Type 99 88 mm AA Gun
Encyclopedia
The was an anti-aircraft gun used by the Imperial Japanese Army
during World War II
.
in the Second Sino-Japanese War
, Japanese forces captured a number of German
-made SK c/30 anti-aircraft guns from the National Revolutionary Army
of the Republic of China
. These weapons were originally naval anti-aircraft weapons for the German Navy
, and should not be confused with the more famous FlaK 88 mm anti-aircraft gun
.
Quickly realizing the superiority of this design in terms of range and firepower over the domestic Type 88 75 mm AA Gun
, the Japanese Army Technical Bureau quickly “reverse engineered
” it, and placed it into production. Approximately 1000 units were built.
with sliding breech
and vertical sliding breech block. The firing platform was supported by five legs, each of which (along with the central pedestal) had adjustable screwed foot for leveling. The gun barrel could easily be removed from the breech end-piece, and the entire assembly could be broken down into six separate assemblies for ease of transportation. It fired a 9.0 kilogram high explosive projectile to an effective altitude of 10,420 meters. Armor-piercing warhead
s were also developed for potential anti-tank use.
Projectiles
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...
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
During the Battle of NanjingBattle of Nanjing
The Battle of Nanking began after the fall of Shanghai on October 9, 1937, and ended with the fall of the capital city of Nanking on December 13, 1937 to Japanese troops, a few days after the Republic of China Government had evacuated the city and relocated to Wuhan...
in 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...
, Japanese forces captured a number of German
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
-made SK c/30 anti-aircraft guns 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 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...
. These weapons were originally naval anti-aircraft weapons for the German Navy
German Navy
The German Navy is the navy of Germany and is part of the unified Bundeswehr .The German Navy traces its roots back to the Imperial Fleet of the revolutionary era of 1848 – 52 and more directly to the Prussian Navy, which later evolved into the Northern German Federal Navy...
, and should not be confused with the more famous FlaK 88 mm anti-aircraft gun
88 mm gun
The 88 mm gun was a German anti-aircraft and anti-tank artillery gun from World War II. It was widely used by Germany throughout the war, and was one of the most recognizable German weapons of the war...
.
Quickly realizing the superiority of this design in terms of range and firepower over the domestic 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...
, the Japanese Army Technical Bureau quickly “reverse engineered
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...
” it, and placed it into production. Approximately 1000 units were built.
Design
The Type 99 88 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....
and vertical sliding breech block. The firing platform was supported by five legs, each of which (along with the central pedestal) had adjustable screwed foot for leveling. The gun barrel could easily be removed from the breech end-piece, and the entire assembly could be broken down into six separate assemblies for ease of transportation. It fired a 9.0 kilogram high explosive projectile to an effective altitude of 10,420 meters. Armor-piercing warhead
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...
s were also developed for potential anti-tank use.
Projectiles
- High-Explosive – 9.0 kg
- Incendiary – 9.5 kg
- Armor-Piercing – 10.0 kg
Combat record
The Type 99 88 mm AA gun was primarily deployed in defense of the Japanese home islands 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...
.