Japanese type 88 75mm AA gun

[Rod Bellars (RIP)]

back is still down so here is another gun thread and request for parts .

The japanese had a number of guns in use during ww2 but unlike Wesern armies they did not mass produce weapons to the scale of their enemies or other western allies .Many of their industrial techniques were labour intensive with much hand fitting and there was no standardizeation of ammunition between the guns especially larger guns so the ordnance supply depots and quartermasters would have had serious issues of supply .

In fact many japanese gun emplaced in the latter part of the war being in isolated garrisons simply ran out of ammunition or what ammo they had was defective due to poor storage provisions allowing damp to destroy primers etc . On Balikpapan I was told by a veteran the type 88 guns simply ran out of ammo and as these were one of the best guns in the Japanese armoury this would have had serious impact on their defensive ability there ammunition supply was also an issue in the battle with Australian tanks at Sananda I believe

The type 88 was a long flat walled case on a double banded High explosive round which was standard issue but also old style projectilles were also used . The gun itself was modelled on the British 3" 20cwt gun with many improvements and amendments ie central axle with detacheable wheels . The gun in transport mode had all jacks screwed up and barrel drawn back off recoil and locked in front two, one piece trail arms behind towing eye, the other three arms on other side of the platform had the two outer ones folded and locked to centre one piece spar .

The Gun when emplaced was leveled with jacks on the outrigger ends in a star shape and then fine balanced with levels and jacks on inner platform . It was commnly emplaced in groups of five around likely landing points , air bases and command centres. Also it was used as AA on its pedestal on ring mounts and transport ships front and rear decks .

My gun was captured by Australians and brought back with others I think 3 and tested and evalauted . One went on the range in NSW I believe and was destroyed , one was dis-assembled in Marybynong store and this one was at St Marys ammunition centre in NSW until heading for scrap and last minute save as one leg was partially cut and wheels removed by cutting off the wheel studs . As well sadly the two arc brass range plates were removed probably when it was in Camden area of NSW and anyone knowing where these are the information would be greatly appreciated

so for my gun I am chasing a set of wheels and studs or at least rims if not wheels and some small sight parts including the range plate large brass cake sectins on dovetail mounts , the rear locking unit for recoil to breach toe a simple threaded stud able to be removed by hand as mine was :-(. As well as any tools and jack covers i belive this is the only complete example surviving of the three brought back during the war, the one at AWM was accoridng to "pacific wrecks "brought back in the 70s from the pacific

My gun has sone battle damage and needs the platform cover and tool box repaired otherwise its pretty good, under the park army green coat of paint lots of original paint camo survives and the traversing ring is still brightly blued with white numbers visible under the repaint , the sight raming frame has been cut in half so as not to damge the sighting gear that was siezed when gun was depressed or elevated

shots below are

one

gun side on note all the usual missing parts still on it and even without much work a lot is freeing up

two

wheel hub mount with removed wheel studs if anyone has a set or can remove them off a wreck in pacific let me know as well as hubs

three

shot of other side fire control misisng range pate cake section freshly removed before i got it

Four

rear of breach showing where mising lock goes note sledge hammer hits on top left of breach by army probably reloacating barrel in firing position they had welded a bar across i removed already


five

close up of breach
note original paint around breach under green of camo style

so again I need
range plates , wheel nuts , hubs, barrel to recoil lock,small sight parts and fuze setter cover

regards'


Rod