Japanese Type 3 12cm Anti-Aircraft Gun

Japanese Type 3 12cm Anti-Aircraft Gun.

The Type 3 12 cm AA gun as an anti-aircraft gun used in quantity by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. The Type 3 number was designated for the year the gun was accepted, 2603 in the Japanese imperial year calendar, or 1943 in the Gregorian calendar. It replaced the earlier Type 88 75 mm AA Gun in Japanese service.

In order to address the shortcomings of the Type 88 75 mm AA gun, the Army Technical Bureau developed a larger version with superior range, designated the Type 3. It was one of the few weapons in the Japanese inventory capable of reaching the USAAF B-29 Superfortress bombers that were attacking cities and other targets in the Japanese home islands. However, despite its superior range and firepower, the Type 3 gun could not be produced in sufficient quantities to be truly effective, due to costs, lack of raw materials and damage to Japan’s industrial infrastructure by Allied air raids. Only 120 units were completed before production was discontinued, although the units produced continued to be used until the surrender of Japan.

The Type 3 12 cm AA gun had a single piece gun barrel with sliding breech, mounted on a central pedestal. The firing platform was supported by five legs, each of which (along with the central pedestal) had adjustable screwed foot for leveling.

Coming into service towards the end of the war, most the Type 3s were retained on the home islands as part of the bolstering of Japan’s defenses against Allied air raids and against the perceived thread of Allied invasion. These guns were deployed to cover military targets around Tokyo, Osaka, Kobe and the Yawata Steel Works in Kitakyushu. Overseas, they were deployed to guard the oil fields at Palembang in the Netherlands East Indies. Units in Tokyo were credited with downing at least ten B-29 bombers. Was used in a double-mounted way, defending the Truk Islands and the battleship Yamato in 1944.

Type: Anti-aircraft gun

Place of origin: Japan

In service: 1943-1945

Used by: Imperial Japanese Army

Wars: World War II

Number built: 120

Weight: 19.8 tons

Barrel length: 6.71 m (20 ft) L/56

Caliber: 120 millimeters (4.7 in)

Barrels: single

Elevation: 8 to +90 degrees

Traverse: 360 degrees

Rate of fire: 20 rpm

Muzzle velocity: 853 m/s (2,800 ft/s)

Effective firing range: 8.5 km against a target at 12,000 m.

Effective ceiling: 12,000 m (39,000 ft)

Maximum firing range: 11.4 km against a target at 6,000 m.

Maximum ceiling: 20,000 m (66,000 ft)