Type 14 10 cm AA Gun

• Name — Japanese Type 14 10cm AA gun • Origin — Empire of Japan • Type — Anti-aircraft gun • Is Ranged — yes • Is Artillery — yes • Service — 1925–1945 • Used By — Imperial Japanese Army • Wars — Second Sino-Japanese War World War II • Design Date — 1925 • Number — 70 • Weight — 5.194 ton • Part Length — 4.2 m L/40 • Cartridge — 105 x 565mm.R • Caliber — 105 mm • Barrels — single • Velocity — 700 m/s • Range — 10500 m • Max Range — 16300 m • Breech — Sliding-block • Recoil — Hydro-pneumatic • Elevation — 0° to +85° • Traverse — 360°

Due to combat experience at the Battle of Tsingtao against the German Luftstreitkrafte’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. After the introduction of the Type 11 75 mm AA gun into front-line combat service, the Imperial Japanese Army quickly realized that it was underpowered and lacked the range necessary for civil defense of Japanese cities from enemy air raids. A larger version, designated the Type 14 10 cm AA gun was placed into production in 1925. However, only 70 units were completed before production was terminated.

The Type 14 10 cm AA gun had a single piece gun barrel with a horizontal sliding breechblock, and a hydro-pneumatic recoil system mounted on a central pedestal. The firing platform was supported by six legs, each of which (along with the central pedestal) had adjustable screwed foot for leveling. The gun came with detachable wheels for transport, which were removed when in the firing position. Thirty to 45 minutes were required to prepare the gun for action. It fired a 16 kg projectile to an effective altitude of 10500 m, which was a dramatic improvement over the Type 11 75 mm AA gun, but its rate of fire was still slow, and units were later retrofitted with an autoloader.

All of the Type 14 10 cm AA guns were assigned to the IJA 4th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Division, based in Kyūshū during the Pacific War. Some units were based in Kyūshū cities for defense against American air raids, but most were based at the Yawata Steel Works in Kitakyūshū city.