Hello everyone! I’d like to share a little bit of my mini-investigation into Japanese sniper weapons.
Let’s start with the Type Ko, Type Otsu, and Type Hei rifles. Most rifles have a scope mount. The Type Hei even has a special cover to protect the scope mount from dirt.
As early as January 1935, some rifles submitted for testing had the ability to mount an optical sight. In June 1936, the Army Technical Headquarters approved the final list of modifications and placed an order for 16 rifles (four long and four short from each contractor) to be manufactured at Kokura Arsenal (Type Co.) and Nippon Special Steel (late Type Hei), all of which were to be fitted with an optical sight and easily removable bipod.
Here, they usually write that these rifles were equipped with Type 97 optical sights. This information was spread by my compatriot Andrey Tsvershits. The 1:2 scale Type Ko replica also influenced this.
But in 1936, the Type 97 sight was only undergoing testing, and in 1935 it did not exist at all! I had to do some research into Japanese documentation, and document C01001740200 on JACAR briefly tells the story of the development of the optical sight.
«In November of Taisho 12 (1923), the Nihon Gakukaisha (Japan Optical Society) manufactured the first trial prototype, but since it proved unsatisfactory, it was repeatedly corrected and refined. Finally, in March of Showa 3 (1928) and January of Showa 4 (1929), two firing trials revealed that the scope mount was inconvenient (it allowed for limited movement under recoil), and the need for increased magnification was recognized. However, due to limited customer demand, research progressed extremely slowly.
However, in Showa 6 (1931), the Manchurian Incident arose a pressing practical need, and it was decided to accelerate the research. In Showa Year 7 (1932), a trial sample of a 4x magnification sight was completed, and in Showa Year 8 (1933), tests were conducted in Northern Manchuria and practical tests were conducted at the Army Infantry School».
A small batch of Type 38 sniper rifles (specifically Type 38, not Type 97) was made specifically for testing the experimental 4x scope.
I’m not sure if this is the official name, but this experimental 4x scope for the Type 38 is called the Type 5.
And now, attention! Here’s the mounting diagram for the optical sight on the Type 38 sniper rifle.
Now look at the Type Ko, Type Otsu and Type Hei rifles above, in the case of the Type Ko and Type Otsu the similarities are obvious, in the case of the Type Hei the mount is a little different, but I am sure that the Type Hei also used the Type 5 scope, since at that time there were no other scopes that had been tested by the military and produced in sufficient quantities, and also it is quite logical, since it is logical that the Type Ko and Type Otsu used the Type 5 scope.
We still have the automatic Type Hei. I studied the 41-page document and, unfortunately, found no information on any optical sight. However, I should note that although documentation on the Type Hey automatic rifle dates back to 1935, the weapon was tested in 1938, and it’s unclear when it was completed. However, by 1938, the Type 97 sight had already been accepted into service a year earlier.
But first, it’s worth noting that the receiver model in the game isn’t quite right. There should be a narrowing near the pin, and a wider opening near what’s presumably the scope latch.
And in principle, there is a latch on the weapon that is not visible in the game.
The whole design is very reminiscent of the Type 97 sniper rifle.
Now look at how to remove and install the Type 97 scope on the Type 99 sniper rifle.
So, the design specifically removed the pin, narrowing the receiver so as not to interfere with the installation of an optical sight. They could have kept the receiver like the late Type Hei, but no! I understand this is just speculation, but it seems very likely that the Type Hei automatic had the ability to mount a Type 97 optical sight. Currently, in the game, this pin and the lack of a latch prevent the Type 97 from being mounted, but that’s because the model is incorrect!
The following is also written in the note for the Type 4 rifle:
«狙撃用(人馬殺傷)急襲兵器»
And this can be translated something like this:
«Sniper (human-horse killing) assault weapon»
The characters 狙撃用 specifically refer to sniper shooting, and are usually used when talking about sniper rifles like the Type 97. Just look at all the empty space on the left side of the Type 4 receiver! So I fully admit that there could have been prototype Type 4 sniper rifles.
And I’m not the only one who thinks so.
