The following is a list of Japanese military equipment of World War II which includes artillery, vehicles and vessels, and other support equipment of both the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA), and Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) from operations conducted from start of Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937 to the end of World War II in 1945.[1]
The Empire of Japan forces conducted operations over a variety of geographical areas and climates from the frozen North of China bordering Russia during the Battle of Khalkin Gol (Nomonhan) to the tropical jungles of Indonesia. Japanese military equipment was researched and developed along two separate procurement processes, one for the IJA and one for the IJN. Until 1943, the IJN usually received a greater budget allocation, which allowed for the enormous Yamato-class battleships, advanced aircraft such as the Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" series, and the world's largest submarines. In addition, a higher priority of steel and raw materials was allocated to the IJN for warship construction and airplane construction. It changed to a degree in 1944/45, when the Japanese home islands became increasingly under direct threat, but it was too late. Therefore, during the prior years the Imperial Japanese Army suffered by having a lower budget allocation and being given a lower priority as to raw materials, which eventually affected its use of equipment and tactics in engagements during World War II.
A majority of the materials used were cotton, wool, and silk for the fabrics, wood for weapon stocks, leather for ammunition pouches, belts, etc. But by 1943 material shortages caused much of the leather to be switched to cotton straps as a substitute.
Small arms
Pistols and Revolvers (manual and semi-automatic)
General sources:
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
Image
|
Name
|
Type
|
Role/s
|
Action
|
Origin
|
Base model/s
|
Manufacturer/s
|
Cartridge/s
|
Effective firing range (m)
|
From (year)
|
Estimated wartime quantity
|
Unloaded wt (kg)
|
Notes
|
|
Type 26 revolver[9]
|
Revolver
|
Sidearm
|
Double-action
|
Empire of Japan
|
|
Koishikawa Arsenal
|
9×22mmR Type 26[9]
|
100
|
1893 [9]
|
59,900~ [9]
|
0.880 [9]
|
|
|
Type 94 8mm Nambu pistol[10]
|
Pistol
|
Sidearm[11]
|
Recoil operated, locked breech
|
Empire of Japan
|
|
Nambu
|
8x22mm Nambu[12]
|
50–100 [11]
|
1935 [12]
|
71,000~ [12]
|
0.765 [12]
|
|
|
Type A 8 mm Nambu pistol[13]
|
Pistol
|
Sidearm
|
Recoil operated, locked breech
|
Empire of Japan
|
Type 94 8mm Nambu pistol
|
Nambu
|
8×22mm Nambu
|
50
|
1903 [13]
|
10,300~
|
0.900
|
|
|
Type 14 8 mm Nambu pistol[14]
|
Pistol
|
Sidearm[15]
|
Recoil operated
|
Empire of Japan
|
Type A 8 mm Nambu pistol
|
Nambu
|
8×22mm Nambu
|
50 [15]
|
1925 [14]
|
400,000~ [16]
|
0.900
|
Reduced-cost version of Type A
|
-
|
Nambu Type 19 "North China" pistol[17]
|
Pistol
|
Sidearm
|
Short recoil, locked breech
|
Empire of Japan
|
Type 14 8 mm Nambu pistol
|
Nambu
|
8×22mm Nambu
|
|
1944 [18]
|
100~
|
1.106
|
Reliability improvements of Type 14, occupied Chinese production
|
-
|
Type B 7 mm Nambu pistol[13]
|
Pistol
|
Sidearm
|
Short recoil, locked breech
|
Empire of Japan
|
Type A 8 mm Nambu pistol
|
Nambu
|
7×20mm Nambu
|
|
1909 [13]
|
6,000~ [19]
|
0.650
|
3/4 size of Type A
|
-
|
Hino–Komuro pistol[20]
|
Pistol
|
Sidearm
|
Blow-forward
|
Empire of Japan
|
|
Komuro
|
8×22mm Nambu .25 ACP .32 ACP
|
|
1908
|
1,200~
|
?
|
|
|
Sugiura pistol[21]
|
Pistol
|
Sidearm
|
Blow-back
|
Empire of Japan
|
|
Sugiura
|
8×22mm Nambu .25 ACP .32 ACP
|
|
1945
|
6,000~
|
?
|
Occupied Chinese production
|
-
|
Inagaki pistol[22]
|
Pistol
|
Sidearm
|
Blow-back
|
Empire of Japan
|
|
Koishikawa Arsenal
|
8×22mm Nambu .32 ACP[23]
|
|
1941
|
50~
|
?
