Type (designation)

Last updated

The word "type" followed by a number is a common way to name a weapon or product in a production series, similar in meaning to "mark". "Type" was used extensively by the Japanese and Chinese militaries beginning in the 1920s, and is still in current use by the militaries of both nations. The United Kingdom uses a type number system for much of their military equipment. Many other nations use the word "type" to designate products in a series.

Contents

Japan

The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) began using the Type-Number System in 1921 to designate aircraft accepted for production. The numbers used after the word "Type" were based on the number of years that the Emperor Taishō had reigned. Since his reign began in 1912, an aircraft ordered into production in 1921 would have been called "Type 10", the tenth year of the emperor's reign. At the end of 1926, the emperor died, leaving his son Hirohito as the Emperor Shōwa, and the numbering system was reset to mark the new emperor's reign. [1]

The Mitsubishi A6M Zero was ordered into production in 1940 as the Type 0 Carrier Fighter. Zero Akagi Dec1941.jpg
The Mitsubishi A6M Zero was ordered into production in 1940 as the Type 0 Carrier Fighter.

In 1929, the government of Japan adopted a new system based on the imperial year. [1] Aircraft ordered for production from 1929 onward were assigned the last two digits of the year marking the continuity of Japanese emperors. 1929 was the 2589th imperial year, so aircraft ordered that year were designated "Type 89". 1940 was the 2600th year, and the IJN numbering system was reset to single digits. New aircraft were designated 0 (zero). The well-known Mitsubishi A6M Zero was ordered into production in 1940 as the IJN "Type 0 Carrier Fighter" (Rei shiki Kanjō sentōki, 零式艦上戦闘機), and was popularly called the "Zero" because of its type. [1]

In 1943, the designation system was abandoned by the IJN as it was considered too revealing about the nature of the aircraft. In its place, the aircraft were named with popular terms such as Kyōfū (強風 "Strong Wind") for the Kawanishi N1K introduced in 1943. [2]

The Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) began using the Type designation system in 1927, for all weapons, vehicles, military equipment, subassemblies and subsystems such as engines and gunmounts. In 1940, instead of resetting to zero, the IJA assigned "Type 100" to equipment put into production that year. In 1941, the IJA reset to "Type 1". Unlike the IJN, the IJA continued to use the system through 1945 with the production of the Kawasaki Ki-100 Army Type 5 Fighter. [3]

After 1945, Japan's military changed to a numbering system based on the Japanese fiscal year which begins on April 1 in the same manner as the British fiscal year. As an example, "Type 63" was the designation for equipment such as the Type 63 AT mine accepted in 1963. [4]

The kanji character shiki (式) is what the Japanese use to designate products in a series. The English language translation of shiki has been variously given as "model" or "type". [5] Some manuals and texts have translated shiki as both "model" and "type" within the same publication, confusing the matter. World War II-era military dictionaries do not give shiki as the Japanese word for "model"—instead, the kanji character kata is given. In turn, kata (型 or 形) is translated as "form", "type", "pattern", "mark", or "model". The only Japanese language translation given for the English word "type" is shiki. [5]

People's Republic of China

Chinese weapons and military vehicles are often, but not always, designated according to the Gregorian calendar, the one used by most nations. Two digits are used to designate the year. The two digits appear first, followed by the character shi, meaning "type". [6] As examples, in 1956, the Type 56 assault rifle was put into production, and the Type 64 pistol was designed and approved in 1964.

Republic of China (Taiwan)

The Republic of China military uses a type designation system for domestically produced small arms, light weapons, and gun based artillery. The designation of the weapon, instead of using the literal word "type", is marked with a "T" with a subsequent number corresponding to the Republic of China year (民國; Minguo) the design was finalized or had its prototype completed. As an example, the domestic Type 65 assault rifle (65式步槍) is designated T65 and had its design finalized in 1976 (Minguo year 65). [7] The T75 squad automatic weapon, based on the FN Minimi, had its prototype completed in 1986 (Minguo year 75) and designated as such; but was continuously improved and until the design was finalized in 1992. [8] For weapons that are copied or produced under license, the Minguo year of which it is ready for production is used; as in the case of the T57, a copy of the M14 rifle and the Type 24 Zhongzheng Rifle, a copy of the Mauser Standardmodell during the Second Sino Japanese War

