NAME – Type 100 Paratrooper

COMMON NAMES – Type 100 Navy, Type 100/40(N)

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN – Japan

DATE OF MANUFACTURE – 1940-1942

CALIBER – 8×22 mm (8mm Japanese, 8mm Nambu) 11.5 g (177.5 gr) ctg wt

OVERALL LENGTH – 56.5 cm (22.25 in) (Stock folded), 83.4 cm (34 in) (Stock open)

BARREL LENGTH – 23.4 cm (9.2 in)

RIFLING (TYPE & TWIST) – 6 groove, Right hand twist, 1 turn in 20 cm (7.88 in)

BULLET DIAMETER – 8.13 mm (0.320 in)

BULLET WEIGHT – 7 g (107 gr)

MUZZLE VELOCITY – 335 m/s (1100 fps)

MUZZLE ENERGY – 390 j (288 ft/lbs)

WEIGHT (EMPTY) – 3.40 kg (7 lbs 8 oz)

WEIGHT (LOADED) – 3.95 kg (8 lbs 11.2 oz)

SIGHTS – Front sight – Blade, Rear sight – aperture, set at 100 meters

EFFECTIVE RANGE – 200 m (220 yds)

OPERATION – Blowback

TYPE OF FIRE – Full automatic

RATE OF FIRE – 120 rpm

CYCLIC ROF – 450 rpm

FEED DEVICE – 30 round curved box magazine, double column, double feed

FEED DEVICE WEIGHT (EMPTY) – 0.20 kg (7 oz)

FEED DEVICE WEIGHT (LOADED) – 0.55 kg (1 lb 3.2 oz)

BASIC AMMUNITION LOAD – 5 magazines (150 rounds)

LOAD WEIGHT – 2.75 kg (6 lbs 1 oz)

MANUFACTURER – Nagoya Arsenal, Japan

STATUS – Obsolete

SERVICE – Japanese military, primarily the Imperial Japanese Navy for their Marine Paratroops. Guerrilla and Revolutionary use throughout Asia into the 1960s, dependent on availability of ammunition

     This is a folding stick version of the Type 100 submachinegun, intended to be slightly lighter but more compact than the original weapon. The Airborne units that were intended to receive this weapon were members of the Japanese Navy’s Marines Paratroops. An unusual feature of the original Type 100 and the Paratrooper version is the thick cylinder underneath the barrel. The cylinder is provided as the mount for the Japanese Type 30 bayonet. The bayonet was the standard version issued throughout the Japanese military. It weighed 0.70 kg (1lb 8.7 oz) had an overall length of 51.4 cm (20.24 in) and a blade 40 cm (15.75 in) long. Mounting the bayonet underneath the barrel made the weapon 124.5 cm (49 in) long. One complaint from the troops who used this weapon was that the folding stock made the submachinegun too weak for hand-to-hand combat as it would break if the target was struck with the butt.

 

This is the folding-stock Paratrooper version of the Type 100 (1940) submachinegun. This right side view of the weapon shows the hinge installed on the stock behind and above the rear of the trigger guard. The small lever on the receiver above the front of the hinge is the take down lever that allows the weapon to be field stripped. The open section below the bolt handle is the ejection port, the weapon ejects fired casings to the left. At the front of the receiver, below the flat portion just at the front of the stock, is the take-down screw for the barrel and jacket. Unscrewing and pulling this pin to the right releases the jacket and barrel assembly for removal and cleaning or packing in a paratrooper’s drop case. The large lug underneath the perforated barrel jacket is the bayonet mount for the Japanese standard Type 30 bayonet. The deep notch at the top rear of the buttstock is battle damage on this specimen. PHOTO CREDIT: US Army
This is the folding-stock Paratrooper version of the Type 100 (1940) submachinegun. This right side view of the weapon shows the hinge installed on the stock behind and above the rear of the trigger guard. The small lever on the receiver above the front of the hinge is the take down lever that allows the weapon to be field stripped. The open section below the bolt handle is the ejection port, the weapon ejects fired casings to the left. At the front of the receiver, below the flat portion just at the front of the stock, is the take-down screw for the barrel and jacket. Unscrewing and pulling this pin to the right releases the jacket and barrel assembly for removal and cleaning or packing in a paratrooper’s drop case. The large lug underneath the perforated barrel jacket is the bayonet mount for the Japanese standard Type 30 bayonet. The deep notch at the top rear of the buttstock is battle damage on this specimen. PHOTO CREDIT: US Army
This is a left side view of the Japanese Paratrooper version of the Type 100 (1940) submachinegun .The latch to unlock the stock for folding is just above the trigger. The latch would be lifted and the stock folds to the right. At the front of the receiver is the magazine well that is tilted forward for better feeding. The rounded protrusion above the mag well on the other side of the weapon is the cocking knob to the bolt. In this position, the bolt may be cocked by the operator with either hand. The large tubular assembly underneath the muzzle of the weapon, at the end of the perforated barrel jacket, is the bayonet mount. PHOTO CREDIT: US Army
This is a left side view of the Japanese Paratrooper version of the Type 100 (1940) submachinegun .The latch to unlock the stock for folding is just above the trigger. The latch would be lifted and the stock folds to the right. At the front of the receiver is the magazine well that is tilted forward for better feeding. The rounded protrusion above the mag well on the other side of the weapon is the cocking knob to the bolt. In this position, the bolt may be cocked by the operator with either hand. The large tubular assembly underneath the muzzle of the weapon, at the end of the perforated barrel jacket, is the bayonet mount. PHOTO CREDIT: US Army
This shows the Paratrooper version of the Type 100 with the stock fully folded to the right side of the weapon. The purpose for this style of stock is to minimize the overall size of the weapon for use by paratroopers. The weapon may not be fired with the stock folded in this position. PHOTO CREDIT: US Army
This shows the Paratrooper version of the Type 100 with the stock fully folded to the right side of the weapon. The purpose for this style of stock is to minimize the overall size of the weapon for use by paratroopers. The weapon may not be fired with the stock folded in this position. PHOTO CREDIT: US Army
This is a Japanese Naval Paratrooper with his Type 100 submachinegun broken down and packed in his chest jump case. The weapon is secured with the top of the Type 100 facing in towards the paratrooper’s chest. The stock is folded and secured along the side of the receiver. Above the receiver is the barrel assembly. Secured at the top of the case is a single magazine. All of the parts of the weapon are secured to the back of the case with wide cloth straps tied with quick-release knots. The paratrooper could remove his weapon and get it assembled, loaded, and operational within moments of hitting the ground. PHOTO CREDIT: US Army
This is a Japanese Naval Paratrooper with his Type 100 submachinegun broken down and packed in his chest jump case. The weapon is secured with the top of the Type 100 facing in towards the paratrooper’s chest. The stock is folded and secured along the side of the receiver. Above the receiver is the barrel assembly. Secured at the top of the case is a single magazine. All of the parts of the weapon are secured to the back of the case with wide cloth straps tied with quick-release knots. The paratrooper could remove his weapon and get it assembled, loaded, and operational within moments of hitting the ground. PHOTO CREDIT: US Army