Type 92 Heavy Machine Gun
Kokura Arsenal · Machine Gun · Out Of Production · 1932
Also known as: Type 92 HMG, Kyūni-shiki, Woodpecker, Type 92 Shiki Kikanju, Chicken Neck
Overview
The Type 92 was the standard heavy machine gun of the Imperial Japanese Army throughout WWII. A scaled-up evolution of the Type 3 (itself a Hotchkiss M1914 derivative), it fired the new 7.7×58mm SR Type 92 cartridge from 30-round metal feed strips. Air-cooled with a heavily finned barrel and gas-operated long-stroke action, it was tripod-mounted and crewed by three men. Despite chronic feed problems caused by oil-lubricated cartridges picking up dust in jungle conditions, its accuracy, ruggedness, and 4,500m maximum range made it a feared defensive weapon in Pacific island campaigns including Iwo Jima, Tarawa, and Okinawa.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 28000 g (987.7 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 55300 g (1950.7 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1156 mm (45.51") |
| Barrel Length | 723 mm (28.46") |
| Action Type | Gas Operated Long Stroke |
| Firing Mechanism | Open Bolt |
| Trigger Type | Full Auto Only |
| Magazine Capacity | 30 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Stripper Clip |
| Muzzle Velocity | 732 m/s (2402 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 3540 J (2611 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 800 m (875 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 4500 m (4921 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 450 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 7.7x58mm SR Type 92 · primary — also known as 7.7mm Type 92, 7.7 Japanese SR
Features
- Firing modes: Full Automatic
- Feed systems: 30 Round Metal Feed Strip Hotchkiss Pattern
- Features: Finned Barrel Air Cooling, Internal Oil Pump Cartridge Lubrication, Tripod With Detachable Carrying Poles, Canted Offset Iron Sights, Type 93 Periscopic Sight Optional, Type 96 Telescopic Sight Optional
Variants
- Type 3 (1914) — Earlier 6 5 Predecessor
- Type 92 — Standard Production
- Type 1 (1941) — Improved Simplified
Service history
Operators
- Imperial Japanese Army · adopted 1932 · as Type 92
- Imperial Japanese Navy / SNLF · as Type 92
- Wang Jingwei collaborationist regime · as Type 92
- People's Liberation Army (captured) · adopted 1945 · as Type 92
- Korean People's Army · as Type 92
- Viet Minh · as Type 92
Conflicts
- Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945)
- World War II Pacific Theater (1941-1945)
- Chinese Civil War (1945-1949)
- Korean War (1950-1953)
- First Indochina War (1946-1954)
Production
Estimated total produced: 45,000 · Production years: 1932-1945
Produced primarily at Kokura Arsenal and Hitachi/Hino. Captured stocks served post-war in Chinese Civil War, Korean War, and First Indochina War.
Origin
Country of origin: Japan
Designer: Kijirō Nambu
Discontinued: 1945
Notes
Source variance: muzzle velocity 730-780 m/s; case length 57-58mm (58mm standardized). The 7.7×58mm SR Type 92 is semi-rimmed and NOT interchangeable with the rimless 7.7×58mm Arisaka used in Type 99 rifles, although the rimless round can be fired in the Type 92 HMG. Tripod weight ~27 kg.
Background
American troops nicknamed it 'Woodpecker' due to its slow distinctive cyclic rate (~450 rpm) producing a stuttering tap-tap-tap unlike the higher-pitched buzz of Allied MGs. The 30-round metal feed strips required oil-lubricated cartridges that picked up dust and sand in tropical conditions, frequently jamming the action. The tripod's detachable carry-handles allowed four-man crews to relocate the fully-assembled gun under fire - a tactical advantage in Pacific island fortifications.