Type 100

Last Updated on Tuesday, 21 July 2009 17:36 Written by Administrator Friday, 03 July 2009 00:10

The Type 100 is a Japanese submachine gun used extensively during the Second World War. It was the only submachine that Imperial Japan produced in any quantity.

The Type 100 was designed and manufactured by the Nambu Arms Manufacturing Company and approximately 30,000 units of the gun were manufactured in between 1942 and 45. Japan was very late in adopting the submachine gun.

The Type 100 didn’t have any remarkable or innovative design. However, it was very robust. On the minus side, it was underpowered as it was chambered for the 8x22mm Nambu round. The stopping power of this round is roughly equivalent to the .380 ACP. Atypical for a submachine gun, the Type 100 had a fixture for mounting a bayonet.

Despite the remarkable design, the Type 100 did have a chrome lined barrel to resist corrosion and a muzzle brake to control the recoil. There was also a version with a foldable stock for use by paratroopers.

The Type 100 fed from a curved magazine capable of holding 30 rounds. The magazine fed from the side. The submachine gun was accurate up to 70 meters. Though its range was very low, it proved itself to be effective in close-quarter combat and jungle warfare.