Type 92 heavy machine gun

{{Infobox weapon| | is_ranged = yes | image = 92式重機間銃.jpg | image_size = 300 | caption = Type 92 machine gun on display | name = Type 92 | type = Heavy machine gun | origin = Empire of Japan | designer = Kijiro Nambu | design_date = 1932 | production_date = 1932–45 <ref>Ness, Leland. Rikugun: Volume 2 - Weapons of the Imperial Japanese Army & Navy Ground Forces (p. 21). Helion and Company.</ref> | service = 1932–1950s | used_by = See Users | wars = Second Sino-Japanese War World War II Hukbalahap Rebellion Chinese Civil War Indonesian National Revolution First Indochina War Korean War Vietnam War | part_length = {{convert|721|mm|in|abbr=on}} | cartridge = 7.7×58mm Type 92 | feed = 30-round Hotchkiss-type metal strip | action = Gas-operated | rate = 450–500 rounds per min<ref name="Smith1969"/> | range = {{convert|800|m|yd|abbr=on}} | max_range = {{convert|4500|m|yd|abbr=on}} | velocity = {{convert|780|m/s|ft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="Smith1969">{{cite book|last=Smith|first=Joseph E.|title=Small Arms of the World|url=https://archive.org/details/smallarmsofworld00smit|url-access=registration|edition =11|location=Harrisburg, Pennsylvania|publisher= The Stackpole Company|year=1969|page=[https://archive.org/details/smallarmsofworld00smit/page/513 513]|isbn=9780811715669}}</ref> | weight = {{convert|55.3|kg|lb|abbr=on}} w/ tripod | length = {{convert|1156|mm|in|abbr=on}} | variants = | number = 45,000 }}

{{nihongo|The '''Type 92 heavy machine gun'''|九二式重機関銃|Kyūni-shiki jū-kikanjū}} is a Japanese heavy machine gun, related to the Hotchkiss machine gun series. It entered service in 1932 and was the standard Japanese heavy machine gun used during World War II. The Type 92 was similar in design to the earlier Type 3 heavy machine gun but chambered to fire the improved 7.7mm rimmed or semi-rimmed round. Known for its reliability,<ref name="Vietnam"/> it was used after the war by various forces in East Asia. Designed by Kijiro Nambu and built by Hino Motors and Hitachi, its total production was about 45,000 guns.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.japaneseweapons.net/kikanjyu/shurui/english01.htm|title=Ground Guns|publisher=JapaneseWeapons.net|access-date=2015-12-11|archive-date=2003-03-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030304180344/http://www.japaneseweapons.net/kikanjyu/shurui/english01.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> Type 92 refers to the Japanese Imperial year 2592 – 1932 in the Gregorian calendar – in which the gun entered service.<ref name="Nambu">{{cite web |url=http://members.shaw.ca/nambuworld/machineguns.htm |url-status=dead |title=Japanese Machine Guns |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020023133/http://members.shaw.ca/nambuworld/machineguns.htm |archive-date=October 20, 2012|publisher=Nambu World|access-date=2015-12-11}}</ref>

==Design== The Type 92 was essentially a scaled-up version of the Type 3 heavy machine gun, with its calibre increased to 7.7 mm, and like the Type 3 was air cooled, ammo strip-fed, and based on the Hotchkiss M1914.<ref name="weapons">{{cite book|title=Weapons: An International Encyclopedia from 5000 B.C. to 2000 A.D.|url=https://archive.org/details/Weapons_an_International_Encyclopedia_from_5000_BC_to_2000_AD_the_Diagram_Group|publisher=St. Martin's Press|year=1991|isbn=0-312-03950-6}}</ref> It could use both a rimless and semi-rimmed 7.7×58mm Shiki round.<ref name="Korea"/> A 7.7mm Arisaka round could be used if necessary or if other ammunition supplies dwindled.<ref name="Nambu"/> Rounds fired from the gun traveled at about {{convert|730|m/s|abbr=on}}, and the rate of fire was about 450 rpm. It was sometimes used as a light anti-aircraft gun during the Pacific War. It was nicknamed "the woodpecker" by Western Allied soldiers because of the characteristic sound it made when fired due to its relatively low rate of fire, and the "chicken neck" ({{zh|雞脖子}}) by Chinese soldiers due to its appearance.<ref name="Korea"/> The Type 92 had a maximum range of 4,500 meters, but a practical range of 800 meters.

