Chapter IX: Weapons

Section III: Artillery

1. GENERAL. Between 1925 and 1936, all Japanese artillery pieces were either redesigned or replaced by newer designs. An examination of a majority of the designs known to exist leads to the belief that the following features will be incorporated in any newer designs produced since 1936, although no weapons over 47-mm in size and bearing a model date later than 1936 as yet have been reported:

Hydropneumatic recoil systems.

Use of equilibrators.

Muzzle brakes.

Increased muzzle velocities.

Improved high speed mounts on all medium and heavy pieces (using either pneumatic tires or tires filled with sponge rubber).

Since Japan has had access to German weapon designs for some years, it may be assumed that Japanese weapons embodying the following features may be encountered:

Hollow charge projectiles.

New incendiary projectiles.

Self-propelled mounts of various kinds.

Rockets.

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