List of Japanese military equipment of World War II
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The following is a list of Japanese military equipment of World War II which includes artillery, vehicles and vessels, and other support equipment of both the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA), and Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) from operations conducted from start of Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937 to the end of World War II in 1945.[1]
The Empire of Japan forces conducted operations over a variety of geographical areas and climates from the frozen North of China bordering Russia during the Battle of Khalkin Gol (Nomonhan) to the tropical jungles of Indonesia. Japanese military equipment was researched and developed along two separate procurement processes, one for the IJA and one for the IJN. Until 1943, the IJN usually received a greater budget allocation, which allowed for the enormous Yamato-class battleships, advanced aircraft such as the Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" series, and the world's largest submarines. In addition, the IJN was given a higher priority as to the allocation of steel and raw materials for warship construction and airplane construction. It changed to a degree in 1944/45, when the Japanese home islands became increasingly under direct threat, but it was too late. Therefore, during the prior years the Imperial Japanese Army suffered by having a lower budget allocation and being given a lower priority as to raw materials, which eventually affected its use of equipment and tactics in engagements during World War II.
A majority of the materials used were cotton, wool, and silk for the fabrics, wood for weapon stocks, leather for ammunition pouches, belts, etc. But by 1943 material shortages caused much of the leather to be switched to cotton straps as a substitute.
Swords and bayonets
| Model | Type | Role | Blade length (cm) | From (year) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guntō | Ceremonial sword | Ceremonial purpose/Close combat | variable | 1875 | Collective term for military swords |
| Type 30 bayonet | Combat knife/bayonet | Close combat | 40 | 1897 | Fitted on rifles from Type 30 to Type 99 |
| Type 4 bayonet | Combat knife/bayonet | Close combat | ? | 1911 | Integrated with Type 44 Cavalry Carbine |
| Type 2 bayonet | Combat knife/bayonet | Close combat | 19.5 | 1942 | Fitted on Type 2 TERA Rifle and Type 100 SMG |
| Pole bayonet | Combat knife/bayonet | Close combat | 38.6 | 1945 | Last-ditch weapon |
| Bamboo Spear | Spear | Close combat | 170-200 | As late as 1942-1945 | Primary weapon when low on supplies |
Small arms
Pistols and Revolvers (manual and semi-automatic)
Automatic pistols and submachine guns
| Name | Type | Role/s | Action | Origin | Base model/s | Manufacturer/s | Cartridge/s | Effective firing range (m) | Cyclic rate of fire (round/min) | From (year) | Estimated wartime quantity | Unloaded mass (kg) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 100 SMG | Submachine gun | Close-quarters | Blow-back | MP34 | Nambu | 8×22mm Nambu | 150 | 450–800 | 1939 | ~10,000~ | 3.70 | ||
| Model 1 submachine gun | Submachine gun | Close-quarters | Blow-back | Nambu | 8×22mm Nambu | 800 | 1935 | ? | 3.37 | ||||
| Model 2 submachine gun | Submachine gun | Close-quarters | Blow-back | Nambu | 8×22mm Nambu | 500 | 800 | 1935 | 120-200 | 3.37 | |||
| Mauser C96 (Type MO Large pistol) | Machine pistol | Close-quarters / Sidearm | Short recoil | Mauser | 7.63×25mm Mauser | 150-200 | 900–1000 (M712 Schnellfeuer) | 1896 | ? | 1.130 | |||
| Type Be | Submachine gun | Close-quarters | Open-bolt blow-back | MP18 | Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft | 7.63×25mm Mauser | 100 | 1920 | ~445~[27] | 4.18 | Designation for the Swiss SIG M1920.
Used in limited numbers by the Special Naval Landing Forces. | ||
| Type Su | Submachine gun | Close-quarters | Open-bolt blow-back | S1-100 | Steyr-Solothurn A.G. | 7.63×25mm Mauser | 200 | 600 | 1929 | ~6,000~ | 4.48 | Used in limited numbers by the Special Naval Landing Forces in Shanghai and Hainan Island. |
Rifles
| Tree chart of Japanese rifles of World War II | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Grenades and grenade launchers
| Grenade | Launcher | From (year) | Type | Filling | Mass (kg) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 10 grenade | Type 10 | 1914 | Fragmentation | TNT | 0.530 | Inaccurate fuse timing |
| Type 91 grenade | Type 89 | 1931 | Fragmentation | TNT | 0.530 | Improvement of Type 10 |
| Type 92 grenade | Type 10 | 1933 | Chemical | TNT | 0.590 | Green (skin irritant) and red (tear gas) versions, 30g bursting and 37-40g chemical charges |
