Japanese Type 96 Machine Gun

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	Weapon: Japanese Type 96 Machine Gun Type: Light Machine Gun Country of Origin: Japan Year Adopted: 1936 Caliber: 7.7 Arisaka Action: Gas Operated Fully Automatic Overall Length (mm): 1070.0 Overall Length (in): 42.13 Weight (kg): 9.00 Weight (pounds): 19.84 Effective Range (m): 800 m Effective Range (yards): 874.89

The Japanese Type 96 machine gun was introduced in 1936 as a more reliable successor to the earlier Type 11. Designed by Kijiro Nambu, it was a light machine gun chambered in the 6.5x50mm Arisaka cartridge, featuring a gas-operated, air-cooled mechanism with a top-mounted detachable 30-round magazine. The Type 96 incorporated several improvements over its predecessor, including a quick-change barrel and a more robust magazine feed, which addressed the jamming issues experienced with the Type 11's hopper feed system.

Produced by the Kokura and Nagoya Arsenals, the Type 96 remained in production from 1936 through the end of World War II, with around 41,000 units manufactured. It quickly became a staple of the Imperial Japanese Army, deployed in various campaigns across the Pacific Theater. While the 6.5mm cartridge offered low recoil and better control in automatic fire, it lacked the stopping power of larger-caliber machine guns, leading to the eventual introduction of the Type 99 machine gun in a larger 7.7mm caliber.

The Type 96 gained a reputation for its ease of handling, durability, and relatively lightweight construction, which made it a practical choice for the mobile warfare encountered in the Pacific. However, its limited stopping power and the use of non-standard ammunition sometimes posed logistical challenges. Today, the Type 96 is remembered as one of Japan's most effective light machine guns, valued for its innovative features and significant role in Japanese military operations during World War II.