Type 11 75 mm AA Gun

• Name — Japanese Type 11 75mm AA gun • Origin — Empire of Japan • Type — Anti-aircraft gun • Is Ranged — yes • Is Artillery — yes • Service — 1922–1940 • Used By — Imperial Japanese Army • Wars — Second Sino-Japanese War • Design Date — 1920 • Number — 44 • Weight — 2.061 tons • Part Length — 2.562 m L/34 • Crew — 6 • Caliber — 75 mm (2.95 in) • Velocity — 525 m/s • Range — 6,650 m • Max Range — 10,900 m • Breech — sliding • Carriage — none • Elevation — 0° to +85° • Traverse — 360°

Due to combat experience at the Battle of Tsingtao against the Imperial German Luftstreitkräfte’s fledgling squadron of combat aircraft, planners on the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff quickly realized that this new technology posed a threat which required countermeasures. This evaluation was further reinforced by reports from military observers on the European front in World War I. The Type 11 gun was placed into production in 1922, taking design features from a number of overseas design, including the British QF 3-inch 20 cwt anti-aircraft gun. However, it was expensive to produce and lacked both accuracy and range of fire. Only 44 units were completed before production was terminated.

The Type 11 75 mm AA gun had a single piece gun barrel with sliding breech, mounted on a central pedestal. The firing platform was supported by five legs, each of which (along with the central pedestal) had an adjustable screwed foot for leveling. It fired a 6.5 kg projectile to an effective altitude of 6,650 m.

The Type 11 75 mm AA gun saw limited service with Japanese combat forces during the invasion of Manchuria, Soviet-Japanese Border Wars and the Second Sino-Japanese War. It was withdrawn from active service prior to the start of the Pacific War.