Type 03 Taisho

     Notes: One of the standard tripod-mounted machineguns of the Japanese in World War 2, the Type 03 suffered, like many Japanese machineguns, from underpowered ammunition.  Another weakness was the feed mechanism, which fed from rigid strips of limited capacity similar to the Hotchkiss machineguns.  Action is by long-stroke gas piston, and generally reliable.  The Type 03 was designed for tripod use, and has no bipod or stock; it is fired by the use of spade grips and a butterfly trigger.  The Type 03 has only an automatic setting, but the 450-rpm cyclic rate makes single shots easy to make.  Unfortunately, the Type 03’s mechanism has no primary extraction device, meaning the cartridge cases had to be oiled, with the Type 03 having an integral oiler so that the rounds did not have to be stored in an oiled condition.  The tripod for the Type 03 had cylindrical tubes on the front two legs and a detachable fork on the rear leg to allow the gun to be carried by putting poles through the slots and under the fork.  This tripod weighs 24 kilograms.  The 29-inch barrel has not only a heavy profile, but is finned through most of its length for cooling.  Most Type 03s were destroyed after World War 2 by Allied forces, though some survive in museums or in the hands of private collectors.

     Further evolution of the Type 03 resulted in the Type 92; the primary difference was the change to the more powerful 7.7mm Type 92 or 7.7mm Type 99 ammunition (the Type 92 machinegun being able to fire either one).  It was a bit heavier, but included folding spade grips for travel and a safe setting on a selector switch.  The Type I is a much-lightened version of the Type 92, and can only fire the Type 99 round.  The Type 92 machinegun uses the same tripod as the Type 03, but the Type I uses a lightened 21-kilogram tripod.  Both can feed from the same 30-round strips as the Type 03 or a semi-rigid 250-round belt.  The barrel of the Type 92 is a bit shorter at 28.35 inches, while the Type I uses a much shorter 23.25-inch barrel.

Type 62

     Notes: This is the standard GPMG for Japanese forces, and was originally called the Model 9M.  The gas and extraction system are unusual and complicated, but also reliable.  They also lead to less recoil.  It is also impossible to fire a round if there is no barrel mounted or if the weapon is accidentally dropped or bumped, and it will also not fire if the feed tray is open.

     Twilight 2000 Story: After the Twilight War, these weapons began showing up in Korea and the Philippines.