United Kingdom

The Royal Navy uses a type number system where blocks of numbers are reserved for specific purposes. For instance, the block 900–999 was given to naval radar sets beginning in 1945 and continuing for roughly 20 years. Numbers are not always sequential, as the Type 992 target indication radar was developed long before the Type 967 target designation radar. When a reserved block has been fully utilized, another is assigned. [9]

See also

Related Research Articles

The Japanese military aircraft designation systems for the Imperial period (pre-1945) had multiple designation systems for each armed service. This led to the Allies' use of code names during World War II, and these code names are still better known in English-language texts than the real Japanese names for the aircraft. A number of different schemes were simultaneously in use.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Special Naval Landing Forces</span> Naval infantry of the Imperial Japanese Army

The Special Naval Landing Forces were naval infantry units of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) and were a part of the IJN Land Forces. They saw extensive service in the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Pacific theatre of World War II.

The Type 97 automatic cannon is a 20-millimeter (0.79 in) Japanese anti-tank rifle that began development in the 1930s. It was used by the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) during the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Soviet–Japanese border conflicts and the Pacific War. Ever-greater thicknesses of armour on tanks rendered the Type 97 obsolete by about 1942. This weapon was not related to the Type 97 heavy tank machine gun used in armored vehicles or the Type 97 aircraft machine gun used in Japanese Navy aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Type 11 75 mm AA gun</span> Anti-aircraft gun

The Type 11 75 mm anti-aircraft gun was an anti-aircraft gun used by the Imperial Japanese Army after World War I. The Type 11 designation was given to this gun as it was accepted in the 11th year of Emperor Taishō's reign (1922). It was the first anti-aircraft gun in Japanese service, but only a small number were produced, and it was superseded by the Type 14 10 cm gun and the Type 88 75 mm gun in active service before the start of World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Type 14 10 cm AA gun</span> Imperial Japanese Army anti-aircraft gun

The Type 14 10 cm AA gun was an anti-aircraft gun used by the Imperial Japanese Army after World War I. The Type 14 number was designated for the year the gun was accepted, the 14th year of Emperor Taishō's reign, 1929 in the Gregorian calendar. Only a small number were produced, and it was superseded by the Type 88 75 mm AA gun in production before the start of World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Type 99 rifle</span> Bolt-action rifle

The Type 99 rifle or Type 99 short rifle was a bolt-action rifle of the Arisaka design used by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Ke</span> 1943 Japanese withdrawal from Guadalcanal in WWII

Operation Ke was the largely successful withdrawal of Japanese forces from Guadalcanal, concluding the Guadalcanal Campaign of World War II. The operation took place between 14 January and 7 February 1943, and involved both Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) and Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) forces under the overall direction of the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters (IGH). Commanders of the operation included Isoroku Yamamoto and Hitoshi Imamura.

The Type 97 heavy tank machine gun was the standard machine gun used in tanks and armored vehicles of the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II, a heavy machine gun by infantry forces, This weapon was not related to the Type 97 aircraft machine gun used in several Japanese Navy aircraft including the Mitsubushi A6M Zero, or the Type 97 automatic cannon used as an anti-tank rifle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">T65 assault rifle</span> Assault rifle

The T65 is a rifle developed and manufactured by the Combined Logistics Command of the Republic of China Armed Forces in Taiwan. Originally patterned after the Armalite AR-18 that has a short-stroke gas system, the prototype unveiled in 1975 showed a rifle that is heavily influenced by the AR-15 family of rifles, albeit with modified iron sights, a reshaped stock, and redesigned handguards. The designated number '65' refers to the Year 65 of Republic of China (1976), the year the rifle's design was finalized. Upgraded versions were designated the Type 65K2 and Type 65K3.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark (designation)</span> Method of designating a version of a product

The word mark, followed by number, is a method of designating a version of a product. It is often abbreviated as Mk or M. This use of the word possibly originates from the use of physical marks made to measure height or progress. Furthermore, by metonymy the word mark is used to note a defined level of development or a model number.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">6.5×50mmSR Arisaka</span> Japanese military rifle cartridge

The 6.5x50mmSR Arisaka is a semi-rimmed rifle cartridge with a 6.5 mm diameter bullet. It was the standard Japanese military cartridge from 1897 until the late 1930s for service rifles and machine guns when it was gradually replaced by the 7.7×58mm Arisaka.

