Type 100

[lorddeathrage]

Type 100




Country of origin: Japan

Calibre: 8mm Nambu

Length: 890mm

Weight: 3.83kg

Barrel: 228mm, 6 grooves, rh

Magazine capacity: 30 round box mag

Operation: Blowback

Cyclic rate of fire: 450 rpm

Muzzle velocity: 335mps

Effective range: 70m


During WW2 Japan only fielded one SMG - the Type 100.

Production began in 1942 as Japan saw the advantages of automatic weapons during island assaults and jungle warfare.

The Type 100 was a side-fed, carbine-type weapon.

In my opinion the Type 100 was a fairly poor weapon, but it did have some notable features including: a chrome-lined barrel to resist corrosion, a muzzle brake fitted to help control recoil and for paratroops the fixed wooden stock was replaced with a folding version.

But despite these features the Type 100 did not preform well. Its 8mm ammunition lacked stopping power and was prone to feed problems, and in 1943 production ceased. An improved version was fielded in 1944, designated Type 100/44. The 100/44 had a higher rate of fire (800 rpm) making it a somewhat better weapon. Production never really achived the rate needed and most Japanese in the Pacific had to rely on rifles against the U.S BARs, M3s, M1s and Thompsons.

The Type 100's primary significance was that its preformance demonstrated the superiority of its battlefield opponent the American Thompson M1928 submachine gun.