and was kept in contact with the regimental headquarters (typically up to 300 meters) away by field telephoneField telephone
Field telephones are mobile telephones intended for military use, designed to withstand wartime conditions. They can draw power from their own battery, from a telephone exchange , or from an external power source. Some need no battery, being sound-powered telephones.Field telephones were first used...
or messenger runners. The Army claimed a penetration capability of 20 mm of armor at a distance of 1000 meters, and penetration of up to 40 mm at shorter distances. However, it appears unlikely that this performance was achieved in actual combat, as the Army Technical Bureau continued to experiment with ways to increase muzzle velocity
Muzzle velocity
Muzzle velocity is the speed a projectile has at the moment it leaves the muzzle of the gun. Muzzle velocities range from approximately to in black powder muskets , to more than in modern rifles with high-performance cartridges such as the .220 Swift and .204 Ruger, all the way to for tank guns...
through 1941.
The Type 94 37mm AT gun was effective against Soviet
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
light armor in the Nomonhan Incident of 1939, but was considered obsolete against more advanced Allied
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
tanks, such as the M4 Sherman
M4 Sherman
The M4 Sherman, formally Medium Tank, M4, was the primary tank used by the United States during World War II. Thousands were also distributed to the Allies, including the British Commonwealth and Soviet armies, via lend-lease...
by the start of the Pacific War
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
. However, it remained in service on most fronts in World War II for lack of a better replacement.