Type 97 Anti-Tank Rifle
Kokura Arsenal · Rifle · Out Of Production · 1938
Also known as: Type 97 automatic cannon, Type 97 20mm Anti-Tank Rifle, Kawamura Type 97
Overview
The Type 97 was the Imperial Japanese Army's standard 20mm anti-tank rifle, a massive gas-operated, semi-automatic weapon firing a 20x125mm cartridge from a 7-round top-mounted box magazine. Weighing roughly 52 kg bare and up to 68 kg with its armored shield and carrying poles, it required a multi-man crew to move and at least two soldiers to operate, and could penetrate about 30 mm of armor at 250 meters.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 52200 g (1841.3 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 68100 g (2402.2 oz) |
| Overall Length | 2096 mm (82.52") |
| Barrel Length | 1064 mm (41.89") |
| Action Type | Gas Operated |
| Firing Mechanism | Open Bolt |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 7 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 792 m/s (2598 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 43000 J (31715 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 730 m (798 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 2000 m (2187 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 12 rpm |
| Number of Grooves | 8 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
Calibers
- 20x125mm Japanese · primary — also known as 20x124mm, 20mm Type 97
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Bolt Catch Safety, Trigger Safety
- Features: Armored Gun Shield, Shock Absorbing Recoil System, Removable Carry Handles, Top Mounted Magazine, Removable Quick Change Barrel, Adjustable Three Leg Mount
Service history
Operators
- Imperial Japanese Army · adopted 1938 · as Type 97 automatic cannon
Conflicts
- Battles of Khalkhin Gol (1939)
- Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945)
- World War II (1941-1945)
Production
Estimated total produced: 1,108 · Production years: 1938-1943
Limited production reflecting high cost and weight; expensive and unwieldy for its modest armor performance. Estimates cluster around 1,100-1,200.
Origin
Country of origin: Japan
Discontinued: 1943
Notes
Muzzle velocity varies across sources (750-866 m/s); barrel length consensus ~1,064 mm with one outlier near 1,199 mm. Some sources report full-auto capability, but this is attributed to malfunction or confusion with the Type 98; the rifle was semi-auto only. The widely repeated '300 mm penetration' figure is a typographical error for 30 mm.
Background
First blooded at Khalkhin Gol in 1939, the Type 97 proved underwhelming against Soviet BT-series tanks and was already marginal against armor by the Pacific War, where it was relegated mostly to static defensive emplacements. Its punishing recoil and great weight made it unpopular with crews, and its breech mechanism was later adapted into Japanese 20mm automatic aircraft cannon.