| Type 97 grenade | No | 1937 | Fragmentation | TNT | 0.450 | Evolution of Type 91 optimized for hand-throw |
| Type 98 grenade | No | 1939 | Fragmentation | Cast picric acid | 0.595 | Copy of Model 24 grenade, long handle |
| Type 99 grenade | Type 100 | 1939 | Fragmentation | Cast picric acid | 0.300 | Variant of Type 97 for grenade launcher |
| Type 2 grenade (30mm) | Type 2 | 1942 | Anti-tank | 50% TNT, 50% RDX | 0.230 | |
| Type 2 grenade (40mm) | Type 2 | 1942 | Anti-tank | 50% TNT, 50% RDX | 0.369 | 98mm RHA penetration |
| Type 3 grenade | No | 1943 | Anti-tank | 50% TNT, 50% PETN | 0.830-1.270 | Shaped charge, fabric body |
| Type 4 grenade | No | 1944 | Fragmentation | Ammonium perchlorate explosive | 0.480 | Ceramic (Pottery) grenade |
Flare guns
| Name | Type | Role/s | Origin | Base model/s | Manufacturer/s | Cartridge/s | From (year) | Estimated wartime quantity | Unloaded mass (kg) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 10 signal pistol (35 mm) | Flare gun | Distress call / sidearm | Koishikawa Arsenal Kokura Arsenal | 1921 | ? |
Recoilless rifles
| Name | Type | Role/s | Origin | Base model/s | Manufacturer/s | Cartridge/s | From (year) | Estimated wartime quantity | Unloaded mass (kg) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 4 70 mm AT rocket launcher | rocket launcher | Anti-tank / Anti-material / Breaching | 72x359mm | 1944 | ~3,500 | 8 | ||||
| Type 5 45 mm AT rocket launcher | rocket launcher | Anti-tank / Anti-material / Breaching | ? | |||||||
| 81mm recoilless rifle | rocket launcher | Anti-tank / Anti-material / Breaching | ? | 300 produced in 1944 and used up in battle for Okinawa | ||||||
| 10.5 cm recoilless rifle | rocket launcher | Anti-tank / Anti-material / Breaching | ? |
Flamethrowers
| Name | Type | Role/s | Origin | Base model/s | Manufacturer/s | From (year) | Estimated wartime quantity | Mass (kg) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 93 flamethrowers | Flamethrower | Specialized role | 1933 | ? | 26 + 4.5 | ||||
| Type 100 flamethrowers | Flamethrower | Specialized role | 1940 | ? | 26 + 4 |
Machine guns
Infantry and dual-purpose machine guns
Vehicle and aircraft machine guns
Training light machine guns
| Name | Type | Role/s | Action | Origin | Manufacturer/s | Cartridge/s | From (year) | Estimated wartime quantity | Unloaded mass (kg) | Note/s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nambu-type training light machine gun | Training light machine gun | Training | Simple blowback | Nambu | 6.5mm blanks | 1920s | Blank-firing training light machine guns used paramilitary training in secondary school paramilitary training. Other variants existed, produced by various manufacturers. |
Artillery
Infantry mortars
- Type 89 grenade discharger, or 'knee mortar,' firing grenades or 50mm shells.
- Type 98 50 mm mortar
- Type 11 70 mm infantry mortar (rifled bore)
- Type 97 81 mm infantry mortar
- Type 99 81 mm mortar – fired by hammer strike
- Type 94 90 mm infantry mortar
- Type 97 90 mm infantry mortar (simplified version of Type 94 90 mm infantry mortar)
- Type 2 12 cm mortar
- Type 90 light mortar – actually heavy 150mm mortar, 90 made and used in 1932
- Type 96 150 mm infantry mortar
- Type 97 150 mm infantry mortar (Type 96 150 mm infantry mortar with recoil absorber removed to save weight)
- Type 96 150 mm infantry mortar
Heavy mortars & rocket launchers
- Type 14 27 cm heavy mortar
- Type 98 320 mm mortar
- Type 4 20 cm rocket launcher
- Type 3 300 mm heavy mortar on Type 4 Ha-To SP heavy mortar carrier
- Type 4 40 cm rocket launcher
- Type 5 mortar launcher "Tok"
- Type 10 and Type 3 rocket boosters
Field artillery
- 7cm mountain gun (75 mm caliber, short bronze barrel)
- Type 31 75 mm mountain gun (steel version)
- 7 cm field gun (75mm caliber, long bronze barrel)
- Type 31 75 mm field gun (steel version)
- Type 41 75 mm mountain gun (license-built Krupp M.08 mountain gun)
- Type 94 75 mm mountain gun (Japanese design to replace Type 41 75 mm mountain gun)
- Type 38 75 mm field gun (license-built Krupp gun)
- Type 41 75 mm cavalry gun (Type 38 75 mm field gun lightened by about 30 kg in weight)[40]
- Type 90 75 mm field gun (Japanese design to replace Type 38 75 mm field gun)
- Type 95 75 mm field gun (lighter weight gun to supersede the Type 90 75 mm field gun)[41]
- Type 99 10 cm mountain gun[42]
- Krupp 10.5 cm cannon (Krupp built gun imported from Germany)[43]
- Krupp 12 cm howitzer (Krupp built gun imported from Germany)[44]
- Krupp 15 cm howitzer (Krupp built gun imported from Germany)[45]
- Type 38 10 cm cannon (license-built Krupp 105mm howitzer M1905)
- Type 91 10 cm howitzer (Japanese design, light-weight howitzer to supplement Type 38 15 cm howitzer)
- Type 14 10 cm cannon (Japanese design, largely unsuccessful)
- Type 92 10 cm cannon (replacement for Type 14 10 cm cannon)