|
|
|
Hamada Type pistol[24]
|
Pistol
|
Sidearm
|
Recoil operated, locked breech
|
Empire of Japan
|
FN Model 1910
|
Nippon Firearms
|
8×22mm Nambu .32 ACP
|
|
1941
|
5,000~
|
0.650
|
|
|
Smith & Wesson Model 3 |
Revolver |
Sidearm |
Single-action |
United States of America |
|
Smith & Wesson |
.44 Russian .44 S&W American .38 S&W .44 Henry .44-40 Winchester .45 S&W .32 S&W |
|
1870 |
? |
1.300 |
|
|
Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless |
Pistol |
Sidearm |
Single-action blow-back |
United States of America |
|
Colt Patent Firearms |
.32 ACP .380 ACP |
|
1903 |
? |
0.680 |
|
Automatic pistols and submachine guns
Rifles
Tree chart of Japanese rifles of World War II
|
|
Name
|
Type
|
Role/s
|
Action
|
Origin
|
Base model/s
|
Manufacturer/s
|
Cartridge/s
|
Effective firing range (m)
|
From (year)
|
Estimated wartime quantity
|
Unloaded weight (kg)
|
Notes
|
Type 30 rifle[26]
|
Standard rifle
|
Front-line
|
Bolt-action
|
Empire of Japan
|
|
Arisaka
|
6.5×50mm Arisaka
|
450
|
1897
|
599,000~
|
3.95
|
Limited distribution in 1945
|
Type 35 rifle[27]
|
Standard rifle
|
Front-line
|
Bolt-action
|
Empire of Japan
|
|
Arisaka
|
6.5×50mm Arisaka
|
|
1902
|
38,200~[28]
|
4.20
|
|
Type 38 rifle[29]
|
Standard rifle
|
Front-line
|
Bolt-action
|
Empire of Japan
|
|
Arisaka
|
6.5×50mm Arisaka
|
457
|
1905
|
3,400,000~
|
3.95
|
|
Type 38 carbine[30]
|
Carbine
|
Close-quarters
|
Bolt-action
|
Empire of Japan
|
Type 38
|
Arisaka
|
6.5×50mm Arisaka
|
366
|
1905
|
517,800~[30]
|
3.30
|
Main armament of IJA auxiliary troops
|
Type 44 carbine[31]
|
Carbine
|
Close-quarters
|
Bolt-action
|
Empire of Japan
|
Type 38
|
Arisaka
|
6.5×50mm Arisaka
|
366
|
1911
|
91,900~[31]
|
3.30
|
Foldable
|
Type 97 sniper rifle
|
Sniper rifle
|
Long-Range Precision
|
Bolt-action
|
Empire of Japan
|
Type 38
|
Arisaka
|
6.5×50mm Arisaka
|
1,500
|
1937
|
22,500~
|
3.95
|
2.5x telescopic sight
|
Type 99 (short) rifle[32]
|
Standard rifle
|
Front-line
|
Bolt-action
|
Empire of Japan
|
|
Arisaka
|
7.7×58mm Arisaka
|
656
|
1939
|
3,500,000~[32]
|
3.70
|
Intended to replace Type 38
|
Type 99 (long) rifle[33]
|
Standard rifle
|
Front-line
|
Bolt-action
|
Empire of Japan
|
|
Arisaka
|
7.7×58mm Arisaka
|
656
|
1939
|
38,000~[33]
|
4.09
|
|
Type 2 TERA rifle |
Takedown rifle |
Front-line / Close-quarters |
Bolt-action |
Empire of Japan |
Type 99 |
Nagoya |
7.7×58mm Arisaka |
|
1943 |
21,200~ |
3.70 |
Takedown variant for paratroopers
|
Type 99 sniper rifle |
Sniper rifle |
Long-Range Precision |
Bolt-action |
Empire of Japan |
Type 99 |
Arisaka |
7.7×58mm Arisaka |
1,700 |
1939 |
8,000~ |
3.70 |
2.5x or 4x telescopic sight
|
Type 100 TERA rifle |
Takedown rifle |
Front-line / Close-quarters |
Bolt-action |
Empire of Japan |
Karabiner 98k |
unknown |
7.7×58mm Arisaka |
|
1940 |
500~ |
3.90 |
Experimental, detachable barrel for paratroopers
|
Type 1 TERA rifle |
Takedown rifle |
Front-line / Close-quarters |
Bolt-action |
Empire of Japan |
Type 38 carbine |
Nagoya |
6.5×50mm Arisaka |
|
1941 |
250~ |
3.30 |
Experimental, foldable for paratroopers
|
Type Hei rifle |
Battle rifle |
Front-line / Assault |
Gas-operated, toggle-action |
Empire of Japan |
|
Nippon |
6.5×50mm Arisaka |
|
1935 |
50~ |
3.90 |
Experimental
|
Type 4 rifle / Type 5 Rifle[34]
