List of Japanese military equipment of World War II

The following is a list of Japanese military equipment of World War II which includes artillery, vehicles and vessels, and other support equipment of both the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA), and Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) from operations conducted from start of Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937 to the end of World War II in 1945.Standard Catalog of Military Firearms: The Collector's Price and Reference Guide, edited by Phillip Peterson,

The Empire of Japan forces conducted operations over a variety of geographical areas and climates from the frozen North of China bordering Russia during the Battle of Khalkin Gol (Nomonhan) to the tropical jungles of Indonesia. Japanese military equipment was researched and developed along two separate procurement processes, one for the IJA and one for the IJN. Until 1943, the IJN usually received a greater budget allocation, which allowed for the enormous Yamato-class battleships, advanced aircraft such as the Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" series, and the world's largest submarines. In addition, the IJN was given a higher priority as to the allocation of steel and raw materials for warship construction and airplane construction. It changed to a degree in 1944/45, when the Japanese home islands became increasingly under direct threat, but it was too late. Therefore, during the prior years the Imperial Japanese Army suffered by having a lower budget allocation and being given a lower priority as to raw materials, which eventually affected its use of equipment and tactics in engagements during World War II.

A majority of the materials used were cotton, wool, and silk for the fabrics, wood for weapon stocks, leather for ammunition pouches, belts, etc. But by 1943 material shortages caused much of the leather to be switched to cotton straps as a substitute.

Swords and bayonets

Model Type Role Blade length (cm) From (year) Notes Guntō Ceremonial sword Ceremonial purpose/Close combat variable 1875 Collective term for military swords Type 30 bayonet Combat knife/bayonet Close combat 40 1897 Fitted on rifles from Type 30 to Type 99 Type 4 bayonet Combat knife/bayonet Close combat ? 1911 Integrated with Type 44 Cavalry Carbine Type 2 bayonet Combat knife/bayonet Close combat 19.5 1942 Fitted on Type 2 TERA Rifle and Type 100 SMG Pole bayonet Combat knife/bayonet Close combat 38.6 1945 Last-ditch weaponBamboo SpearSpearClose combat170-200As late as 1942-1945Primary weapon when low on supplies

Small arms

Pistols and Revolvers (manual and semi-automatic)

+ General sources: Image Name Type Role/s Action Origin Base model/s Manufacturer/s Cartridge/s Effective firing range (m) From (year) Estimated wartime quantity Unloaded wt (kg) Notes Type 26 revolver Revolver Sidearm Double-action Empire of Japan Koishikawa Arsenal 9×22mmR Type 26 100 1893 ~59,900 0.880 Type 94 8mm Nambu pistol Pistol Sidearm Recoil operated, locked breech Empire of Japan Nambu 8x22mm Nambu 50–100 1935 ~71,000 0.765 Type A 8 mm Nambu pistol Pistol Sidearm Recoil operated, locked breech Empire of Japan Type 94 8mm Nambu pistol Nambu 8×22mm Nambu 50 1903 ~10,300 0.900 Type 14 8 mm Nambu pistol Pistol Sidearm Recoil operated Empire of Japan Type A 8 mm Nambu pistol Nambu 8×22mm Nambu 50 1925 ~400,000 0.900 Reduced-cost version of Type A - Nambu Type 19 "North China" pistol Pistol Sidearm Short recoil, locked breech Empire of Japan Type 14 8 mm Nambu pistol Nambu 8×22mm Nambu 1944 ~100 1.106 Reliability improvements of Type 14, occupied Chinese production - Type B 7 mm Nambu pistol Pistol Sidearm Short recoil, locked breech Empire of Japan Type A 8 mm Nambu pistol Nambu 7×20mm Nambu 1909 ~6,000 0.650 3/4 size of Type A - Hino–Komuro pistol Pistol Sidearm Blow-forward Empire of Japan Komuro 8×22mm Nambu.25 ACP.32 ACP 1908 ~1,200 ? Sugiura pistol Pistol Sidearm Blow-back Empire of Japan Colt M1903 Sugiura 8×22mm Nambu.25 ACP.32 ACP 1945 ~6,000 ? Occupied Chinese production - Inagaki pistol Pistol Sidearm Blow-back Empire of Japan Koishikawa Arsenal 8×22mm Nambu.32 ACP 1941 ~50 ? Hamada Type pistol Pistol Sidearm Recoil operated, locked breech Empire of Japan FN Model 1910 Nippon Firearms 8×22mm Nambu.32 ACP 1941 ~5,000 (Type I)~1500+2500 unassembled (Type II) 0.650 Smith & Wesson Model 3 Revolver Sidearm Single-action United States of America Smith & Wesson .44 Russian.44 S&W American.38 S&W.44 Henry.44-40 Winchester.45 S&W.32 S&W 1870 ? 1.300 Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless Pistol Sidearm Single-action blow-back United States of America Colt Patent Firearms .32 ACP.380 ACP 1903 ? 0.680

