×
Aircraft / Aviation Vehicles & Artillery Infantry Arms Warships & Submarines Military Ranks Military Pay Chart (2024)
HOME
WARFIGHTER INDEX
MODERN ARMIES
SPECIAL FORCES
ARMS BY COUNTRY
ARMS MANUFACTURERS
COMPARE ARMS
ARMS BY CONFLICT
ARMS BY TYPE
ARMS BY DECADE
KOREAN WAR ARMS
WWII SMALL ARMS
Infantry Small Arms / The Warfighter

Type 99


Light Machine Gun (LMG) [ 1939 ]



The Type 99 Light Machine Gun was developed to coincide with the arrival of the new Type 99 rifle using the 7.7x58mm Arisaka cartridge.



Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 02/17/2017 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

VIEW SPECIFICATIONS [+]
The Type 99 served the Imperial Japanese Army during most of World War 2. It was designed to take advantage of the newer and more powerful 7.7x58mm Arisaka rifle cartridge and replace the Type 96 Light Machine Gun of similar scope. However, production of the latter unit was such that both weapon types were fielded side-by-side for the duration of the war. The Type 99 proved an improvement over the previous form and lent itself quite well in the squad support role for which it was intended.

Origins of the Type 99 stemmed from the previous Type 96 Light Machine Gun, which itself was developed to replace the Type 11 series. The Type 11 and Type 96 both utilized the 6.5x50mm Arisaka cartridge which was the same ammunition used in the standard issue Type 38 infantry rifle series. The use of universal ammunition lent itself well for operations in the field where a soldiers of any class could supply one another with ammunition if need be. The modernized Type 96 was brought online in 1936 and proved successful once in the field. However, by this time, the IJA was interested in a more powerful rifle utilizing the more powerful 7.7x58mm Arisaka cartridge and developed the more modern Type 99 infantry rifle as a result. This now made the Type 96 a moot product and forced the development of a new light machine gun to support the new cartridge round.

The Type 99 was designed under the guidance of Kijiro Nambu (September 22, 1869 - May 1, 1949) and followed much of what made the Type 96 a field success for the IJA. Nambu made his career out of the Japanese military. Beginning in 1897, Nambu served under fabled Japanese weapon's designer Nariakira Arisaka and worked for several product developments. Nambu's tenure with the IJA formally ran from 1889 to 1924, achieving the rank of Lieutenant General in the process. Following his military career, Nambu founded the Nambu Arms Manufacturing Company to continue his ties with the Japanese military. Design of a light machine gun - the Type 99 - was begun in 1939 to which a military procurement contract followed for production to begin that year. The Type 99 entered service in 1939, alongside the still issued Type 11 and Type 96 series machine guns - and would serve the Imperial Japanese Army through August of 1945 - the Empire of Japan's final participation in the war.

The Type 99 fired the 7.7x58mm Arisaka cartridge from a gas-operated action. The weapon was fed from a top-loaded, curved 30-round detachable box magazine. Rate of fire was listed at 450 to 500 rounds per minute with a muzzle velocity of approximately 2,300 feet per second. The Type 99 weighed in at 11.4 kilograms and featured a running length of 1,181mm. The barrel measured in at 550mm. The barrel could be changed by the operator to prevent overheating and subsequent malfunction.

Externally, the Type 99 was decidedly Japanese in appearance, comparable to other weapons systems in this class, and characterized by the use of a finned gun barrel, curved magazine and flash suppressor as well as use of novel concepts such as a monopod at the stock and fittings for a bayonet. The receiver was blocky with much detail and contained the major internal working components of the weapon including the feed and cocking handle. The weapon was actuated via a straight pistol grip with applicable trigger group nearby. A rather short-length shoulder stock emanated from the rear of the pistol grip and lower portion of the receiver and sported some ergonomic features including a curved shoulder plate. The curved magazine was fed through the top of the receiver, ahead of the pistol grip unit with a magazine release lever identifiable to the rear of the magazine feed. A carrying handle was usually affixed to the forward portion of the receiver to facilitate in the transporting of the weapon. A gas cylinder ran underneath the barrel ahead of the lower forward receiver. The barrel continued a distance ahead of the cylinder and was capped by a conical muzzle flash hider. Interestingly, an infantry-style bayonet could be fixed to the underside of the gas cylinder for close-combat though this proved a rather useless feature at best. A folding bipod was also mounted to the barrel/cylinder bracket and used for stabilized supporting fire. A monopod was fitted to early production forms of the Type 99 LMG. Sighting was accomplished through a front blade and rear leaf sight. A telescopic sight was optional and, if fitted, was mounted to the right side of the receiver.

Beyond the base squad-level Type 99 model, a compact version was designed for use by Japanese paratroopers that fielded a detachable butt and barrel system. The design also featured a folding pistol grip and bipod. During the jump, the Japanese soldier would contain the entire weapon system in a handy carrying bag and assemble his weapon once landed on the ground.

Beyond the IJA, the Type 99 inevitably found itself in the inventories of China, North Korea and Taiwan.©MilitaryFactory.com
Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at MilitaryFactory AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work.

Specifications



Service Year
1939

Origin
Imperial Japan national flag graphic
Imperial Japan

Classification


Light Machine Gun (LMG)


State Factories - Imperial Japan
(View other Arms-Related Manufacturers)
National flag of China National flag of modern Japan National flag of North Korea National flag of Taiwan China; Imperial Japan; North Korea; Taiwan
(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
Fire Support
Capable of suppressing enemy elements at range through direct or in-direct fire.


Overall Length
1,181 mm
46.50 in
Barrel Length
550 mm
21.65 in
Empty Wgt
25.13 lb
11.40 kg
Sights


Iron


Action


Gas-Operated

Gas-Operated
Gas-operated system is featured, typically involving a gas cylinder and rear-driven piston directing energy to the bolt component.
(Material presented above is for historical and entertainment value and should not be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation - always consult official manufacturer sources for such information)


Caliber(s)*


7.7x58mm Arisaka

Rounds / Feed


30-round detachable box magazine
Cartridge relative size chart
*May not represent an exhuastive list; calibers are model-specific dependent, always consult official manufacturer sources.
**Graphics not to actual size; not all cartridges may be represented visually; graphics intended for general reference only.
Rate-of-Fire
900
rds/min
Muzzle Velocity
2,300 ft/sec
(701 m/sec)


Type 99 LMG - Base Series Designation
Type 99 LMG (Paratrooper) - Limited production model; detachable stock and barrel; foldable pistol grip and bipod; issued with carrying bag.


Military lapel ribbon for the American Civil War
Military lapel ribbon for pioneering aircraft
Military lapel ribbon for the Cold War
Military lapel ribbon for the Korean War
Military lapel ribbon representing modern aircraft
Military lapel ribbon for the Ukranian-Russian War
Military lapel ribbon for the Vietnam War
Military lapel ribbon for the World War 1
Military lapel ribbon for the World War 2


Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective campaigns / operations.

Images Gallery



1 / 1
Image of the Type 99
Left side view of the Type 99 Light Machine Gun with magazine in place, bayonet fixed and bipod extended.

Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies


2024 Military Pay Chart Military Ranks DoD Dictionary Conversion Calculators Military Alphabet Code Military Map Symbols

The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content; site is 100% curated by humans.

Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org (World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft), WDMMW.org (World Directory of Modern Military Warships), SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane, and MilitaryRibbons.info, cataloguing military medals and ribbons. Special Interest: RailRoad Junction, the locomotive encyclopedia.


©2023 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2003-2023 (20yrs)