- 120 mm Krupp howitzer M1905
- Type 38 12 cm howitzer (license-built 120 mm Krupp howitzer M1905)
- Type 38 15 cm howitzer (license-built 150 mm Krupp QF howitzer M1905)
- Type 4 15 cm howitzer (changes of Type 38 15 cm howitzer to improve portability)
- Type 96 15 cm howitzer (intended replacement of Type 4 15 cm howitzer and main howitzer used by heavy artillery units)[46]
- Type 4 15 cm howitzer (changes of Type 38 15 cm howitzer to improve portability)
Fortress and siege guns
- Type 7 10 cm cannon (early production of Type 14 10 cm cannon)
- Type 45 15 cm coast defense gun (1912) – barbette-mounted coastal defense gun
- Type 7 15 cm cannon
- Type 89 15 cm cannon – main heavy gun of Imperial Japanese Army
- Type 96 15 cm cannon – developed to have a gun with a longer range than the Type 89
- 28 cm howitzer L/10
- Type 45 24 cm howitzer (1912) – replacement for 28 cm howitzer L/10
- Type 45 20 cm howitzer (1912) – almost the same as the Type 45 24 cm howitzer, but for the caliber
- Type 96 24 cm howitzer
- Type 45 24 cm howitzer (1912) – replacement for 28 cm howitzer L/10
- Type 90 24 cm railway gun – built in France
- Type 7 30 cm howitzer (1918) – semi-mobile siege gun
- Experimental 41 cm howitzer – largest Japanese gun produced
Infantry guns
- Type 11 37 mm infantry gun
- Type 92 70 mm infantry gun (Type 92 battalion gun)
Anti-tank guns
- Type Ra 37 mm anti-tank gun (German 3.7 cm Pak 36 captured from Chinese)
- Type 94 37 mm anti-tank gun
- Type 1 37 mm anti-tank gun – same as Type 94 but with a longer barrel
- Type 97 47 mm anti-tank gun – a prototype tested in 1937–1938
- Type 2 57 mm anti-tank gun – prototype tested in 1941–1943, cancelled because of the appearance of Allied heavy tanks.
Anti-tank weapons (besides anti-tank guns)
- Type 97 automatic cannon
- Type 99 mine
- Type 93 pressure AT, personnel mine
- Type 2 rifle grenade launcher
- Type 3 AT grenade
- Lunge mine
- 57 mm tank cannon
- 37 mm tank cannon
- Type 5 45 mm recoilless gun
- Type 4 70 mm AT rocket launcher
Anti-aircraft weapons
Occasional anti-aircraft guns
- Type 97 automatic cannon
- Type 11 light machine gun
- Type 96 light machine gun
- Type 99 light machine gun
- Type 92 heavy machine gun
- Type 1 heavy machine gun
- 37mm high elevation angle gun
- modified Type 38 75 mm field gun
Light anti-aircraft guns
- Type 3 heavy machine gun
- Type 4 heavy machine gun
- 13.2 mm Hotchkiss machine gun
- Type 92 13mm automotive cannon – used in independent machine gun companies
- Type 98 20 mm AA machine cannon
- Type 2 20 mm AA machine cannon
- Type 96 25 mm AT/AA gun – main IJN gun, over 30,000 units produced
- 70/81mm AA mine discharger
Medium & heavy anti-aircraft guns
| Name | Caliber (mm) | Eff. alt. | From (year) | Estimated quantity | Mass (kg) | Fire rate (RPM) | Note/s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QF 3.7-inch AA gun Mk1 | 94 | 7,300 | 1941 | 0 | 9,317 | 15 | captured from British |
| Type 11 | 75 | 6,650 | 1922 | 44 | 2,061 | ~5 | used as railroad gun and in home islands fortresses |
| Type 14 | 100 | 10,500 | 1925 | 70 | 5,194 | ~5 | civil defense in Kyushu only |
| Type 10 | 120 | 10,065 | 1927 | 2,000 | 7,800 | 11 | cheap coastal defense tool, dual-purpose |
| Type 88 | 75 | 7,250 | 1928 | 2,000 | 2,740 | 18 | based on QF 3-inch 20 cwt design, mainstay of civil defense |
| Type 89 naval gun | 127 | 9,439 | 1932 | 1,306 | 20,300 | 11 | standard heavy AA gun of IJN |
| Type 99 | 88 | 10,420 | 1938 | 1,000 | 6,500 | 15 | 2nd most produced after Type 88 for civil defense |
| 8 cm/40 3rd Year Type naval gun | 76.2 | 5,400 | 1914 | 69 | 2,600 | 13 | dual-purpose naval gun, during World War II used on gunboats and for civil air defense |
| Type 3 12cm | 120 | 13,000 | 1944 | 120 | 19,800 | 20 | the only mass-produced Japanese weapon effective against B-29 |
| Type 4 | 75 | 10,000 | 1944 | 70 | 5,850 | 10 | reverse-engineered Bofors gun captured from Chinese, intended to replace Type 88, modified as Type 5 75 mm Tank Gun |
| Type 5 | 149.1 | 16,000 | 1945 | 2 | 9,200 | 10 | had a fire-control electronic computer |
Vehicles
Tankettes
- Carden Loyd Mk.VI
- Type 92 heavy armoured car (also known as Jyu-Sokosha Type 92 cavalry tank)
- Type 94 tankette "TK"
- Type 97 Te-Ke – improvement of Type 94 "TK"
- Type 97 Ki-To SPAAG self-propelled AA gun (armed with Type 98 20 mm AA machine cannon)
- Type 97 Te-Ke – improvement of Type 94 "TK"
- Model 94 3/4 ton tracked trailer – towed by tankettes
Amphibious tanks
- Type 92 A-I-Go (experimental, modified hull of Type 92 heavy armoured car)
- Type 1 Mi-Sha (a/k/a Type 1 Ka-Mi) (experimental)
- Type 2 Ka-Mi (modified hull of Type 95 Ha-Go)
- Type 3 Ka-Chi (modified hull of Type 1 Chi-He)
- Type 5 To-Ku (modified hull of Type 5 Chi-Ri)
Note: Amphibious tanks were used by the IJN.
