Type 97 aircraft machine gun

• Name — Navy Type 97 7.7 mm fixed aircraft machine gun • Origin — Empire of Japan • Type — Light machine gun • Is Ranged — yes • Service — 1937–1945 • Used By — Imperial Japanese Navy • Wars — Second Sino-Japanese War, World War II • Design Date — 1937 • Manufacturer — KK Nihon Seikoujo Suzuka Naval Arsenal Toyokawa Naval Arsenal • Production Date — 1937–1945 • Weight — 12.6 kg • Length — 1033 mm • Part Length — 600 mm • Cartridge — 7.7x56mmR • Cartridge Weight — projectile weight • Action — Short recoil toggle locked • Rate — 900 RPM 600–700 RPM (synchronized) • Velocity — 745 m/s • Feed — Belt • Ref — The WWII Fighter Gun Debate: Gun Tables

The 'Navy Type 97 aircraft machine gun' was similar to the 'Army Type 89 machine gun', being a licensed copy of the Vickers Class E machine gun. It was highly suitable for synchronization and was used as the cowling armament on the A6M Zero. However, the Type 97 remained chambered for the British cartridge and the Type 89 was chambered for a new cartridge developed in Japan, making their ammunition non-interchangeable.

• Illustration — Type 97 with bipod and spade grips for field use, captured by Australian troops in Balikpapan, July 1945 The Type 97 came into service in 1937, and was used in the Nakajima B6N, Yokosuka K5Y, Yokosuka D4Y, Aichi D3A, Aichi E16A, Kawanishi E7K, Kawanishi N1K and its land-based derivative, the N1K-J, Mitsubishi J2M, Mitsubishi F1M2, in addition to the Mitsubishi A6M Zero and its floatplane derivative, the Nakajima A6M2-N. The Type 97 also has been used by the ground troops with modification by adding bipod and spade grip. Indonesian Republican forces used ex-Japanese Type 97s for ground use during the Indonesian National Revolution.