Type 97
The Type 97 (九七式, kyūnana-shiki) is a designation applied to various military equipment, originating with the Imperial Japanese Army for weapons, vehicles, and other gear adopted in 1937 (the 2597th year of the Japanese imperial calendar, using the last two digits for the "Type" number).[1] This naming convention covered a wide range of items, from firearms and artillery to armored vehicles. The designation was later used by Chinese and Taiwanese forces for their own equipment, such as the People's Republic of China's QBZ-97 rifle and ZBD-97 infantry fighting vehicle, and Taiwan's Type 97 nuclear-bio-chemical detection vehicles.[2][3] This article organizes notable Type 97 equipment by country and category.Japan
Firearms and crew-served weapons
The Type 97 grenade was a standard fragmentation hand grenade introduced in 1937 for the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy Special Naval Landing Forces, featuring a cylindrical body with serrations to produce fragments upon detonation and a 4- to 5-second delay fuze activated by impact or pull.[4] It contained approximately 65 grams of TNT explosive fill and weighed about 0.45 kilograms overall, serving as a defensive weapon with an effective casualty radius of roughly 10 to 15 meters in open terrain.[5] The grenade saw extensive use by Japanese infantry during the Second Sino-Japanese War starting in 1937 and throughout World War II, including in close-quarters combat in China, the Pacific islands, and Southeast Asia.[4] The Type 97 sniper rifle was a bolt-action rifle adopted in 1937, modified from the earlier Type 38 Arisaka design to include a 2.5-power telescopic sight mounted on the left side for improved accuracy in long-range engagements.[6] Chambered for the 6.5×50mm Arisaka cartridge, it had an overall length of 1,280 millimeters, a 797-millimeter barrel, and weighed approximately 3.9 kilograms unloaded, with an effective range exceeding 800 meters when using the optic.[7] Production totaled around 22,000 units across Kokura and Nagoya arsenals, though scoped versions were issued sparingly to specialized sniping teams.[8] It was employed for precision fire in the Manchurian theater against Soviet forces and later in the Pacific campaign, where its mild recoil and reliable 5-round internal magazine supported marksmen in defensive positions.[6] The Type 97 heavy tank machine gun was a 7.7×58mm Arisaka water-cooled heavy machine gun developed in 1937, derived from licensed Hotchkiss M1914 designs and adapted for vehicle mounting with a cyclic rate of fire around 450 rounds per minute.[9] Weighing 12.4 kilograms with a 700-millimeter barrel, it fed from 20-round detachable box magazines and achieved an effective range of 540 meters, serving as coaxial or hull armament in early Japanese tanks.[10] A portable infantry version was also produced for crew-served use, allowing dismounted operation by vehicle crews in suppressive fire roles. This weapon integrated into armored vehicles like the Type 97 Chi-Ha for anti-infantry support, as detailed in the Armored vehicles section. The Type 97 aircraft machine gun was a 7.7×56mm rimmed fixed machine gun introduced in 1937 for Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft, based on the ground-oriented Type 92 heavy machine gun but lightened and modified for aerial synchronization.[11] It featured short-recoil operation with a cyclic rate of 600 to 700 rounds per minute when synchronized for propeller passage, or up to 900 rounds per minute unsynchronized, and weighed about 12.7 kilograms with a 600-millimeter barrel.[12] Primarily used in fighters such as the A6M Zero for nose-mounted firing through the propeller arc, it provided defensive firepower in carrier-based operations across the Pacific theater during World War II.[13]Artillery and anti-tank systems
The Imperial Japanese Army's Type 97 artillery and anti-tank systems encompassed a range of towed field pieces, mortars, and specialized anti-armor weapons adopted in 1937 (Imperial Year 2597), designed primarily for infantry support, indirect fire, and defense against light armored threats in the Second Sino-Japanese War and Pacific Theater. These systems emphasized portability for rapid deployment in rugged terrain, though many suffered from limited production, outdated designs relative to escalating threats, and reliance on high-explosive rounds for versatility beyond pure anti-tank roles. Key examples included anti-tank rifles for close-range armor penetration and mortars for battalion-level fire support, often integrated into divisional artillery units. The Type 97 automatic cannon, also designated as the Type 97 20 mm anti-tank rifle, was a gas-operated, semi-automatic weapon chambered in 20 × 124 mm, weighing 52 kg without the gun shield (68 kg with shield) and capable of engaging light armor at ranges up to 500 m with armor-piercing tracer rounds achieving approximately 30 mm penetration at 250 m. Developed in 1937 and produced in limited numbers (around 500 units), it was issued to infantry squads for use in China and the Pacific islands, where its high recoil and crew-served nature (typically four men) limited mobility, leading to its phase-out by 1941 against heavier Allied tanks; later variants adapted it for aircraft use as the Ho-1 cannon.[14] The Type 97 81 mm infantry mortar was a standard muzzle-loading, smoothbore weapon for Japanese infantry battalions, weighing 66 kg and firing 3.2 kg Type 97 high-explosive shells to a maximum range of 2,800 m at a muzzle velocity of 196 m/s. Introduced in 1937 and widely produced (over 2,000 units by 1945), it featured a bipod and baseplate for quick setup, with elevation adjustable from 45° to 85° and traverse of 50°, enabling effective indirect fire support alongside small arms-equipped units; its ammunition was interchangeable with some Allied 81 mm rounds, aiding captured logistics in late-war scenarios.[15] The Type 97 120 mm infantry mortar provided heavy battalion-level support as a smoothbore, muzzle-loading weapon weighing 240 kg, with a range of 5,700 m and capability for chemical-filled variants to deliver persistent agents in defensive roles. Adopted in 1937 with moderate production (several hundred units), it required a crew of 10-11 for transport and firing, its 14.5 kg shells offering superior destructive power over lighter mortars for fortified positions and area denial.[16] The Type 97 150 mm infantry mortar was a medium mortar with limited mobility, range of 2,870 m, and use in late-World War II fortified defenses, firing 24.8 kg shells at approximately 215 m/s muzzle velocity from a weight of over 650 kg. Produced in small numbers (under 100 units) due to resource shortages, it emphasized high-angle fire for counter-battery and bunker-busting, though its static nature confined it to key installations in the home islands and Pacific outposts.[17]| Weapon | Caliber | Weight (kg) | Max Range (m) | Muzzle Velocity (m/s) | Primary Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 97 20 mm Automatic Cannon | 20 mm | 52 (without shield) | 1,000 | 762 | Anti-tank |
| Type 97 81 mm Mortar | 81 mm | 66 | 2,800 | 196 | Infantry support |
| Type 97 120 mm Mortar | 120 mm | 240 | 5,700 | 240 | Heavy support |
| Type 97 150 mm Mortar | 150 mm | 650+ | 2,870 | 215 | Siege support |