Tanks and related vehicles
- Tank Mk IV – British World War I vintage
- Medium Mark A Whippet – British World War I vintage
- Renault FT-17 "Ko" light tank – World War I vintage
- Renault NC27 "Otsu" light tank
- M3 light tank – captured
- Experimental tank – Number 1 (Type 87 Chi-I) 1st prototype leading to the Type 89 I-Go
- Type 89 I-Go medium tank
- Type 91 heavy tank – prototype leading to Type 95 heavy tank
- Type 95 heavy tank – multi-turret tank; four prototypes completed
- Type 95 Ha-Go (also known as Type 95 Ke-Go or Type 95 Kyu-Go)
- Type 98 Ke-Ni (also known as Type 98 Chi-Ni) – replacement model light tank for the Type 95 Ha-Go
- Type 2 Ke-To – variant of Type 98 Ke-Ni with improved 37 mm cannon
- Type 2 Ke-To based work vehicle – prototype engineering vehicle with smaller, modified Type 2 Ke-To turret. Equipped with a generator, flood light and a light crane
- Type 4 work vehicle – production engineering vehicle with Type 2 Ke-To hull. Equipped with a front end dozer blade, a generator and flood light
- Type 98 Ta-Se – prototype 20 mm AA gun tank with Type 98 Ke-Ni hull
- Type 98 20 mm AAG tank – prototype with Type 98 Ke-Ni hull and twin Type 2 20 mm AA machine cannon
- Special number 3 light tank Ku-Ro – airborne light tank carried by glider Ku-6 (early development version known as So-Ra); prototype, mockup only
- Type 2 Ke-To – variant of Type 98 Ke-Ni with improved 37 mm cannon
- Type 3 Ke-Ri – Type 95 Ha-Go tank with 57 mm main gun. Prototype failed army trials in 1943
- Type 4 Ke-Nu – Ha-Go hull with a 57 mm main gun in a Chi-Ha turret
- Type 4 Ho-To SPG – prototype with a Ha-Go hull fitted with Type 38 12 cm howitzer
- Type 5 Ho-Ru SPATG – prototype based on modified hull of the Ha-Go with a Type 1 47 mm tank gun
- Type 98 Ke-Ni (also known as Type 98 Chi-Ni) – replacement model light tank for the Type 95 Ha-Go
- Type 97 Chi-Ha – with Type 97 57 mm tank gun; the most advanced Japanese tank available in numbers at start of the Pacific War
- Type 97 Shinhoto Chi-Ha – Chi-Ha hull with an enlarged turret and production model Type 1 47 mm tank gun
- Type 1 Ho-Ni I SPG (tank destroyer) – Chi-Ha hull with Type 90 75 mm field gun
- Type 1 Ho-Ni II SPG (tank destroyer) – Chi-Ha hull with Type 91 10 cm howitzer
- Type 3 Ho-Ni III SPG (tank destroyer) – Chi-Ha hull with Type 3 75 mm tank gun, same as Type 3 Chi-Nu tank
- Type 2 Ho-I Infantry support tank – Type 99 75 mm L/23 gun on hull of Chi-Ha
- Type 4 Ho-Ro SPG – Chi-Ha hull with Type 38 15 cm howitzer
- Type 3 Chi-Nu – improved Chi-Ha hull fitted with large new hexagonal turret with Type 3 75 mm tank gun
- Short barrel 120 mm gun tank (1945) – 120 mm naval gun in a Type 97 Shinhoto Chi-Ha turret on a Chi-Ha hull, for infantry support
- Long barrel 120 mm SPG (1945) – 120 mm naval gun on a Chi-Ha hull – prototype only
- Type 5 Ho-Chi SPG – (design study), Chi-Ha hull fitted with a Type 96 15 cm howitzer
- Type 1 Chi-He – major improvement of the Chi-Ha series with a more powerful engine, thicker armor and using the Type 1 47 mm tank gun
- Ta-Ha SPAAG – (design study), Type 1 Chi-He hull with twin 37 mm anti-aircraft guns
- Type 98 Chi-Ho – prototype medium tank with an enlarged turret and the then "experimental" Type 1 47 mm tank gun
- O-I (1940), 100-ton tank (design study)
- O-I (1943), 120-ton tank (unfinished prototype)
- Type 4 Chi-To (2 completed) – up-scaled Type 97 Shinhoto Chi-Ha with Type 5 75 mm tank gun
- Type 5 Ka-To tank destroyer (unfinished prototype) – Extended Type 4 Chi-To hull fitted with a 105 mm cannon
- Type 5 Chi-Ri – (unfinished prototype) to be fitted with Type 5 75 mm tank gun and later to be up-gunned with an 88 mm main gun
- Type 5 Ho-Ri tank destroyer (unfinished prototype) – Type 5 Chi-Ri hull fitted with a 105 mm cannon
- Type 5 Ke-Ho (prototype) – intended to be successor of Type 95 Ha-Go
- Type 5 Na-To (tank destroyer) – Type 5 75 mm tank gun on a chassis of a Type 4 Chi-So medium tracked carrier
Self-propelled guns
Tank-based
Other
| Name | Chassis | Gun | From (year) | Estimated quantity | Role/s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 97 Ki-To SPAAG | Type 97 Te-Ke | Type 98 20 mm AA machine cannon | 1938 | 1 | self-propelled anti-aircraft gun |
| Type 98 Ko-Hi | half-track prime mover | unarmed | 1938 | unknown number | towing a Type 4 75 mm AA gun |
