Organization of the WWII Japanese Army Air Service and Naval Air Service from the U.S. War Department’s Handbook for Combat Air Intelligence Officers, Army Air Forces Air Intelligence School, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, March 1944.
3. ORGANIZATION.
a. General.
(1) Owing to the excellence of Japanese counterintelligence during the years in which they were building their air strength, and owing to the difficulty of the Japanese language, Allied information about the organization of the Japanese Air Services is scanty and possibly inaccurate. (Charts C and D give the latest information available about the organization of both the Army and Naval Air Services.)
The authentic sound of a Japanese A6M5 Zero with a fully-restored original Mitsubishi Sakae radial engine. This particular Zero was built by Nakajima in 1943, captured by U.S. forces on Saipan in June 1944, shipped to the U.S. for evaluation, sold for salvage, and then eventually being purchased and restored by the Planes of Fame Museum in Chino, California.
From Japanese Electronics, OPNAV-16-VP101, Photographic Intelligence Report 1, Air Intelligence Group, Division of Naval Intelligence, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department, January 1945:
“Mobile Mattress” Radar
A later, and apparently more efficient, Radar type is the “Mobile Mattress” or “Mark I, Model 2″. The Radar operates at 200 mcs. and is identified by a small screen (14′ x 7′) mounted on a Japanese standard army trailer (type 94).
This Radar is being used more and more for land-based search, either alone or in conjunction with older types. It is frequently seen mounted in emplacements, suggestive of a permanent siting.
Below are reconstructed drawings made from photos of the Kwajalein set.
The shack, antennae, revolving mount and trailer may be separated for shipping purposes.
LOCATION
KWAJALEIN
TYPE
(MK. I, MODEL 2)
“MOBILE MATTRESS”
ANTENNA
14′ x 7′ x 1 2/3′
FREQUENCY
200 MCS
P.R.F.
800 – 1500 PULSE
3 1/2- 12
MAXIMUM RANGE
100 N. MI.
The Mobile Mattress captured at Namur, Kwajalein, was mounted atop the standard concrete power house. Although the set is badly damaged, it is still possible to establish the important recognition features.
Note the similarity in design between this and the Attu type screen. The Mobile screen is much smaller, however.
Several additional views of the “Mobile Mattress” or Mark I, Model 2 are shown for familiarization. This set is very probably the best Japanese Search Radar in general use at present. The frequency is 200 megacycles per second and the maximum range is 100 nautical miles.
The following XX Bomber Command combat report on Japanese fighter tactics against the B-29 Superfortress appeared in Eastern Air Command Weekly Intelligence Summary, No. 31, March 30, 1945 published by Headquarters Eastern Air Command, Southeast Asia. The report describes a variation of the “12 O’Clock Express” used by one Japanese Oscar pilot.
JAP FIGHTER TACTICS ON B-29 MISSION NO. 41 — SINGAPORE
The following account extracted from XX Bomber Command Summary #9 dated 10 Mar ’45 covering enemy tactics encountered in the B-29 raid against Singapore on 2 Mar ’45, indicates that enemy opposition in this area continued to be’ weak, and that Jap pilots were aggressive in only 26% of the attacks. High frontals were favored and a variation in the “12 O’Clock Express” was noted (see sketch). Zeke 52′s armament was reported as probably increased.
Enemy opposition was rated as weak, as on the three previous missions to Singapore, and Jap pilots did not appear to be aggressive; 45% of the enemy tactics were broken off between 250-500 yds, with only 26% pressing to within distances less than 250 yds. Encounters against the B-29s’ front quarter, where most of the action took place, were predominantly high in approach, but since the number of encounters is so small, XX Bomber Command states that probably no particular importance should be attached to this fact.
Aerial Bombing
The enemy made 11 single plane aerial bombing attacks which resulted in no damage to any of the B-29s. The closest burst occurred at 50 yds off the wing of one of our planes, while most of the bombs exploded 200-400 or more yards away from the formation. Phosphorous and fragmentation bombs were observed by crews with the former in the majority. The method of releasing bombs by Jap fighters consisted of: (1) releasing from level flight; and (2) “flipping” or “slinging”. No dive bombing encounters were reported. Coordinated attacks employed two fighters each.
