Source: Free Encyclopedia "Wikipedia"Prototype Type 81 Recoil-less GunOverviewType: Recoil-less GunCountry of Manufacture: JapanDesigned and Manufactured by: First Army Technology Research InstitutePerformanceCaliber: 81.4mmRifling: NoneType of Ammunition: Winged ShellNumber of Rounds: 1Weight: 37kgRate of Fire: 2 rounds/minMuzzle Velocity: 110m/sEffective Range: Maximum Range 200m, Effective Range 30mTemplate Display
The Prototype Type 81 Recoil-less Gun (Shisei 81-miri muhandouhou) is a recoil-less gun prototype developed by the Imperial Japanese Army (Japanese Army).The Japanese Army, having acquired technology for recoil-less guns from Germany, began developing prototypes. In mid-1943 (Showa 18), the blueprints arrived, and development began in the second half of the same year at the First Army Technology Research Institute. This gun was ordered for prototype production around May 1944 (Showa 19) to the Osaka Army Arsenal. Completion occurred after November 1943 (Showa 18).
The prototype gun underwent firing tests at the Irako firing range.Two types of this gun were prototyped. Type I featured a slightly longer barrel. Describing the overall configuration of this recoil-less gun, it has a cylindrical, simple barrel, and the rear of the barrel is fitted with a conical venturi. The barrel is a smoothbore without rifling. The venturi occupies about one-third of the total length of the gun, with a firing mechanism, grip, and shoulder rest located slightly in front of the venturi, on the left side of the barrel.
The gun was mounted on a mount used for heavy machine guns and was carried by three personnel.Type II has a similar shape to Type I, but the diameter of the venturi nozzle is larger, and it was mounted on a tripod, similarly operated by three personnel. A prone position was adopted when firing.The ammunition used was winged shells. Since the barrel is smoothbore, the projectile does not spin. The maximum range is 200m, with an effective range of 30m.
The explosive charge of the shell is 0.45kg, capable of penetrating 100mm upon impact.A total of 300 guns were hastily manufactured for the Leyte operation. During production, the sights of all the guns were incorrectly installed, and there was no time to rectify this before transportation. Due to the war situation, they could not be deployed for the Leyte operation and were instead used in the Battle of Okinawa.