| Type 98 20 mm AA half-track vehicle | Type 98 Ko-Hi half-track | Type 98 20 mm AA machine cannon | 1942 | 1 | self-propelled anti-aircraft gun |
| Type 4 Ha-To | Type 4 Chi-So | Type 3 30 cm mortar | 1944 | 4 | self-propelled mortar/rocket launcher |
Armored cars
| Name | Armament/s | Rail wheels? | Maker/s | From (year) | Estimated quantity | Comment/s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin armoured car | none | No | Austin Motor Company/Nissan | 1920s | ? | |
| Vickers Crossley armoured car | 2× 7.7mm Vickers .303 MG | No | Crossley | 1925 | ? | |
| Wolseley armoured car | 1× 6.5mm Type 3 MG | No | Sumida (Isuzu) under license from Wolseley Motors | 1928 | ? | |
| Type 2592 Chiyoda | 3x6.5mm Type 11 MG | No | Sumida(Isuzu) | 1931 | 200 | Also known as "Chiysda" (misspelled). The version used by the Imperial Japanese Navy was known as the Type 2592 |
| (Chiyoda QSW) "Aikoku" | 3x6.5mm Type 11 MG | No | Sumida(Isuzu) | 1931 | 2 | |
| (Chiyoda) "Kokusan" | 3x6.5mm Type 11 MG | No | Sumida(Isuzu) | 1931 | ? | |
| Sumida M.2593 | 1x 7.7mm machine gun | Yes | Sumida(Isuzu) | 1931 | 1,000 | Also known as Type 91 armored railroad car So-Mo and a variant produced was known as the Sumida Model P armored car |
| Type 95 So-Ki armored APC and railroad car | none | Yes | Mitsubishi | 1935 | 121–135 | |
| Type 93 armoured car | 1× 7.7mm Vickers .303 MG & 4x 6.5mm MG | Yes | Osaka Naval arsenal | 1933 | 5 | Also known as Type 2593 "Hokoku" or Type 93 "Kokusan" or "Type 92" naval armored car |
| Manchukyo Type 93 armored car[47] | Type 11 37mm gun, Type 11 MG | No | Daidou (Manchu) automobiles | 1933 | ? | |
| Type 2598 railroad car | none | Yes | ? | 1938 | ? |
Armored carriers
- Type 94 disinfecting vehicle and Type 94 gas scattering vehicle
- Type 97 disinfecting vehicle and Type 97 gas scattering vehicle
- Type 98 So-Da armored ammunition carrier
- Type 100 Te-Re armored artillery observation vehicle
- Type 98 Ko-Hi half-track
- Type 1 Ho-Ki armored personnel carrier
- Type 1 Ho-Ha half-track
- Type 4 Chi-So armored medium tracked carrier
- Type 4 Ka-Tsu armored tracked resupply transport and amphibious torpedo craft
- Experimental light armored ATG carrier "So-To"
Armored trains
Railroad vehicles
Wagons
- Wagon-1 reconnaissance wagon
- Wagon-1 protective wagon
- Wagon-2 heavy canone wagon
- Wagon-3 light canone wagon
- Wagon-4 infantry wagon
- Wagon-5 command wagon
- Wagon-6 auxiliary tender
- Wagon-7 materials wagon
- Wagon-7 power supply wagon
- Wagon-8 infantry wagon
- Wagon-9 light canone wagon
- Wagon-10 howitzer wagon
- Wagon-11 protective wagon
Locomotives
- Locomotives Type 97/98/100
Railroad cars
Japanese has used routinely road-railroad convertible automobiles. These are covered in "Armoured cars" section
Engineering and command
See List of Japanese Army military engineer vehicles of World War II
Trucks
- Type 94 6-wheeled truck
- Type 95 mini-truck
- Type 97 4-wheeled truck
- Type 1 6-wheeled truck
- Type 1 4-wheeled truck
- Type 2 heavy truck
- Toyota KB/KC truck
- Nissan Type 80 truck
- Nissan 180 truck
- Amphibious truck "Su-Ki"
- Isuzu Type 94 truck
Tractors & prime movers


- Type 92 5 t prime mover "I-Ke" – Ko model (gasoline engine), introduced in 1931 and weighted 4.6 ton. Otsu model (diesel engine), introduced in 1936 and weighted 5.3 ton. A total of 422 were produced.[48]
- Type 92 8 t prime mover "Ni-Ku" – Ko model (gasoline engine), introduced in 1932 and weighted 8.0 ton. Otsu model (diesel engine), introduced in 1936 and weighted 8.35 ton. A total of 1,657 were produced.[49]
- Type 94 4 t prime mover "Yo-Ke" – introduced in 1934 and weighted 3.55 ton. A total of 133 were produced.[50]
- Type 95 13 t prime mover "Ho-Fu" – Ko model (gasoline engine), introduced in 1935 and weighted 13.0 ton. Otsu model (diesel engine), introduced in 1938 and weighted 13.64 ton. A total of 373 were produced.[51]
- Type 98 4 t prime mover "Shi-Ke" – introduced in 1938 and weighted 4.3 ton. A total of 781 were produced.[52]
- Type 98 6 t prime mover "Ro-Ke" – introduced in 1939 and designed successor of the Type 92 5 t prime mover "I-Ke". It weighted 6.9 ton and a total of 1,983 were produced.[53]
- Experimental 16 t tractor "Chi-Ke" – developed in 1940/1941, it was a heavy prime mover and intended as the designed successor of the Type 95 13 t prime mover "Ho-Fu". It was powered by a diesel engine and had a crane at the backend for light loads. It did not go into production.