|
Battle rifle
|
Front-line / Assault
|
Gas-operated, rotating bolt
|
Empire of Japan
|
M1 Garand
|
Yokosuka
|
7.7×58mm Arisaka
|
457
|
1945
|
250~
|
4.14
|
Experimental
|
Karabiner 98k (Type Mo rifle I, II) [35]
|
Standard rifle
|
Front-line
|
Bolt-action
|
Nazi Germany
|
|
Mauser
|
7.92×57mm Mauser
|
500
|
1937
|
20,000~[35]
|
3.90
|
Imported, version I for infantry and II for cavalry
|
vz. 24 (Type Mo rifle III)[36]
|
Standard rifle
|
Front-line
|
Bolt-action
|
Czechoslovakia
|
Karabiner 98AZ
|
Považská Bystrica
|
7.92×57mm Mauser
|
|
1937
|
40,000~[36]
|
4.20
|
Imported, for both infantry and cavalry
|
Type I rifle[37]
|
Standard rifle
|
Front-line
|
Bolt-action
|
Kingdom of Italy
|
Type 38
|
Carcano
|
6.5×50mm Arisaka
|
|
1939
|
120,000~
|
3.95
|
Built in Italy under contract to Type 38 specification
|
Grenades and grenade launchers
Flare guns
Recoilless rifles
Flamethrowers
Vehicles
Tankettes
Amphibious tanks
Note: Amphibious tanks were used by the IJN.
Tanks and related vehicles
Self-propelled guns
Tank-based
Other
Armored cars
Armored carriers
Armored trains
Railroad vehicles
Wagons
- Wagon-1 Reconnaissance wagon
- Wagon-1 Protective wagon
- Wagon-2 Heavy Canone wagon
- Wagon-3 Light Canone wagon
- Wagon-4 Infantry wagon
- Wagon-5 Command wagon
- Wagon-6 Auxiliary tender
- Wagon-7 Materials wagon
- Wagon-7 Power Supply wagon
- Wagon-8 Infantry wagon
- Wagon-9 Light Canone wagon
- Wagon-10 Howitzer wagon
- Wagon-11 Protective wagon
Locomotives
- Locomotives Type 97/98/100 [ja]
Railroad cars
Japanese has used routinely road-railroad convertible automobiles. These are covered in "Armoured cars" section
Engineering and command
See List of Japanese Army military engineer vehicles of World War II
Trucks
Tractors & prime movers
- Type 92 5 t prime mover "I-Ke"
- Type 98 6 t prime mover "Ro-Ke"
- Type 92 8 t prime mover "Ni-Ku"
- Type 95 13 t prime mover "Ho-Fu"
- Type 94 4 t prime mover "Yo-Ke"]
- Type 98 4 t prime mover "Shi-Ke"
- Type 96 AA gun prime mover
- Type 98 20 mm AA machine cannon carrier truck
- Type 98 Ko-Hi half-track prime mover
- Experimental heavy gun tractor Chi-Ke
- Experimental crawler truck
- T G Experimental crawler truck
- Fordson prime mover
- The Pavessi gun tractor
- The 50 hp gun tractor
- Komatsu 3-ton tractor
- Light prime mover
- Clarton prime mover
- Holt 30
Passenger cars (not armoured)
Motorcycles
- Type 97 motorcycle (licensed Harley-Davidson, Rikuo production)
- Type 93 motorcycle with side car (trike)
Miscellaneous vehicles
- Type 94 ambulance
- Type 94 repair vehicle
Cartridges and shells
Cartridges
High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) shells
Gun
|
Caliber (mm)
|
Mass (kg)
|
Length (mm)
|
Penetration (mm)
|
Type 90/97 tank gun |
57 |
1.80 |
189 |
55
|
Type 92 infantry gun |
70 |
3.38 |
281 |
90
|
Type 41 75 mm mountain gun |
75 |
3.95 |
297 |
100
|
Type 38 12 cm howitzer |
120 |
13.03 |
387 |
140
|
Type 4 15 cm howitzer |
149 |
21.04 |
524 |
150
|
Among them, the HEAT of Type 41 mountain gun was used in action and destroyed several Allied tanks in Burma and other places. The use of the HEAT for other guns is not known.
Other HEAT shell was the projectile of Type 94 mountain gun. The HEAT of Type 94 mountain gun was not produced though it was developed.