Sumitomo Type 62
| Sumitomo NTK-62 | |
|---|---|
 Type 62 Machine Gun on display | |
| Type | General purpose machine gun |
| Place of origin | Japan |
| Service history | |
| In service | February 15, 1962[1]–present |
| Used by | Japan |
| Wars | Cold War Iraq War |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Masaya Kawamura |
| Designed | 1954 |
| Manufacturer | Sumitomo Heavy Industries |
| Unit cost | ¥2,000,000 (c. 1985)[2] |
| Produced | 1962–present |
| Variants | See Variants |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 10.15 kg (22.38 lb) |
| Length | 1,200 mm (47.2 in) [3] |
| Barrel length | 546 mm (21.5 in) |
| Cartridge | 7.62×51mm NATO |
| Action | Gas-operated |
| Rate of fire | 650 RPM[4] |
| Maximum firing range | 1,000 m 1,500 m (with bipod) |
| Feed system | Belt-fed[5] |
| Sights | Iron sights |
The Sumitomo NTK-62[6] (62式7.62mm機関銃, Rokuni-shiki Nana-ten-rokuni-miri Kikanjū) is the standard issue general-purpose machine gun of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. It's also known as the Type 62 7.62mm Machine Gun or the Type 62 GPMG.[7]
When first issued, it fulfilled both light and medium machine gun support throughout the JGSDF. Though the Sumitomo Heavy Industries' M249 firing the smaller 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge has largely replaced it in the light machine gun role at the squad level in the JGSDF,[8][9] the Type 62 still plays the support role at platoon and company level for the infantry as a medium machine gun firing the more powerful 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge. It also continues to be used as a co-axial weapon in various armored vehicles, including tanks and APCs.
Like all modern Japanese-made firearms, it was never exported.[3]
History
[edit]After years of using the Browning M1919A4 as its standard GPMG during the early days of founding the Japan Self-Defense Forces, NTK-62 GPMG was designed at Nittoku Metal Industry (NTK) in order to market it as the M1919's successor.[10] The GPMG was made to meet the requirements of the Japanese Defense Agency.[1]
The designation "62" was present due to the fact that first batches of the NTK-62 were made in 1962 after development started in 1954.[2] It was specifically adopted on February 15, 1962, effectively replacing the M1919 Browning machine gun in JGSDF service.[1]
In 2013, SHI was involved in a scandal where NTK-62 test data was falsified on purpose for 5,350 machine guns produced from 1974.[11]
Design
[edit]The Sumitomo NTK-62 is a gas operated machine gun chambered in the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge, belt fed with the use of M13 disintegrating links.[3] Pressed metal was used in parts of the machine gun during manufacturing in order to reduce overall weight.[10] While normal 7.62 NATO ammo is used, a version with reduced powder charge is also used.[10]
It has an unusual feed tray as the pivoting lever is above the bolt in the receiver, rather than in the feed tray cover found on most machine guns.[citation needed]
The design was done based on physique of the Japanese person who would be expected to handle the machine gun.[12]
Variants
[edit]Type 74
[edit]The Type 74 (74式車載7.62mm機関銃, Nanayon-shiki Shasai Nana-ten-rokuni-miri Kikanjū) is a fixed mount variant for AFV use, including the Type 74, Type 90 and Type 10 MBTs, Mitsubishi Type 89 IFV and the Komatsu Type 87 Reconnaissance Vehicle.[13]
It weighs 20.4 kg (45.0 lb), unlike the Type 62 which weighs 10.15 kg (22.4 lb).[14]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c 62式機関銃 (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2009-02-08. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
- ^ a b 機関銃関係 (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2008-12-24. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
- ^ a b c "Modern Firearms' Type 62 machine gun". Archived from the original on 2009-01-19. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
- ^ "62式 7.62mm機関銃" (in Japanese). Retrieved 2011-05-01.
- ^ 62式 7.62ｍｍ機関銃 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2009-01-26.
- ^ "平成21年4月19日 陸上自衛隊高田駐屯地創設59周年記念行事 その3 | 日本警察特殊部隊愛好会（JP-SWAT / Japan Police Special Weapons and Tactics）".
- ^ "陸自の機関銃装備体制に穴がありすぎて不安な訳". 2 September 2021.
- ^ "陸上自衛隊装備 ６２式７.６２mm機関銃" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2012-07-21. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
- ^ ６２式７.６２mm機関銃 (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2009-11-20. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
- ^ a b c "62式7.62mm機関銃｜戦後初の国産機関銃｜陸上自衛隊装備品｜陸自調査団".
- ^ "防衛省が住友重を指名停止 機関銃のデータを改ざん". Reuters. 18 December 2013.
- ^ Elite Forces: Japan Ground Self-Defense Forces Edition. Page 107.
- ^ ７４式車載７．６２mm機関銃 (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2008-12-23.
- ^ "７４式車載7.62mm機関銃" (in Japanese). Retrieved 2009-01-26.
External links
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