Variation in “12 O’Clock Express”
One Jap attack which inflicted damage on a B-29 merits elaboration in that it was an unusual variation of the “12 O’Clock Express” and showed an exceptional degree of skill on the part of the enemy pilot. The enemy aircraft was first sighted about two miles out, very high at two o’clock. As the Jap approached to about one mile, he wagged his wings and turned in towards the B-29 at 12 o’clock in a dive. When about 1000 yards above the bomber, the Jap rolled over on his back, came in on a vertical pursuit curve, opening fire at about 500 yards. A 20mm shell went through the root of the left wing of the B-29. The dive was continued, passing within 25 yards of the B-29′s tail. The timing of the attack was exceptionally good, and the pilot almost succeeded in raking the B-29. Crews reported observing a Zeke 52 firing with six guns.
A short guide for U.S. soldiers to WW2 Japanese pistols from Soldier’s Guide to the Japanese Army, Special Series No. 27, Military Intelligence Service, War Department, Washington, DC, November 1944.
Small Arms: Pistols
The Nambu 8-mm pistol resembles the German Luger outwardly but its mechanism is entirely different. Although both this pistol and the Model 26 (1893) 9-mm revolver are still in service, they are being replaced by the Model 14 (1925). The Nambu pistol is a semiautomatic, recoil-operated, magazine-fed hand weapon. Its eight-round magazine fits into the butt and is held secure by a catch similar to that on the U.S. service automatic pistol (M1911 or M1911A1 Colt .45). A wooden holster which has a telescoping section is used both as a holster and as a stock which may be attached to adapt the pistol for use as a carbine.
Nambu 8-mm pistol and shoulderstock.
A grip safety just in front of the trigger guard catches the trigger in its forward position and prevents any rearward movement unless the safety is depressed.
To load and fire, a magazine is inserted into the butt and shoved home until the magazine-catch locks. To move a cartridge for firing, the cocking piece is pulled to the rear and let snap forward again. The pistol then can be fired by squeezing the grip safety and the trigger at the same time.
To unload, the magazine catch is pressed, allowing the magazine to drop out of the butt. The cartridge in the chamber is extracted by pulling the cocking piece to the rear as far as it will go, and letting it snap forward. As a safety precaution this operation should be repeated several times.
The Model 14 (1925) 8-mm pistol is an improvement on the Nambu and uses the same kind of ammunition. Its design is original but the workmanship is rather poor. Unlike the Nambu, the weapon is not fitted for a shoulder stock. Other identification features that distinguish this weapon from the Nambu are the absence of a leaf sight, horizontally grooved wooden grips on the stock, and the absence of a recoil-spring housing on the left side of the receiver.
Nambu and Model 14 8-mm pistols.
The weapon is a semiautomatic, recoil-operated, and magazine-fed. It has no slide; the barrel is extended to the rear and carries the ejection opening and sear for the bolt lock. The bolt moves inside this barrel extension, and energy for the forward movement is supplied by two coil springs situated one on either side of the bolt inside the barrel extension.
A safety lever is located on the left side of the receiver just above the trigger. When this is in the forward position the pistol can be fired; when in the rear position, the action is locked.
To load and fire, a loaded magazine is inserted into the well in the butt, while the safety lever is in the forward position. The cocking piece then is pulled rearward as far as it will go, and permitted to snap forward. The pistol then is loaded and ready to fire. It can be unloaded by pressing downward on the magazine, with the safety lever in the forward position. The button on the right side of the stock must be released, after which the magazine can be extracted. The cocking piece is pulled all the way back to eject a cartridge from the chamber.
Latest pistol model in use by the Japanese Army is the Model 94 (1934) semiautomatic 8-mm pistol. The quality of manufacture is poor in comparison with the Nambu and the Model 14.
Model 94 (1934) 8-mm pistol, magazine and holster.
This weapon is easily identified by its cramped grip, short barrel, and the slide which covers the entire barrel. It is semiautomatic, recoil-operated. and magazine-fed. The magazine is box-shaped and fits into the butt in the usual fashion.
A safety lever is on the left side of the receiver. When it is in the horizontal position, the pistol can be fired; when it is pulled backward and up to the vertical position, the safety is operative.
