Японская винтовка Тип 99: История и модификации

The Type 99 rifle or Type 99 short rifle (九九式短小銃) was a bolt action rifle of the Arisaka design used by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II.

During the Second Sino Japanese War in the 1930s, the Japanese soon found that the 7.7mm cartridge being fired by their Type 92 heavy machine gun in China was superior to the 6.5×50mm cartridge of the Type 38 rifle. This necessitated the development of a new weapon to replace the outclassed Type 38, and finally standardize on a single rifle cartridge. The Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) developed the Type 99 based on the Type 38 rifle but with a caliber of 7.7mm. The Type 99 was produced at nine different arsenals. Seven arsenals were located in Japan, with the other two located at Mukden in Manchukuo and Jinsen in Korea. The IJA had intended to completely replace the Type 38 with the Type 99 by the end of the war. However, the outbreak of the Pacific War never allowed the army to completely replace the Type 38 and so the IJA used both rifles extensively during the war. As the war progressed, more and more cost saving steps were introduced in order to speed up production. Late war rifles are often called "last ditch" or "substitute standard" due to their crudeness of finish. They are generally as crude as the 1945 dated Mauser K98k of Germany, or worse. The Type 99 was produced in four versions, the regular issue Type 99 short rifle, the Type 99 long rifle (a limited production variant), the take down Type 2 paratroop rifle, and the Type 99 sniper rifle. The standard rifle also came with a wire monopod and an anti aircraft sighting device. The Type 99 was the first mass produced infantry rifle to have a chrome lined bore to ease cleaning. All of these features were abandoned by mid war.

During the Korean War, approximately 126,500 short and 6,650 long Type 99 rifles were re chambered under American supervision at the Tokyo arsenal to fire the standard .30 06 Springfield cartridge. Apparently intended for the South Korean "gendarmerie", few rifles appear to have been issued at the end of the war in 1953. These rifles were fitted with lengthened magazine wells and had small notches cut in the top of the receivers to accommodate the .30 06 round's 1/3 inch greater length. Accuracy suffered, due to the difference in cartridges, rifling rate and characteristics, but they were nonetheless functional. Conversions to both .30 06 and 7.62 NATO as well 7.62 Russian have also been performed by civilians, often along with sporterising modifications. After 1946, the Republic of China re chambered an unknown number of Type 99 rifles to fire the 8×57 IS cartridge. The Royal Thai Army received Japanese rifles of all types after 1945 and converted some short Type 99 rifles to fire the U. S. .30 06 cartridge during the early 1950s. The Type 30 bayonet had a very long, slender blade, and was grooved to reduce weight. The early models featured a hooked quillion. These bayonets attached to a lug under the barrel and were further stabilized by a loop that fitted around the muzzle. Unmounted, it handled like a machete.

The initial production rifle of the Type 99. Made only by Nagoya Arsenal and Toyo Kogyo under Kokura Arsenal supervision. Only about 38,000 were produced, 8,000 at Nagoya and 30,000 at Toyo Kogyo between summer of 1940 and spring of 1941 when production was switched to the much more common new Type 99 short rifle of which millions were made. The long rifle was found to be more cumbersome than the short rifle, and provided only marginally better performance. Thus, it was sidelined in favor of the short rifle, which was much more practical, required less resources to produce, proving more than satisfactory. Like the early Type 99 short rifles, these Long rifles were made with a monopod, anti aircraft lead arms on the rear sight and a dust cover.

In 1942, a Type 99 with a barrel was designed, and became the basis for the Type 99 sniper rifle.

Majority of the Type 99s were converted to fire 7.92×57mm ammo for the National Revolutionary Army. Around 133,300 of them were reported to be used worldwide.

Though the Arisaka rifle has never been exported to the United States in great numbers, there are thousands available—most having been brought home by Marines and soldiers returning from the Pacific theater. In many cases, the imperial chrysanthemum atop the receiver has been defaced by the surrendering Japanese in order to preserve the Emperor's honor: the mark indicated that the rifle was the Emperor's personal property. Rifles with an intact chrysanthemum often bring a premium on the collector market, sometimes almost double the price for a like model defaced rifle. Many have been rechambered to more common calibers due to the relative scarcity of factory 7.7×58mm Arisaka; it is particularly suitable for this due to its robust action.

: Some re chambered for the 7.92×57mm IS cartridge after 1946.
: Used during the Indonesian National Revolution. : Used during the Korean War. : Captured during World War II and used by Filipino guerrillas. : 60,000 rifles along with 500,000 ammunitions were provided to Korean Constabulary in January 1946 as service rifle by the United States Army Military Government in Korea, and also obtained from Jinsen Arsenal at Incheon. The Armed Forces was equipped with 19,103 US Type 99, which chambered .30 06 Springfield, before the Korean War. : Some were converted to the .30 06 cartridge in the early 1950s.