Japanese Type 2 20mm Anti-Aircraft Machine Cannon

Japanese Type 2 20mm Anti-Aircraft Machine Cannon.

The Type 2 20 mm AA machine cannon was a Japanese-designed anti-aircraft gun, based on the German Flak 38. It entered service in 1942.

Introduced in 1942, the gun was similar to the Type 98 20 mm AA machine cannon, but these could be elevated to 95 degrees and had a central fire-control system. The central fire-control system developed for the Type 2 could control and direct six of the guns at once. The gun was based on the German 2 cm Flak 30/38/Flakvierling. The Type 2 number was designated for the year the gun was accepted, 2602 in the Japanese imperial year calendar, or 1942 in the Gregorian calendar.

Two of the guns mounted together formed a variant known as the Type 2 20 mm Twin AA machine cannon. The prototype Type 98 20 mm AAG Tank was equipped with this twin Type 2 variant as its main armament. The Type 98 20 mm AAG did not enter production.

Type: Autocannon

Place of origin: Empire of Japan

In service: 1942–1945

Used by: Empire of Japan

Wars: World War II

Produced: 1942–1945

Variants: 20 mm Twin AA machine cannon

Weight: 550 kg (1,210 lb)

Barrel length: 1.4 m (4 ft 7 in) L/70

Caliber: 20 mm (0.79 in)

Barrels: 1

Action: Gas operated

Elevation: -15° to +95°

Traverse: 360°

Rate of fire: 300 rounds/min (maximum)

Muzzle velocity: 950 m/s (3,100 ft/s)

Maximum firing range:

5,500 m (18,000 ft) (horizontal)

3,500 m (11,500 ft) (altitude)

Feed system: 20 round box

Japanese Type 2 20mm Anti-Aircraft Machine Cannon.