The pistol is loaded by inserting a magazine into the butt until the catch clicks. With the safety in the horizontal (fire) position, the cocking piece is pulled to the rear as far as possible and then permitted to snap forward. To unload the magazine, the catch on the left side of the receiver is pressed inward and the magazine is extracted. The piece is “cleared” by working the slide back and forth several times, as would be done with the U.S. automatic pistol.
Pistols—Table of Characteristics
Nambu 8-mm
Caliber
0.315 inch
Principle of operation
Recoil-operated, semiautomatic
Ammunition
Semirimmed, bottle-necked case, roundnose bullet
Capacity of magazine
8 rounds
Effective range
50 feet
Muzzle velocity
950 feet per second
Model 14 (1925) 8-mm
Caliber
0.315 inch
Principle of operation
Recoil-operated, semiautomatic
Ammunition
Semirimmed, bottle-necked case, roundnose bullet
Capacity of magazine
8 rounds
Effective range
50 feet
Muzzle velocity
950 feet per second
Model 94 (1934) 8-mm
Caliber
0.315 inch
Principle of operation
Recoil-operated, semiautomatic
Ammunition
Same 8-mm semirimmed, bottle-necked cartridge as used in the Nambu and the Model 14 pistols
An intelligence report on the Japanese Nakajima Ki-44 Shōki fighter (Allied codename “Tojo”) from “Eastern Air Command Weekly Intelligence Summary”, No. 31, March 30, 1945 published by Headquarters Eastern Air Command, Southeast Asia:
A crashed TOJO, examined by an ATAIU party at Meiktila airstrip, although it had been stripped of all the internal equipment and was badly damaged, revealed several facts of importance to TAI. The airframe and engine (Type 2—1450 HP Nakajima) were badly, damaged but showed no change from present information with the exception of one recognition feature. This was that the wing’s trailing edge was reported as having two straight tapers (one from root to end of flaps, and the second from this point to outboard end of aileron) instead of the gentle curve previously shown in silhouettes. The photograph above shows this.
The most interesting find was the two 40 mm cannon, one fitted in each wing. A brief report on these was given in a previous EAC WIS Summary, No. 30, 23 Mar 45, but photographs herewith, give a better idea of the mounting particulars. It is now believed that either 40 mm cannon or a 12.7 mm MG can be fitted in the wings of these TOJOs, but it is thought that the later models will all be fitted with 12.7 mm MGs, only.
Two pieces of armor were placed vertically, one behind the other, in the headpiece behind the pilot and one curved piece arranged to protect his shoulders was fitted around the curve of the fuselage. No back armor was found but mounting brackets for this were on the seat supports.
Allied evaluation of the Japanese Type 95 light tank showing its strengths and weaknesses — ends with a drag race between the Type 95 and a Stuart light tank. (Source: U.S. Combat Bulletin No. 5.)
The following U.S. intelligence report on Japanese spin-stabilized rockets and launchers was published in Enemy on Luzon: An Intelligence Summary:
ARMY 20-CM SPIN STABILIZED ROCKET AND TYPE 4 LAUNCHER:
Several of these projectiles, the first Army rockets recovered, and the Type 4 launcher, were used against our troops in the Manila area and east of Manila. The date of manufacture, late 1944, emphasized the trend toward increased use of rockets by the enemy.
In general appearance the launcher was similar to a large trench mortar. It incorporated traversing mechanism in the bipod and employed standard mortar fire-control devices. The tube, 20.3-cm inside diameter and 75 and 5/8 inches long, was open at both ends and contained a hinged opening for insertion of the rocket. It was fired with a 25-foot lanyard attached to a pull igniter.
Army 20-cm SS Rocket and Type 4 Launcher
The explosive head was a thin-walled tube containing nose fuze, booster and filling of cast TNT. The motor threaded onto the explosive head and was equipped with six nozzles canted 25 degrees. The propellant was ballistite ignited by a black powder charge located just forward of the igniter, which screwed into the motor base plate. Projectile and motor had a combined weight of approximately 185 pounds.
Army 20-cm SS Rocket and Type 4 Launcher (Firing)
The rocket was stable in flight, exploded high order, and had an approximate range of 3,200 yards at 800 mils.
The October 1944 version of the U.S. technical manual on the Japanese military, TM-E 30-480: Handbook on Japanese Military Forces has been added to the main LoneSentry website. The complete table of contents are listed below.
Recent Comments