- Type 96 AA gun prime mover
- Type 98 20 mm AA machine cannon carrier truck
- Type 98 Ko-Hi half-track prime mover
Passenger cars (not armoured)
- Toyota AA/AB/AC
- Type 93 6/4-wheeled passenger car
- Small passenger car "Ho-Ya"
- Type 95 passenger car "Kurogane"
- Type 98 passenger car JC
- Model 97 Nissan staff car, Nissan 70
Motorcycles
- Type 97 motorcycle (licensed Harley-Davidson, Rikuo production)
- Type 1 motorcycle with side car (trike)
Miscellaneous vehicles
- Type 94 ambulance
- Type 94 repair vehicle
Army vessels
River-crossing crafts
- Type 95 collapsible boat
- Type 99 pontoon bridge
- Rubber rafts
Landing craft
- Personnel landing craft "Shohatsu"
- Personnel landing craft "Chuhatsu"
- Vehicle landing craft "Daihatsu"
- Vehicle landing craft "Toku-Daihatsu"
- Vehicle Landing Craft "Mokusei-Daihatsu"
Motorboats
- Speedboat model Ko
- Speedboat model Otsu
- Suicide-Attack motorboat "Maru-Re"
Gun boats
- Armored boat "AB-Tei"
- Submarine-chaser "Karo-Tei"
IJA Landing craft/aircraft carriers
- Hei-class landing craft carrier "Shinshu Maru"
- Hei-class landing craft/aircraft carrier "Akitsu Maru"
- Hei-class landing craft/aircraft carrier "Kumano Maru"
- Ko-class landing craft carrier "Mayasan Maru"
- Ko-class landing craft carrier "Kibitsu Maru"
- Ko-class landing craft carrier "Tamatsu Maru"
- Ko-class landing craft carrier "Hyuga Maru"
- Ko-class landing craft carrier "Settsu Maru"
- Otsu-class landing craft carrier "Takatsu Maru"
Transport vessels
- Tank landing ship "SS-Tei"
- Fast transport vessel "Yi-Go"
- Transport submarine "Maru-Yu", also referred as Type 3 submergence transport vehicle
Navy ships and war vessels
Aircraft
Secret weapons
Army secret weapons
- Remote-control special vehicle "I-Go"
- Unmanned miniature special vehicle "Ya-I"
- Remote-control special working cable car
- Experimental mortar weapon "Ite-Go"
- Remote-control boat "Isu-Go"
- Rocket cannon "Ro-Go"
- Nuclear project "Mishina"
- Engine stopcock "Ha-Go"
- Radio signal jamming device "Ho-Go"
- Electromagnetic anti-tank weapon "To-Go"
- VHF wave application research "Chi-Go"
- High voltage weapon "Ka-Go"
- High voltage obstacle-destroying weapon "Kaha-Go"
- High voltage conductive wire obstacles "Kake-Go"
- High voltage conductive wire net launching rocket "Kate-Go"
- Infrared ray detecting device "Ne-Go"
- Mine-detecting sonar for landing operations "Ra-Go"
- Remote radio-control device "Mu-Go"
- Radio-controlled boat with remote sonar and depth charge deployment device "Musu-Go"
- Device to cause artificial lightning flashes through ray-scattering "U-Go"
- Night vision system "No-Go"
- Microwave heat ray "Ku-Go" (developed at the No. 9 Special Warfare Army Laboratory)
- Infrared homing bomb "Ke-Go"
- Intercontinental balloon bomb "Fu-Go"
- Optical communication device "Ko-Go"
- Rope-launching rocket system "Te-Go"
- Blinding light ray device "Ki-Go"
- Propaganda transmission device "Se-Go"
- Advanced sonar system "Su-Go"
- Anti-tank explosive spear suicide weapon "Shitotsubakurai"
- Experimental armour for machine gunner
- Experimental reconnaissance aircraft "Te-Go"
- Reconnaissance autogyro "Ka-Go"
- Defoliant bacteria bomb
- Ceramic flea-dispersal bomb for plague propagation
- Plan to collapse Chinese economy through introduction of counterfeit yuan
Navy secret weapons
- I-Go 14 Type Ko-Kai 2 modified A Type 2 I-Go 14 aircraft submarine
- I-Go 15 Type Otsu Type B I-Go 26 aircraft submarine
- I-Go 54 Type Otsu-Kai 2 modified B Type 2 I-Go 54 aircraft submarine
- I-Go 400 Type I-Go 402 aircraft submarine
- Aichi M6A1 Seiran torpedo-bomber (carried in submarines)