The Type 99 Mark 1 machine gun and Type 99 Mark 2 machine gun were Japanese versions of the Oerlikon FF and Oerlikon FFL autocannons respectively. They were adopted by the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) in 1939 and served as their standard aircraft autocannon during World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aichi Atsuta</span>

The Aichi AE1A Atsuta was a Japanese licensed version of the German Daimler-Benz DB 601A 12-cylinder liquid-cooled inverted-vee aircraft engine. The Atsuta powered only two models of Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service (IJNAS) aircraft in World War II. The Imperial Japanese Army Air Service (IJAAS) used the same engine to power its Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien fighter. The IJNAS's Atsuta and its IJAAS cousin, the Ha-40 were based on the engine that powered Germany's Messerschmitt Bf 109E fighter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nakajima Ki-6</span> Japanese transport aircraft

The Nakajima Ki-6 was a licensed-produced version of the Fokker Super Universal transport built by Nakajima Aircraft Company in the 1930s. Initially used as an airliner, the militarized version was used by the Imperial Japanese Army in a variety of roles, ranging from medical evacuation to transport and training aircraft. It was used extensively in combat zones in Manchukuo and in China during the Second Sino-Japanese War.

Type 3 submergence transport vehicle Vehicle used for transportation

The Type 3 submergence transport vehicle was a class of transport submarines built for the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) during World War II. The IJA called them Maru Yu (マルゆ).

<i>No.101</i>-class landing ship

The No.101-class landing ships were a class of amphibious assault ships of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) and Imperial Japanese Army (IJA), serving during and after World War II. The No.101 class ships were powered by diesel engines, while the similar No.103-class landing ships were powered by a steam turbine engine. The IJN called them 2nd class transporter. The No.103 class included the IJA's SB craft variant. This article handles them collectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">15 cm/50 41st Year Type</span> Naval gun, coastal defence

The 15 cm/50 41st Year Type gun was a naval gun used by the Imperial Japanese Navy before and during World War II. It had a 152 millimetres (6.0 in) bore with a length of 7.6 metres (25 ft) and fired 45.4 kilograms (100 lb) shell for a distance of 18,000 metres (20,000 yd) or 21,000 metres (23,000 yd). The gun was first used in single casemates on the Kongō-class battlecruisers and Fusō-class battleships and later in the Agano-class light cruisers in twin mountings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">12.7 cm/40 Type 89 naval gun</span> Naval gun

The 12.7 cm/40 Type 89 naval gun was a Japanese anti-aircraft (AA) gun introduced before World War II. It was the Imperial Japanese Navy's standard heavy AA gun during the war.

Japanese aero-engines for military aircraft were given a wide variety of designations depending on the customer. This led to much confusion, particularly among the Allied forces, where a single engine type could have up to six different designations. This situation emerged because of the almost total lack of co-operation in weapons procurement between the IJAAS and the IJNAS.

The Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service was under the control of the Navy Aviation Bureau.

References

Footnotes
  1. 1 2 3 Peattie, Mark R. (2007). Sunburst: The Rise of Japanese Naval Air Power 1909–1941. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. pp. 302–303. ISBN   978-1-59114-664-3.
  2. ↑ Jane, Frederick Thomas. Jane's all the world's aircraft, Volume 34, p. 155c, Jane's Information Group, 1945
  3. ↑ Rickard, J. (2008) History of War. Japanese Army Air Force Designations of the Second World War. Retrieved on December 8, 2009.
  4. ↑ Friedman, 1997, p. xl, "Prefatory Notes".
  5. 1 2 Easterly, William M. P. (June 2009). "Model/Type". Dragons of Fire. Archived from the original on 27 February 2012. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  6. ↑ Blasko, Dennis J. The Chinese Army today: tradition and transformation for the 21st century, p. 122. Routledge, 2006. ISBN   0-415-77003-3
  7. ↑ "T65 | Weaponsystems.net". old.weaponsystems.net. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
  8. ↑ "聯勤205廠參訪". 2001-08-13. Archived from the original on 2001-08-13. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
  9. ↑ Friedman, 1997, p. xli, "Prefatory Notes".
Bibliography
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.