Shenyang Arsenal ZH-29 for Japan

Suggestions Weapons
13

yes

3 Likes
14

Dumb question: does this rifle have detachable magazines? It looks like there’s a magazine release, but I can’t confirm from that alone.

If yes, I’m all for adding a 10 or 20 round variant for Japan at BR 4.

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15

A magazine release is located behind the trigger guard, suggesting it was designed for original ZH-29 magazines—assuming China had the manufacturing capability for interchangeable parts back then. That said, I lack a primary source to confirm this detail.

16

The North Chinese Generalissimo Zhang Zuolin negotiated a contract with the Brno arms factory (Zbrojovka Brno) for the supply of 1,000 units of the ZB 26 light machine gun. Following his assassination in June 1928, his son and successor, Zhang Xueliang—a great admirer of Czechoslovak weapons—continued his father’s trend.

​In 1930, he purchased a trainer aircraft in Brno, for which the factory presented him with a chrome-plated ZH 29 rifle as a gift. He further demonstrated his refined taste by ordering an additional 150 rifles for his personal guard; these were dispatched to Mukden in February 1930.

Document C01003942800 on JACAR is of great interest:

May 21, 5th Year of Showa (1930)

​Telegram from the Vice-Minister [of the Army] to Second Lieutenant Suzuki in Mukden (Cipher):
​In response to Mukden Telegram No. 41.

​Regarding gas-operated automatic rifles: although trial models were previously manufactured at our domestic arsenals, they were not subsequently adopted as standard equipment, and research on them has been discontinued.

​However, there is no objection to the manufacture of such items at the Mukden Arsenal as an individual design by Suzuki. Please note, however, that the Japanese Army shall bear no responsibility whatsoever regarding the performance or results of said products.

​[Outgoing] No. 147. May 30, 5th Year of Showa, 2:10 PM

Secret. Telegram Transcript
​Sent: May 27, 1:00 PM / Received: 10:45 PM
To: Vice-Minister of the Army
From: Mukden Agency (Tokumu Kikan)
​No. 41: Regarding the Director-General of the Mukden Arsenal (Top Secret)…

Given the document’s date and the description of the rifle as gas-operated, it could be suggested that ‘behind the scenes’ at the Mukden Arsenal—even before the 1931 occupation—the Japanese were planning to establish production of the ZH-29 rifle. However, I have no information as to whether production actually commenced.

3 Likes
17

Agreed, I rarely use SMG’s in BR5

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18

Well no point same is with semi autos they are simply bad at BR V. I use smgs but for fun same way I play BR IV for fun but defiantly you feel the huge gap between semi autos and full autos, assault rifles and SMGs and Jet planes and prop planes. With the tanks is a bit better since there is some OK tanks like the Panther that is playable at BR V or IS-1.

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19

Well it quite literally does evidence being T20, Hyde and Super Pershing.

20

Devs should really speak out in which direction they’re taking the factions.

21

Simple, you will have nothing unique and will enjoy using a weapon that’s practically the same as it’s counterpart, maybe except for it’s visuals, well unless it’s a captured/or lend-lease variant.

Courtesy of symmetrical balancing.
I mean that is what a lot of people want apparently. No distinctive features or advantages/disadvantages across factions, just the same slop. At least it’ll be easier to balance I guess and there’ll be less whining from each side.

22

Well Japan does need a BR4 rifle and Axis dont even use the ZH-29, I cant even recall the last time I saw someone use it. Everyone picks the G43 by default (which is the only realistic BR4 rifle for Axis btw, so they are right to use it).

1 Like
23

I won’t act like i ever used it but i saw a video of it with its pre nerf fire rate and that seemed like it was actually viable to use… maybe it had a better reload too i’m not sure but yeah… if they returned it to state state then it would be used

24

ZH-29 has the same fire rate as the G43.
I think that the G43 sights are just way better (one of the best in game) while ZH-29 has one of the worst iron sight of the game. Plus the G43 is unlocked earlier.

Semi-Automatic Rifles Damage Reload Timings (s) Statcard Recoil Effective Recoil Moving Spread Increase
Weapon Name Obtained BR 10m 100m Velocity Magazine Reload Alt Reload Rate of Fire Vertical Horizontal Recoil Control Vertical Horizontal Dispersion While Aiming Hipfiring Visual Recoil Recoil Dir ADS Speed Recoil Offset Sprint Factor Weight Additional Info
Gewehr 43 105000 RP IV 15.3 12.5 750 10 (+1) 2.3 1.9 350 94 23 - 94 23 0.18 0.0 15.0 1.0 0.35 0.8 - 100% 4.3 10/40
ZH-29 115000 RP IV 15.8 13.0 750 10 (+1) 2.1 1.7 350 92 27 - 92 27 0.21 0.0 15.0 1.3 -0.15 0.8 - 100% 4.5 10/40
25

Has this been the same since its introduction? I’ve heard tales of a nerf and that it killed the weapon which is what i was referring to.

26

I dont remember any ZH-29 nerfs.

1 Like
27

Ashamed enough as i am i will admit that theory was from a pardivision video… yet another reason to not suggest them for newbies or to watch at all.

Described the gun as having a fall from grace due to some adjustments.

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28

All in all, it creates an interesting situation.

Generalissimo Zhang Zuolin is actively purchasing ZB-26 machine guns. His son, Zhang Xueliang, orders 150 rifles for his personal guard, which are scheduled to arrive at the Mukden Arsenal by February 1930.

Second Lieutenant Suzuki, stationed in Mukden, recognizes the potential of the ZH-29 and requests permission from Tokyo to begin production of semi-automatic rifles directly at the facilities of the Chinese Mukden Arsenal. Tokyo grants official authorization for this.

The Arsenal of the Three Eastern Provinces (Mukden) completes testing of its own prototype—a copy of the ZH-29. One can assume that Chinese engineers, under the supervision (and likely participation) of Japanese “advisors” like Suzuki, are already preparing for mass production. However, in 1931, Japan occupies Manchuria and seizes the Mukden Arsenal.

The Japanese company Tokyo Gas Electric gains a significant sphere of influence in Manchuria. By 1932, it submits the Type Otsu rifle—a modernization of the ZH-29—to a newly announced automatic rifle competition.

On March 30, 1940, the creation of a “Central Government” in Nanjing was solemnly announced, with Wang Jingwei serving as acting chairman. The Wang Jingwei regime was a puppet state, yet it possessed its own army. It stands to reason that with Japanese support, the Nanjing or Shanghai Arsenal produced its own copy of the ZH-29 for Wang Jingwei’s collaborationist government.

The phrasing is somewhat unclear—is this a rifle built from scratch or a modernized version? Based on the wording, I gather it is likely a copy of the ZH-29 built from the ground up.

3 Likes
29

I don’t think ZH rifles had bipods so I’m assuming thats either a modification or a copy of the ZH

30

while this is probably true 9.9/10 times, I do use the tokyo arsenal over JP AR that is just bad,
Really fking bad.

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31

Well Japan has only 1 real BR V gun the Assault rifle is a joke … xD

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32

Noted, thanks