Among short-range weapons, the light machine gun and grenade were most valued however, at longer distances, every Japanese infantryman was indoctrinated in the use and maintenance of his rifle. An unaimed bullet was likely to damage only vegetation. In Europe, artillery and automatic fire dominated the battlefield. Light artillery was useful for keeping the enemy’s heads down, but unlikely to kill in the jungle locales of Malaya, the Philippines, Burma, and New Guinea. Attesting to this military precept, Japanese arms manufacturers never developed a semiautomatic rifle to match the American M1 Garand, nor did they or the IJA hold submachine guns in high value. The Japanese Army had built a lean, infantry-heavy force configured to win an early victory by advancing quickly, penetrating or flanking when possible, and trusting the superior Japanese warrior spirit to vanquish the foe swiftly. In the end, the Japanese rifles were rugged and reliable and earned the admiration of the Japanese infantryman under most circumstances.
#Type 99 arisaka markings series
The IJA high command’s apparent decision to continue recommending usage of the Arisaka series of bolt-action rifles was really no different from that of other belligerent countries the German and British Armies used their older Mauser Gewehr 98 and Short Magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE) rifle designs, respectively, throughout the war. To illustrate, advancing infantrymen, after crossing the Salween River in Burma in early 1942, attacked at night in the purest martial style, that is, with fixed bayonets and unloaded rifles, in an attempt to intimidate the enemy. Thus, the general staff approved the design of the infantryman’s weapons based on close-order combat, where he was programmed to always advance, keeping the enemy unnerved and off balance. The IJA high command consistently resisted weapons modernization, fearing that it would lead to the infantry’s abandonment of tradition of hand-to-hand combat to win the decisive victory.
A reliance on material goods, necessitating an extensive supply network, was viewed by the dominating forces within the Japanese high command as a modern evil that could destroy the fighting spirit of the IJA.
#Type 99 arisaka markings code
During the 1930s, the Japanese high command falsely believed that an army based on the Bushido code would not be hampered by Japan’s inadequate industrial base because it required neither state-of-the-art mechanization nor a cumbersome logistical tail. Much has been written that the Japanese infantry weapons of World War II were poorly designed and manufactured and ineffective in combat. His personal infantry weapon, the Arisaka rifle, would give him the means to exhibit these traits. Bushido contributed significantly to a soldier’s supreme sacrifice, which demonstrated the qualities of honor, courage, and moral purity.
Thus, the Japanese soldier was well known for his disregard for death. Above all, the new IJA infantryman would be imbued with a combination of obedience to the emperor and a moral essence to strictly adhere to a superior’s orders and the warrior code, Bushido, while refusing to disgrace himself and his family by surrendering to the enemy. Training units seldom conducted combined arms operations since the military dictum was that infantry would win decisively by closing with the enemy with bayonet assaults.
Officers and noncommissioned officers (NCOs) began to indoctrinate the Japanese fighting élan into their conscripts through close combat training with an inordinate amount of time spent on bayonet fighting and hand-to-hand combat. After harsh and rigorous training with other cadets from his geographical district in the home islands, the new soldier was designated to a specific class ranking dependent on his capabilities. Live online bidding, telephone bidding and absentee bidding will all be available.As militarism grew in Japan in the early 1930s, conscription began at the age of 19, and the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) cadet entered military service. This auction will most likely be held as a live auction behind closed doors meaning that you will be able to participate as normal with the exception of in room bidding. For more information, please visit the Australian Arms Auctions website. All queries relating to the contents of the sale, Terms & Conditions of sale, payment and collection should be directed to Australian Arms Auctions.Īddress: PO Box 1142, Doncaster East, VIC, 3109 All invoices will be issued by Australian Arms Auctions and subsequent payment will be collected by Australian Arms Auctions.
The Australian Arms Auctions Terms & Conditions of Sale will apply in full. This is an Australian Arms Auction which is being hosted by Leski Auctions only.
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