- Suicide Attack Diver "Fukuryu"
- "Kaiten" Type 1 suicide attack midget submarine
- "Kairyu" midget submarine
- Nuclear project "F-Go"
- Aircraft battleship class "Ise"
Radars
Imperial Japanese Army radars
Ground-based radar
- Ta-Chi 1 ground-based target tracking radar Model 1
- Ta-Chi 2 ground-based target tracking radar Model 2
- Ta-Chi 3 ground-based target tracking radar Model 3
- Ta-Chi 4 ground-based target tracking radar Model 4
- TypeA Bi-static doppler interface detector (high frequency warning device "Ko")
- Ta-Chi 6 Type B fixed early warning device (fixed early warning device "Otsu")
- Ta-Chi 7 Type B mobile early warning device (mobile early warning device "Otsu")
- Ta-Chi 13 aircraft guidance system
- Ta-Chi 18 Type B portable early warning device (portable early warning device "Otsu")
- Ta-Chi 20 fixed early warning device receiver (for Ta-Chi 6)
- Ta-Chi 24 mobile anti-aircraft radar (Japanese Wurzburg radar)
- Ta-Chi 28 aircraft guidance device
- Ta-Chi 31 ground-based target tracking radar Model 4 modified
Airborne radar
- Ta-Ki 1 Model 1 airborne surveillance radar
- Ta-Ki 1 Model 2 airborne surveillance radar
- Ta-Ki 1 Model 3 airborne surveillance radar
- Ta-Ki 11 ECM device
- Ta-Ki 15 aircraft guidance device receiver (for Tachi 13)
Shipborne radar
- Ta-Se 1 anti-surface radar
- Ta-Se 2 anti-surface radar
Imperial Japanese Navy radars
Land-based radar
- Type 2 Mark 1 Model 1 early warning radar ("11-Go" early warning radar)
- Type 2 Mark 1 Model 1 modify 1 early warning radar ("11-Go" Model 1 early warning radar)
- Type 2 Mark 1 Model 1 modify 2 early warning radar ("11-Go" Model 2 early warning radar)
- Type 2 Mark 1 Model 1 modify 3 early warning radar ("11-Go" Model 3 early warning radar)
- Type 2 Mark 1 Model 2 mobile early warning radar ("12-Go" mobile early warning radar)
- Type 2 Mark 1 Model 2 modify 2 mobile early warning radar ("12-Go" modify 2 mobile early warning radar)
- Type 2 Mark 1 Model 2 modify 3 mobile early warning radar ("12-Go" modify 3 mobile early warning radar)
- Type 3 Mark 1 Model 1 early warning radar ("11-Go" modified early warning radar)
- Type 3 Mark 1 Model 3 small size early warning radar ("13-Go" small size early warning radar)
- Type 3 Mark 1 Model 4 long-range air search radar ("14-Go" long-range air search radar)
- Type 2 Mark 4 Model 1 anti-aircraft fire-control radar (Japanese SCR-268)
- Type 2 Mark 4 Model 2 anti-aircraft fire-control radar (Japanese SCR-268) (S24 anti-aircraft fire-control radar)
Airborne radar
- Type 3 air Mark 6 Model 4 airborne ship-search radar (H6 airborne ship-search radar) (N6 airborne ship-search radar)
- Type 5 Model 1 radio location night vision device
Shipborne radar
- Type 2 Mark 2 Model 1 air search radar ("21-Go" air search radar)
- Type 2 Mark 2 Model 2 modify 3 anti-surface, fire assisting radar for submarine ("21-Go" modify 3 anti-surface, fire-assisting Radar)
- Type 2 Mark 2 Model 2 modify 4 Anti-Surface, Fire-assisting Radar for Ship ("21-Go" Modify 4 Anti-Surface, Fire-assisting Radar)
- Type 2 Mark 3 Model 1 anti-surface fire-control radar ("31-Go" anti-surface fire-control radar)
- Type 2 Mark 3 Model 2 anti-surface fire-control radar ("32-Go" anti-surface fire-control radar)
- Type 2 Mark 3 Model 3 anti-surface fire-control radar ("33-Go" anti-surface fire-control radar)
Missiles & bombs
| Name | Type | From (year) | Mass (kg) | Role/s | User/s | Comment/s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kawasaki Ki-147 I-Go Type1 – Ko | guided missile | 1944 | 1,400 | air-to-surface | IJA | Radio-guided, also known as I-Go-1A |