Automatic pistols and submachine guns

Name Type Role/s Action Origin Base model/s Manufacturer/s Cartridge/s Effective firing range (m) Cyclic rate of fire (round/min) From (year) Estimated wartime quantity Unloaded mass (kg) Notes Type 100 SMG Submachine gun Close-quarters Blow-back Empire of Japan MP34 Nambu 8×22mm Nambu 150 450–800 1939 ~10,000~ 3.70 Model 1 submachine gun Submachine gun Close-quarters Blow-back Empire of Japan Nambu 8×22mm Nambu 800 1935 ? 3.37 Model 2 submachine gun Submachine gun Close-quarters Blow-back Empire of Japan Nambu 8×22mm Nambu 500 800 1935 120-200 3.37 Mauser C96 (Type MO Large pistol) Machine pistol Close-quarters / Sidearm Short recoil German Empire Mauser 7.63×25mm Mauser 150-200 900–1000 (M712 Schnellfeuer) 1896 ? 1.130 Type Be Submachine gun Close-quarters Open-bolt blow-back MP18 Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft 7.63×25mm Mauser 100 1920 ~445~ 4.18 Designation for the Swiss SIG M1920. Used in limited numbers by the Special Naval Landing Forces. Type Su Submachine gun Close-quarters Open-bolt blow-back S1-100 Steyr-Solothurn A.G. 7.63×25mm Mauser 200 600 1929 ~6,000~ 4.48 Used in limited numbers by the Special Naval Landing Forces in Shanghai and Hainan Island.

Rifles

Name Type Role/s Action Origin Base model/s Manufacturer/s Cartridge/s Effective firing range (m) From (year) Estimated wartime quantity Unloaded weight (kg) Notes Type 30 rifle Standard rifle Front-line Bolt-action Empire of Japan Arisaka 6.5×50mm Arisaka 450 1897 ~599,000 3.95 Limited distribution in 1945 Type 35 rifle Standard rifle Front-line Bolt-action Empire of Japan Arisaka 6.5×50mm Arisaka 1902 ~38,200 4.20 Type 38 rifle Standard rifle Front-line Bolt-action Empire of Japan Arisaka 6.5×50mm Arisaka 457 1905 ~3,400,000 3.95 Type 38 carbine Carbine Close-quarters Bolt-action Empire of Japan Type 38 Arisaka 6.5×50mm Arisaka 366 1905 ~517,800 3.30 Main armament of IJA auxiliary troops Type 44 carbine Carbine Close-quarters Bolt-action Empire of Japan Type 38 Arisaka 6.5×50mm Arisaka 366 1911 ~91,900 3.30 Foldable Type 97 sniper rifle Sniper rifle Long-Range Precision Bolt-action Empire of Japan Type 38 Arisaka 6.5×50mm Arisaka 1,500 1937 ~22,500 3.95 2.5x telescopic sight Type 99 (short) rifle Standard rifle Front-line Bolt-action Empire of Japan Arisaka 7.7×58mm Arisaka 656 1939 ~3,500,000 3.70 Intended to replace Type 38 Type 99 (long) rifle Standard rifle Front-line Bolt-action Empire of Japan Arisaka 7.7×58mm Arisaka 656 1939 ~38,000 4.09 Type 2 TERA rifle Takedown rifle Front-line / Close-quarters Bolt-action Empire of Japan Type 99 Nagoya 7.7×58mm Arisaka 1943 ~21,200 3.70 Takedown variant for paratroopers Type 99 sniper rifle Sniper rifle Long-Range Precision Bolt-action Empire of Japan Type 99 Arisaka 7.7×58mm Arisaka 1,700 1939 ~8,000 3.70 2.5x or 4x telescopic sight Type 100 TERA rifle Takedown rifle Front-line / Close-quarters Bolt-action Empire of Japan Karabiner 98k unknown 7.7×58mm Arisaka 1940 ~500 3.90 Experimental, detachable barrel for paratroopers Type 1 TERA rifle Takedown rifle Front-line / Close-quarters Bolt-action Empire of Japan Type 38 carbine Nagoya 6.5×50mm Arisaka 1941 ~250 3.30 Experimental, foldable for paratroopers Type Hei Rifle Battle rifle Front-line / Assault Gas-operated, toggle-action Empire of Japan Nippon 6.5×50mm Arisaka 1935 ~50 3.90 Experimental Type 4 rifle / Type 5 Rifle Battle rifle Front-line / Assault Gas-operated, rotating bolt Empire of Japan M1 Garand Yokosuka 7.7×58mm Arisaka 457 1945 ~250 4.14 Experimental Karabiner 98k (Type Mo rifle I, II) Standard rifle Front-line Bolt-action Nazi Germany Mauser 7.92×57mm Mauser 500 1937 ~20,000 3.90 Imported, version I for infantry and II for cavalry vz. 24 (Type Mo rifle III) Standard rifle Front-line Bolt-action Karabiner 98AZ Považská Bystrica 7.92×57mm Mauser 1937 ~40,000 4.20 Imported, for both infantry and cavalry Type I rifle Standard rifle Front-line Bolt-action Kingdom of Italy Type 38 Carcano 6.5×50mm Arisaka 1939 ~120,000 3.95 Built in Italy under contract to Type 38 specification

