Type 99 rifle with grenade launcher

[sgtrock82]

Not every day you see that as a thread title. I have a healthy collection of old military rifles and thought I share some cool stuff with you guys here at m4c.

This is a regular mid production Japanese type 99 rifle fitted with a type 2 anti tank grenade launcher. These examples did not come as a pair, the launcher can attach to any type 38 or 99 rifle. The 40mm projectile is a modern reproduction (originals are RARE and I haven't the $1200 or so anyway). The rifle is a Nagoya arsenal 6th series and is mummed and matching. The type 2 launcher is also produced at Nagoya arsenal, this one in 1943.

Some may recognize the design as being the same as the german model, which it is a direct copy of. The germans transferred the design along with hollow charge technology (and other technological info) to the Japanese via blockade runners and U-boats. These first appeared on Guadalcanal in late 1942 and around 32k were made when production stopped at the end of '43. A slimmer 30mm grenade could penetrate around 2.5" armor and the 40mm almost 4". Not too impressive today but hollow charge was relatively new and US tanks had thin skins. Power was provided by special blank cartridges.

http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/ab112/xabntroop/gun%20stuff/DSC02855_zpscc10e1ea.jpg (http://s855.photobucket.com/user/xabntroop/media/gun%20stuff/DSC02855_zpscc10e1ea.jpg.html)

http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/ab112/xabntroop/gun%20stuff/DSC02856_zpsd7e6724b.jpg (http://s855.photobucket.com/user/xabntroop/media/gun%20stuff/DSC02856_zpsd7e6724b.jpg.html)

http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/ab112/xabntroop/gun%20stuff/DSC02857_zpsa2a976a8.jpg (http://s855.photobucket.com/user/xabntroop/media/gun%20stuff/DSC02857_zpsa2a976a8.jpg.html)

http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/ab112/xabntroop/gun%20stuff/DSC02858_zps869f9be1.jpg (http://s855.photobucket.com/user/xabntroop/media/gun%20stuff/DSC02858_zps869f9be1.jpg.html)

http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/ab112/xabntroop/gun%20stuff/DSC02859_zps6a248e39.jpg (http://s855.photobucket.com/user/xabntroop/media/gun%20stuff/DSC02859_zps6a248e39.jpg.html)

http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/ab112/xabntroop/gun%20stuff/DSC02861_zpsca90384e.jpg (http://s855.photobucket.com/user/xabntroop/media/gun%20stuff/DSC02861_zpsca90384e.jpg.html)

http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/ab112/xabntroop/gun%20stuff/DSC02862_zps63543cbd.jpg (http://s855.photobucket.com/user/xabntroop/media/gun%20stuff/DSC02862_zps63543cbd.jpg.html)

http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/ab112/xabntroop/gun%20stuff/DSC02863_zps8d504cc3.jpg (http://s855.photobucket.com/user/xabntroop/media/gun%20stuff/DSC02863_zps8d504cc3.jpg.html)

[LHS]

Nice! I've seen a few of the German versions, but never one of the Japanese. It's amazing how much of their small arms were outright copies of other things.

[TahoeLT]

Nice rifle, with markings and everything. It's funny how we look back and marvel that people ground off markings, sporterized rifles and so on...and today they would be worth a lot more if they hadn't!

Another note, I seem to remember reading in "A Rifleman Goes to War" that they had some grenade launchers that used live rounds instead of blanks; I know they have had "bullet trap" grenades for decades now, but did that lapse for a while?

[sgtrock82]

Nice rifle, with markings and everything. It's funny how we look back and marvel that people ground off markings, sporterized rifles and so on...and today they would be worth a lot more if they hadn't!

Another note, I seem to remember reading in "A Rifleman Goes to War" that they had some grenade launchers that used live rounds instead of blanks; I know they have had "bullet trap" grenades for decades now, but did that lapse for a while?

The Launcher you mention was eventually finalized as the type 100 launcher. It used a standard rifle cartridge to launch a standard type 99 hand grenade. For once the Japanese had managed to develop something that didn't create another logistics problem. The bullet passed through a tube where gas was tapped off into a large cup that held the grenade. I was eyeing one up at the last gunshow but im a long way from having a spare $1800 laying around anytime soon

If interested in a small primer on the topic
http://tekidanki.com/

[LHS]

Nice rifle, with markings and everything. It's funny how we look back and marvel that people ground off markings, sporterized rifles and so on...and today they would be worth a lot more if they hadn't!

Another note, I seem to remember reading in "A Rifleman Goes to War" that they had some grenade launchers that used live rounds instead of blanks; I know they have had "bullet trap" grenades for decades now, but did that lapse for a while?

French VB launcher system from WWI used shoot-through grenades.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rifle_grenade#.22Shoot-Through.22_Type_Rifle_Grenade

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d8/French_VB_rifle_grenade.jpg/674px-French_VB_rifle_grenade.jpg

[sgtrock82]

The US adopted the VB system in WWI. As a matter of fact all those khaki WWI grenade bandoliers that have been floating around the gun shows and flea markets for years were originally for VB rifle grenades

[LHS]

The US adopted the VB system in WWI. As a matter of fact all those khaki WWI grenade bandoliers that have been floating around the gun shows and flea markets for years were originally for VB rifle grenades

Yep. We had launchers rigged up for the M1903 and the M1917 rifles. Bruce Canfield does a pretty good write-up in his book "US Infantry Weapons of the First World War"