The gun was intended to be fired on a tripod with a team of three men. The tripod was designed with removable carry poles, so that the weapon could be transported fully assembled for quicker deployment.<ref name="Nambu"/>

An unusual characteristic of this gun was the placement of its iron sights – canted slightly to the right instead of the centre. A number of different sights were produced for the weapon, the Type 93 and Type 94 periscopic sights as well as the Type 96 telescopic sight. A ring-type anti-aircraft sight was also produced.

Problems with this weapon included the use of 30-round feed strips, which did not allow for as high a volume of fire as a belt-fed gun, and the oiler, which enabled better extraction in clean conditions but could bring dirt inside the gun in the field. The gun has an internal oil pump which is mechanically activated by the bolt. The oil pump dispenses a small amount of oil onto a brush, which then lubricates each cartridge as it is fed into the gun.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgfYvC7LuBY |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/FgfYvC7LuBY |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|title=Type 92 Japanese HMG|date=9 March 2015 |via=www.youtube.com}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

== Combat history == The Type 92 was used extensively by the Imperial Japanese Army and collaborationist Chinese forces.<ref name="Korea"/> Captured weapons were also used by Chinese troops against the Japanese during World War II,<ref name="Post-war" /> the Korean People's Army against the United Nations forces during the Korean War,<ref name="Korea">{{cite web|url=http://www.koreanwaronline.com/arms/japheavy.htm|title=Japanese 7.7mm Heavy Machine Gun Type 92|publisher=Korean War – Weapons & History|access-date=2015-12-11}}</ref> the Viet Minh against the CEFEO forces during the First Indochina War,<ref name="Vietnam">{{cite book|title=Personal firepower|first=Edward Clinton|last= Ezell|publisher=Bantam Books|year=1988|series=The Illustrated history of the Vietnam War 15|oclc=1036801376|url=https://archive.org/details/personalfirepowe00ezel|url-access=registration|pages=[https://archive.org/details/personalfirepowe00ezel/page/47 47]-49|isbn=9780553345490}}</ref> and the Indonesian Army against the Netherlands forces during the Indonesian National Revolution.<ref name="ArmsControl">{{cite book|title=The Control of local conflict : a design study on arms control and limited war in the developing areas|volume=3|last1=Bloomfield|first1= Lincoln P.|last2=Leiss|first2=Amelia Catherine|publisher=Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Center for International Studies|url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA324492.pdf#page=97|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804022404/https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA324492.pdf#page=97|url-status=live|archive-date=August 4, 2020|date=30 June 1967|hdl=2027/uiug.30112064404368|page=92}}</ref>