Grenades and grenade launchers

Grenade Launcher From (year) Type Filling Mass (kg) Notes Type 10 grenade Type 10 1914 Fragmentation TNT 0.530 Inaccurate fuse timing Type 91 grenade Type 89 1931 Fragmentation TNT 0.530 Improvement of Type 10 Type 10 1933 Chemical TNT 0.590 Green (skin irritant) and red (tear gas) versions, 30g bursting and 37-40g chemical charges Type 97 grenade 1937 Fragmentation TNT 0.450 Evolution of Type 91 optimized for hand-throw Type 98 grenade 1939 Fragmentation Cast picric acid 0.595 Copy of Model 24 grenade, long handle Type 99 grenade Type 100 1939 Fragmentation Cast picric acid 0.300 Variant of Type 97 for grenade launcher Type 2 grenade (30mm) Type 2 1942 Anti-tank 50% TNT, 50% RDX 0.230 Type 2 grenade (40mm) Type 2 1942 Anti-tank 50% TNT, 50% RDX 0.369 98mm RHA penetration Type 3 grenade 1943 Anti-tank 50% TNT, 50% PETN 0.830-1.270 Shaped charge, fabric body Type 4 grenade 1944 Fragmentation Ammonium perchlorate explosive 0.480 Ceramic (Pottery) grenade

Flare guns

Name Type Role/s Origin Base model/s Manufacturer/s Cartridge/s From (year) Estimated wartime quantity Unloaded mass (kg) Notes Type 10 signal pistol (35 mm) Flare gun Distress call / sidearm Empire of Japan Koishikawa ArsenalKokura Arsenal 1921 ?

Recoilless rifles

Name Type Role/s Origin Base model/s Manufacturer/s Cartridge/s From (year) Estimated wartime quantity Unloaded mass (kg) Notes Type 4 70 mm AT rocket launcher rocket launcher Anti-tank / Anti-material / Breaching Empire of Japan 72x359mm 1944 ~3,500 8 Type 5 45 mm AT rocket launcher rocket launcher Anti-tank / Anti-material / Breaching Empire of Japan ? rocket launcher Anti-tank / Anti-material / Breaching Empire of Japan ? 300 produced in 1944 and used up in battle for Okinawa 10.5 cm recoilless rifle rocket launcher Anti-tank / Anti-material / Breaching Empire of Japan ?

Flamethrowers

Name Type Role/s Origin Base model/s Manufacturer/s From (year) Estimated wartime quantity Mass (kg) Notes Type 93 flamethrowers Flamethrower Specialized role Empire of Japan 1933 ? 26 + 4.5 Type 100 flamethrowers Flamethrower Specialized role Empire of Japan 1940 ? 26 + 4

Machine guns

Infantry and dual-purpose machine guns