An intelligence report on Japanese infantry weapons, from the Intelligence Bulletin, September 1943. The article discusses the new 7.7-mm caliber Japanese weapons, the Model 99 rifle and Model 99 machine gun. [Editor's Note: The following article is wartime information on Japanese weapons and equipment published for Allied soldiers. In most cases, more accurate data is available in postwar publications.]

NEW JAPANESE WEAPONS FOR INFANTRY SQUAD 1. GENERAL For the purpose of increasing fire power, the Japanese Army for some time has been replacing the 6.5-mm (.256-cal.) weapons of its infantry squad with 7.7-mm (.303-cal.) weapons. These include the Model 99 (1939) 7.7-mm rifle and the Model 99 (1939) 7.7-mm light machine gun. They have been designed to take the place of the Model 38 (1905) 6.5-mm rifle, the Model 11 (1922) 6.5-mm light machine gun, and the Model 96 (1936) 6.5-mm light machine gun. Details of all these weapons except the Model 99 light machine gun have been given in previous issues of the Intelligence Bulletin or in other Military Intelligence Service publications. An Ordnance study of the Model 99 rifle was published in Intelligence Bulletin, Vol. I, No. 7. The Model 96 machine gun is described in TM 30-480 (as revised Sept. 21, 1942), while the Model 38 rifle is described in TM 30-480 and also in Intelligence Bulletin, Vol. I, No. 5. The Model 99 rifle and light machine gun both fire Model 99 rimless[1] 7.7-mm ammunition, which also is adapted for firing in the Model 92 (1932) 7.7-mm heavy machine gun. This latter weapon originally was made to fire only 7.7-mm Model 92 semi-rimless ammunition. The Model 99 weapons will not, in turn, fire the semi-rimless ammunition, or any caliber .30 U. S. ammunition, or any caliber .303 British ammunition. Although originally designed to fire the semi-rimless ammunition, the Model 92 heavy machine gun has a somewhat higher cyclic rate of fire with the Model 99 rimless ammunition. A muzzle velocity between 2,250 and 2,300 feet per second was obtained in firing the rimless Model 99 ammunition in the Model 99 rifle, the Model 99 light machine gun, and the Model 92 heavy machine gun. On Attu whole units were found armed with the Model 99 rifle and light machine gun. On Guadalcanal a small number of the new rifles and new light machine guns were observed. 2. MODEL 99 RIFLE The following notes on the Model 99 rifle supplement the information about this weapon published in Intelligence Bulletin, Vol. I, No. 7: The Model 99 rifle is known to the Japanese soldier as Kyu Kyu Tan Shoju (99 short rifle). It is marked Kyu Kyu Shiki (Model 99) on top of the receiver, just below the Imperial Seal. It is capable of delivering deadlier and possibly more accurate fire than Model 38. However, the new rifle has a pronounced muzzle flash, which is not the case with Model 38. Model 99 also has a normal amount of recoil, which may affect the marksmanship of the Japanese soldier, who is accustomed to the very slight recoil of Model 38. Because of this difference in recoil, some prisoners of war have stated that they prefer the old rifle. The new weapon may be distinguished from the old by the following features: a. It is 5 inches shorter. b. A monopod mount, which is attached to the lower band and which can be folded forward to catch on the stock when not in use. c. A rubberized sling attached to swivels on the left side of the rifle instead of to the bottom. d. The slide of the rear sight has an arm extending to the left and one to the right for use when firing at aircraft. The arms, which, when opened, extend 2 3/8 inches from the center of the rifle, are folded upward against the sight during ground firing. 3. MODEL 99 LIGHT MACHINE GUN a. General The Model 99 light machine gun is a 7.7-mm version of the Model 96 light machine gun. The two weapons are very similar in general appearance, and the greatest care must be taken to distinguish them from each other. Many parts are common to both guns. Model 99 (see fig. 1) is known to the Japanese soldier as Kyu Kyu Keiki, and is marked "Kyu Kyu Shiki" on top of the receiver. Figure 1a.—Japanese Model 99 Light Machine Gun (showing distinguishing rear monopod). Figure 1b.—Japanese Model 99 Light Machine Gun (showing barrel partly withdrawn). b. Distinguishing Features Model 99 may be distinguished from Model 96 by the following features: (1) A heavy, adjustable monopod, which is attached to an extension at the bottom of the butt plate. (2) A trigger safety which is located on the left-hand side of the trigger guard instead of on the right-hand side, as on Model 96. (3) The method of locking the barrel to the receiver. On Model 99, the barrel locking bolt, which holds the barrel in the receiver, is held on by a heavy six-sided nut marked from 1 to 8. On Model 96 the barrel is retained in the receiver by a locking swivel, which has an outside handle lying parallel to the barrel. (4) The flash hider of Model 99 screws onto the end of the barrel, which is threaded to receive it. The flash hider of Model 96 locks onto the barrel with a bayonet-type lock. (5) The barrel of Model 99 is somewhat heavier than that of Model 96, but both are of the same length. (6) The magazine of Model 99 is about 1 inch longer and somewhat less curved than that of Model 96. c. Comment Model 99 is considered a more effective weapon than Model 96, particularly because of the support given by the adjustable monopod at the rear and its heavier ammunition. It is believed that the effective range of Model 99 is possibly 200 yards greater than that of Model 96. The former has a high cyclic rate of fire, about 700 to 800 rounds per minute, in contrast to an estimated cyclic rate of 550 rounds per minute for the Model 96. 1. In Intelligence Bulletin, Vol. I, No. 7, p. 5, par. 2, line 4, change "semi-rimless" to "rimless."

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