37 mm anti-tank gun type 94
| 37 mm anti-tank gun type 94 | |
|---|---|
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| General Information | |
| Military designation: | 九四 式 三 十七 粍 速射砲 |
| Manufacturer country: |
 Japan
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| Production time: | 1936 to 1941 |
| Number of pieces: | 3400 |
| Weapon Category: | Anti-tank infantry gun |
| Team: | 11 |
| Technical specifications | |
| Pipe length: | 1.707 m |
| Caliber : |
37 mm |
| Caliber length : | L46.1 |
| Weight ready for use: | 327 kg |
| Elevation range: | –10 ° to +25 degrees |
| Side straightening area: | 60 ° |
| Furnishing | |
| Ammunition supply: | individually |
The 37 mm anti-tank gun Type 94 ( Japanese 九四 式 三 十七 粍 速射砲 , Kyūyon-shiki sanjūnana-miri sokushahō ) was an infantry and at the same time the first anti-tank gun used by the Imperial Japanese Army in the Second Sino-Japanese War , was used in the Japanese-Soviet border conflict and during the Pacific War from 1936 to 1945. The designation Type 94 indicates the year of the first development, the year Kōki 2594 or 1934 according to the Gregorian calendar.
history
In July 1933, the Imperial Japanese Army began to work on a further development of the Type 11 37 mm infantry gun . The reason was that the muzzle velocity and penetration power of the Type 11 were no longer sufficient in the early 1930s. In addition, the new infantry gun should also take on anti-tank tasks. A first prototype of the new gun was tested in 1934 and production began in 1936. The Type 94 was originally intended as a rapid- fire infantry gun for direct fire support to the infantry in order to fight enemy machine gun nests or bunker positions . But equipped with armor-piercing high-explosive ammunition , the gun became the first Japanese anti-tank gun. However, it performed this role only poorly, since when production of the cannon began, the armor of most tanks could withstand the penetration of the Type 94. Only light tanks, like the American M3 Stuart , could be eliminated by the Type 94 with multiple hits. The Type 94 was also effective against light Soviet tanks during the Battle of Chalchin Gol . On the other hand, it was powerless against stronger models. For lack of alternatives, the Type 94 remained in service until the end of the war in 1945. As a further development, the Type 1 37 mm anti-tank gun was introduced in 1941 .
Technical specifications
- Caliber: 37 mm
- Pipe length: 1.707 m
- Elevation range: −10 ° to + 25 °
- Side straightening range: 60 °
- Gun weight: 327 kg
- Bullet weight: 0.67 kg
- Muzzle velocity V 0 = 700 m / s
- Maximum range: 5500 m
- Effective range: approx. 2900 m
- Gun operation: 11 men
Preserved copies
There are numerous surviving specimens of the 37 mm Pak 94 anti-tank gun, which can be viewed at the following locations, among others:
- Solomon Islands National Museum on Guadalcanal (island)
- National Museum of the Pacific War , Fredericksburg, Texas
- Tsuchira Tank Museum of the Ground Self-Defense Forces in Tsuchiura , Japan
- AFP Museum ("Museum of Armed Forces of the Philippines ") in Manila , Philippines
- Royal Armories at Fort Nelson, Hampshire
- Military History Museum of Artillery, Engineer and Signal Corps in Saint Petersburg , Russia
literature
- Gordon L. Rottman : "Japanese Army in World War II 1941-42" Osprey Publishing, 2005, ISBN 978-1-84176-789-5 .
- SL Mayer: "The Rise and Fall of Imperial Japan, 1894-1945" The Military Press, NYC, 1976, ISBN 0-517-423138 .
Web links
- Type 94 37mm anti-tank gun. Taki's homepage, accessed January 12, 2015 .
- Chapter 5. Antitank and infantry guns. Handbook on Japanese Military Forces, September 1944, accessed January 9, 2015 .
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Rottman, p. 48.
- ↑ Type 94 37mm Anti-Tank Gun. Taki's homepage, accessed January 12, 2015 .
- ^ Solomon Islands National Museum. PacificWrecks.com, accessed January 13, 2015 .
- ^ JGSDF Ordnance School Museum. Taki's homepage, accessed January 12, 2015 .
- ^ AFP Museum (Armed Forces of the Philippines). PacificWrecks.com, accessed January 12, 2015 .