Type 3 12 cm AA Gun
The San-shiki jyūni-senchi Kōshahō was an anti-aircraft gun used in quantity by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II.The Type 3 number was designated for the year the gun was accepted, 2603 in the Japanese imperial year calendar, or 1943 in the Gregorian calendar. It replaced the earlier Type 88 75 mm AA Gun in Japanese service. The 12cm Type 3, was the only IJA AA gun to enter regular service to have power controls and utilized a power ramming and semi-automated fuze setting on the loading tray similar to that of the Navy’s 10cm Type 98 gun.
Type 3 12 cm AA Gun
Imperial Japanese Army · Public domain
- Name
- Type 3 12 centimeter anti-aircraft gun
- Field
- anti-aircraft gun
- Region
- Japan
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Documentary summary
The San-shiki jyūni-senchi Kōshahō was an anti-aircraft gun used in quantity by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II.The Type 3 number was designated for the year the gun was accepted, 2603 in the Japanese imperial year calendar, or 1943 in the Gregorian calendar. It replaced the earlier Type 88 75 mm AA Gun in Japanese service. The 12cm Type 3, was the only IJA AA gun to enter regular service to have power controls and utilized a power ramming and semi-automated fuze setting on the loading tray similar to that of the Navy’s 10cm Type 98 gun.
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wikidata · Q7860723 · wikipedia · Type 3 12 cm AA gun
In this article
Overview
Overview
It was a modern weapon and was by far the best heavy AA gun of the Army, although employment was mostly limited to the home islands due to the use of heavy concrete mounts.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Type 3 12 centimeter anti-aircraft gun • Origin — Empire of Japan • Type — Anti-aircraft gun • Is Ranged — yes • Is Artillery — yes • Service — 1943–1945 • Used By — Imperial Japanese Army • Wars — World War II • Production Date — 1943-1945 • Number — 157 • Weight — 19.8 tons • Part Length — 6.71 m L/56 • Cartridge — 120 x 851mm.R • Caliber — 120 mm • Barrels — single • Rate — 20 rpm • Velocity — 853 m/s • Range — 8.5 km against a target at 12,000 m. Effective ceiling: 12,000 m • Max Range — 11.4 km against a target at 6,000 m. Maximum ceiling: 20,000 m • Elevation — 8 to +90 degrees • Traverse — 360 degrees
History and development
History and development
In order to address the shortcomings of the Type 88 75 mm AA gun, the Army Technical Bureau developed a larger version with superior range, designated the Type 3. It was one of the few weapons in the Japanese inventory capable of reaching the USAAF B-29 Superfortress bombers that were attacking cities and other targets in the Japanese home islands. However, despite its superior range and firepower, the Type 3 gun could not be produced in sufficient quantities to be truly effective, due to costs, lack of raw materials and damage to Japan's industrial infrastructure by Allied air raids.
Design
Design
• Illustration — Gun barrel preserved at JGSDF Air Defence Artillery School, Chiba • Illustration — Gun muzzle The Type 3 12 cm 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 adjustable screwed foot for leveling.
Combat record
Combat record
Coming into service towards the end of the war, most of the Type 3s were retained on the home islands as part of the bolstering of Japan's defenses against Allied air raids and against the perceived threat of an Allied invasion. These guns were deployed to cover military targets around Tokyo, Osaka, Kobe and the Yawata Steel Works in Kitakyushu. Overseas, they were deployed to guard the oil fields at Palembang in the Netherlands East Indies Units in Tokyo were credited with downing at least ten B-29 bombers.
Identity
Identity
Type 3 12 cm AA Gun is classified as an anti-aircraft gun. Associated with Japan.
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- Japan
Literature
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Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.War Department TM-E-30-480 Handbook on Japanese Military Forces September 1944, p. 400
- 2.Mayer, the Rise and Fall of Imperial Japan. p. 64
- 3.Ness, Leland. Rikugun: Volume 2 - Weapons of the Imperial Japanese Army & Navy Ground Forces (p. 169). Helion and Company.
- 4.Bishop, The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II.
- 5.Bishop, The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II.
- 6.Chant, Artillery of World War II.
- 7.MacLean. Japanese Artillery; Weapons and Tactics
Bibliography printed in the source article · 7
- Bishop, Chris (eds) The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II. Barnes & Nobel. 1998.
- Chant, Chris. Artillery of World War II, Zenith Press, 2001,
- Mayer, S.L. The Rise and Fall of Imperial Japan. The Military Press (1884)
- McLean, Donald B. Japanese Artillery; Weapons and Tactics. Wickenburg, Ariz.: Normount Technical Publications 1973. .
- Ness, Leland. Guide to Japanese Ground Forces 1937–1945: Volume 2: Weapons of the Imperial Japanese Army & Navy Ground Forces. Helion & Company. 2014. 978-19099-8275-8.
- US Department of War, TM 30-480, Handbook on Japanese Military Forces, Louisiana State University Press, 1994.
- War Department TM-E-30-480 Handbook on Japanese Military Forces, October 1, 1944
References
Citations
References
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reference work
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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