Type 41 75 mm cavalry gun

Type 41 75 mm cavalry gun
Rear view of a Type 41 cavalry gun
Type	light field gun
Place of origin	Japan
Service history
In service	1908-1945
Used by	Japan
Wars	World War I, 2nd Sino-Japanese War, World War II
Specifications
Weight	915.76 kg (2,019 lb) Firing 1,499.58 kg (3,306 lb) Traveling
Length	4.39 m (14 ft 5 in) Firing 8.05 m (26 ft 5 in) Traveling
Barrel length	2.174 metres (7 ft 2 in) L/29.27
Width	1.37 m (4 ft 6 in) Track, 1.57 m (5 ft 2 in) Maximum
Height	1.57 m (5 ft 2 in)
Shell	6.025 kilograms (13.28 lb)
Caliber	75 mm (2.95 in)
Breech	interrupted thread
Recoil	Hydrospring
Carriage	fixed box trail
Elevation	-8° to +16° 30'
Traverse	6° right 6° left
Rate of fire	8 rpm
Muzzle velocity	510 m/s (1,673 ft/s)
Maximum firing range	8,380 metres (9,160 yd)

The Type 41 75 mm cavalry gun was a Japanese field gun first accepted into service in 1908. Type 41 designation was given to this gun as it was accepted in the 41st year of Emperor Meiji's reign (1908).^[1] It was slightly lightened version of the Type 38 75 mm field gun that was based on a 1905 Krupp design. It was the primary weapon of artillery units attached to cavalry formations. Although effectively obsolete by the start of World War II it was used in limited numbers despite nominally being replaced by the Type 95 75 mm field gun.

Design

This Schneider type gun was especially constructed to give artillery support to cavalry regiments. Its design is almost identical with that of the original Model 38 75 mm gun. It is somewhat lighter than the Model 38 improved 75 mm gun, the corresponding direct-support artillery in the infantry division. In 1944, Japanese cavalry brigades have not yet been in combat against U. S. forces, it was not certain whether this old-fashioned gun with unmodified box trails and hydrospring recoil remains in general use or has been superseded by a more modern weapon. It can readily be differentiated from the Model 38 75 mm gun by its interrupted thread breechblock.^[2]

A Type 41 cavalry gun as seen from the side.

External links

• Type 41 on Taki's Imperial Japanese Army page

References

Notes

1. War Department TM-E-30-480 Handbook on Japanese Military Forces September 1944 p 400
2. War Department Special Series No 25 Japanese Field Artillery October 1944

Bibliography

• Chamberlain, Peter and Gander, Terry. Light and Medium Field Artillery. New York, Arco
• TM-E 30-480 Handbook of Japanese Military Forces. US war department. 1945.
• War Department Special Series No 25 Japanese Field Artillery October 1944