Type 2 20 mm AA machine cannon

The Type 2 20 mm AA machine cannon was a Japanese-designed anti-aircraft gun, based on the German Flak 38. It entered service in 1942.

Type 2 20 mm AA machine cannon
Type	Autocannon
Place of origin	Empire of Japan
Service history
In service	1942–1945[1]
Used by	Imperial Japanese Army
Wars	World War II
Production history
Produced	1942–1945[1]
Variants	20 mm Twin AA machine cannon[1]
Specifications
Mass	550 kg (1,210 lb)[1]
Barrel length	1.4 m (4 ft 7 in) L/70[1]
Shell	20 x 142 mm
Caliber	20 mm (0.79 in)[1]
Barrels	1[1]
Action	Gas operated
Elevation	-15° to +95°[1]
Traverse	360°[1]
Rate of fire	300 rounds/min (maximum)[1]
Muzzle velocity	950 m/s (3,100 ft/s)[1]
Maximum firing range	5,500 m (18,000 ft) (horizontal) 3,500 m (11,500 ft) (altitude)[1]
Feed system	20 round box

Design

Introduced in 1942, the gun was similar to the Type 98 20 mm AA machine cannon, but these could be elevated to 95 degrees and had a central fire-control system.[1] The central fire-control system developed for the Type 2 could control and direct six of the guns at once. The gun was based on the German 2 cm Flak 30/38/Flakvierling.[1] The Type 2 number was designated for the year the gun was accepted, 2602 in the Japanese imperial year calendar, or 1942 in the Gregorian calendar.[2]

Variant

Type 2 20 mm Twin AA machine cannon

Two of the guns mounted together formed a variant known as the Type 2 20 mm Twin AA machine cannon. The prototype Type 98 20 mm AAG Tank was equipped with this twin Type 2 variant as its main armament. The Type 98 20 mm AAG did not enter production.[3]

References

Notes

1. Taki’s Imperial Japanese Army Page: "AA Weapons"
2. War Department TM-E-30-480 Handbook on Japanese Military Forces, September 1944, p. 400.
3. Tomczyk 2007, p. 14.

Bibliography

• Tomczyk, Andrzej (2007). Japanese Armor Vol. 5. AJ Press. ISBN 978-8372371799.
• War Department TM-E-30-480 Handbook on Japanese Military Forces September 1944

External links

• Taki's Imperial Japanese Army Page - Akira Takizawa