| Mitsubishi I-Go-1B | guided missile | 1944 | 680 | air-to-surface | IJA | Radio-guided, also known as Ki-148 or I-Go Type 1-Hei |
| Ke-Go | guided missile | 1944 | 680 | air-to-surface | IJA | IR homing version of Ki-148 |
| Funshin-dan | unguided missile | 1943 | 40 | surface-to-air | IJN | used in battle of Iwo Jima |
| Funryu | guided missile | 1943 | 1,900 | surface-to-air | IJN | Radio-guided, models Funryu-1 to Funryu-4 |
| Yokosuka MXY7 Ohka | guided missile | 1945 | 2,140 | surface-to-air | IJN | guided by suicide pilot |
| Type 92 No. 1 | bomb | 1932 | 15 | air-to-surface | IJA | – |
| Type 92 No. 25 | bomb | 1932 | 250 | air-to-surface | IJA | – |
| Type 92 No. 50 | bomb | 1932 | 500 | air-to-surface | IJA | – |
| Type 94 No. 5 | bomb | 1934 | 50 | air-to-surface | IJA | – |
| Type 94 Mod. No. 5 | bomb | 1934 | 50 | air-to-surface | IJA | – |
| Type 94 No. 10 | bomb | 1934 | 100 | air-to-surface | IJA | – |
| Type 94 No. 10 Mod. | bomb | 1934 | 100 | air-to-surface | IJA | – |
| Type 97 No. 6 | bomb | 1937 | 60 | air-to-surface | IJN | used in Pearl Harbor attack |
| Type 98 No. 25 | bomb | 1938 | 30 | air-to-surface | IJN | used in Pearl Harbor attack |
| Type 99 No. 3 Mod. | bomb | 1939 | 30 | air-to-surface | IJA | – |
| Type 99 No. 80 | bomb | 1939 | 800 | anti-ship | IJN | used in Pearl Harbor attack |
| Type 99 No. 25 | bomb | 1939 | 30 | anti-ship | IJN | used in Pearl Harbor attack |
| Type 1 No. 5 | bomb | 1941 | 50 | air-to-surface | IJA | – |
| Type 1 No. 10 | bomb | 1941 | 100 | air-to-surface | IJA | – |
| Type 1 No. 25 | bomb | 1941 | 250 | air-to-surface | IJA | – |
| Type 3 No. 10 | bomb | 1943 | 100 | air-to-surface | IJA | – |
| Type 3 No. 25 | bomb | 1943 | 250 | air-to-surface | IJA | Skipping bomb |
| Type 4 No. 10 | bomb | 1944 | 100 | anti-ship | IJA | – |
| Type 4 No. 25 | bomb | 1944 | 250 | anti-ship | IJA | – |
| Type 4 No. 50 | bomb | 1944 | 500 | anti-ship | IJA | – |
Unclear IJA bombs
- Type Ro-3
- Type Ro-5
- Type Ro-7
Unclear IJN bombs
- Type 3 No.1 28-go bomb Type 2
- Type 3 No.1 28-go bomb Type 2 modify 1
- Type 3 No.1 28-go bomb Type 2 modify 2
- Type 3 No.1 28-go bomb "Maru-Sen"
- No. 6 27-go bomb
- Type 3 No.25 4-go bomb Type 1
- Type 3 No.50 4-go bomb
Unclear bomb
- Type 4456 100 kg Skipping bomb
Cartridges and shells
Cartridges
| Name | Bullet mass (g) | Bullet type | Velocity (m/s) | Energy (J) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7×20mm Nambu | 4 | FMJ | 240 | 108 |
| 8×22mm Nambu | 7 | FMJ | 290 | 274 |
| 9×22mmR Japanese | 9.7 | LRN | 229 | 252 |
| 6.5×50mmSR Arisaka (9g Ball) | 9 | FMJ | 770 | 2,666 |
| 7.7×56mmR (10g SP) | 10 | SP | 844 | 3,463 |
| 7.7×56mmR (12g SP) | 12 | SP | 783 | 3,574 |
| 7.7×56mmR (11g HPBT) | 11 | HPBT | 761 | 3,265 |
| 7.7×58mm Arisaka (11g Ball) | 11 | FMJ | 740 | 3,136 |
| 7.7x58mmSR (13g Ball) | 13 | FMJ | 670 | 3,190 |
High explosive anti-tank (HEAT) shells
| Gun | Caliber (mm) | Mass (kg) | Length (mm) | Penetration (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 90/97 tank gun | 57 | 1.80 | 189 | 55 |
| Type 92 infantry gun | 70 | 3.38 | 281 | 90 |
| Type 41 75 mm mountain gun | 75 | 3.95 | 297 | 100 |
| Type 38 12 cm howitzer | 120 | 13.03 | 387 | 140 |
| Type 4 15 cm howitzer | 149 | 21.04 | 524 | 150 |
Among them, the HEAT of Type 41 mountain gun was used in action and destroyed several Allied tanks in Burma and other places. The use of the HEAT for other guns is not known.
Other HEAT shell was the projectile of Type 94 mountain gun. The HEAT of Type 94 mountain gun was not produced though it was developed.