==Users== * {{flag|Republic of China (1912–1949)|name=Republic of China}}<ref name="Post-war">{{cite web|title=Mukden Arsenal after WWII|date=April 3, 2017|url=https://wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com/2017/04/03/mukden-arsenal-after-wwii/|website=wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com}}</ref> * {{flag|People's Republic of China}}<ref name="Post-war"/> * {{flag|Indonesia}}<ref name="ArmsControl"/> * {{flag|Empire of Japan}}: Used by the IJA and various collaborationist forces.<ref name="Korea"/> * {{flag|North Korea}}<ref>{{cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1ZNxDwAAQBAJ&pg=RA1-PA535|title=The Encyclopedia of the Korean War: A Political, Social, and Military History|edition=2nd|editor-first1=Spencer C.|editor-last1=Tucker|editor-first2=Paul G. Jr.|editor-last2=Pierpaoli|page=535|volume=1. A-L|chapter=Machine guns|isbn=978-1-85109-849-1|publisher=ABC-CLIO|url=https://www.abc-clio.com/ABC-CLIOCorporate/product.aspx?pc=A1645C|first=Jeff|last=Kinard|date=9 April 2010|archive-date=16 November 2018|access-date=15 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116043249/https://www.abc-clio.com/ABC-CLIOCorporate/product.aspx?pc=A1645C|url-status=dead}}</ref> * {{flag|South Korea}}: Used by police *{{flag|Manchukuo}}: intended to replace the Type 3 heavy machine gun but not provided in sufficient numbers<ref>{{cite book|title=Rays of the rising sun : armed forces of Japan's Asian allies, 1931–45|volume= 1, China & Manchukuo| publisher=Helion|year=2010|first=Philip S.|last= Jowett|isbn=9781906033781|page=15}}</ref> * {{flag|Philippines|1936}}: used by Hukbalahap guerillas<ref>{{cite web|title=Cata-al World War II Museum|date=August 21, 2017|url=https://pinoyhelpdesk.com/cata-al-world-war-ii-museum/|website=pinoyhelpdesk.com|access-date=November 19, 2020|archive-date=April 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210402204319/https://pinoyhelpdesk.com/cata-al-world-war-ii-museum/|url-status=dead}}</ref> * {{flag|Taiwan}}<ref name="Post-war"/> * {{flagicon|North Vietnam}} Viet Minh<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Christophe Dutrône|title=Le salaire de la peur: convois en Indochine|magazine=Batailles & Blindés Magazine |issue= 33|date=October 2009| page=15|issn=1765-0828|language= fr}}</ref> and Viet Cong<ref>{{cite web|title=Type 92 Heavy Machine Gun|url=https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C236597|website=awm.gov.au|publisher=Australian War Memorial|access-date=4 February 2019}}</ref> * {{Flagicon image|Morning Star flag.svg}} West Papua National Liberation Army<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 27, 2024 |title=#Indonesia 🇮🇩 / #WestPapua: A recently-posted photo of a West Papua National Liberation Army (#TPNPB) fighter displays a {{sic|note|able|hide=y}} machine gun. The fighter is posing with a historic Type 92 (九二式重機関銃) heavy machine gun; made by #Japan 🇯🇵 and chambered in 7.7x58mm. It was very likely taken from the old Indonesian Army stocks. |url=https://x.com/war_noir/status/1696155263907103086 |website=X}}</ref>

==See also== *Type 1 heavy machine gun

==Gallery== <gallery> Image:Japanese Type 92 Heavy Machine Gun.jpg|Type 92 heavy machine gun at the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo. File:Type 92 Heavy Machine Gun2.jpg|In use during Battle of Changsha (1941). File:2-2 MG coy Joyce Tarakan.jpg|Australian soldiers using a captured Type 92 machine gun. File:Japanese soldier firing a Type 92 heavy machine gun, aiming through telescopic sight.jpg|A Japanese soldier aiming at a target through the telescopic sight of his Type 92 heavy machine gun during the Guadalcanal Campaign in 1942. File:Type 92 heavy machine gun in national memorial Bangkok Thailand.jpg|Type 92 heavy machine gun at the National Memorial in Bangkok. File:16_26_069_WWII_museum.jpg|Type 92 machine gun on display at The National WWII Museum in New Orleans. </gallery>

==References== {{reflist}} * {{cite book|first=Leo J.|last=Daugherty III|title=Fighting Techniques of a Japanese Infantryman 1941–1945|year=2002|publisher=Spellmount |isbn=1-86227-162-3}} * {{cite book|title=Japanese Infantry Arms in World War II|first=Ritta|last=Nakanishi|year=1998|publisher=Dainipponkaiga}}

==External links== {{commons category|Type 92 heavy machine gun}} * [http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/Japan/IJA/HB/index.html US Army technical manual TM-E 30–480 at hyperwar] * {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hk9c41zYaBM |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/Hk9c41zYaBM |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|title=Shooting the Japanese Type 92 HMG in Arizona|publisher=Rob Rhodes (YouTube)|date=2009-04-22}}{{cbignore}}

Category:Heavy machine guns Category:Machine guns of Japan Category:World War II infantry weapons of Japan Category:World War II machine guns Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1930s