Howa Type 96

Howa Type 96
Howa Type 96 AGL on display
TypeAutomatic grenade launcher
Place of originJapan
Service history
In service1996–present
Used byJapan
Production history
DesignerHowa[1]
ManufacturerHowa
Produced1996–present
Specifications
Mass24.5 kg[1]
Length975 mm[2]
Barrel length454 mm[2]
Cartridge40×56mm[3]
Caliber40 mm
ActionBlow forward
Rate of fire250-350 rpm[1]
Maximum firing range1500 m
Feed system50-grenades belt
SightsLadder

The Howa Type 96 automatic grenade launcher (AGL) (96式40mm自動てき弾銃, 96-shiki 40-miri jidōtekidanjū) is a Japanese automatic grenade launcher made by Howa since 1996.

History

With the need of a heavy fire support weapon in Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) service aside from the use of the Sumitomo Type 62 GPMG and the Sumitomo M2HB machine gun, Howa first created and produced the weapon in 1996.[4]

Use

The Type 96 AGL mounted on top of a Type 96 APC

The Howa Type 96 can be used by both infantry and armored vehicles, the former with a tripod and the latter by being placed on a weapon mount.[1] It is seen as one of the main weapons mounted on the Type 96 armored personnel carrier.[4][5]

Operational details

On the left side of the Type 96 is a feeding bay where the 40 mm grenades belt can be loaded onto the AGL.[6]

It can be placed on a tripod mount on the ground if required and can also be used as an anti-personnel and anti-armoured vehicle grenade by attaching a tripod mount. It uses a belt-linked feeding system and has single- and continuous-fire capabilities.For automatic reloading, a blow-forward system is used, in which the barrel is moved back and forth and loaded, rather than by a loose bottom.[7]

Ammunition is supplied from a magazine on the left side of the barrel.The type of ammunition used is Daikin Industries 40x56mm "40 mm anti-personnel and light armour-piercing round" (ammunition length 112 mm, weight 371 g), a multi-purpose grenade with moulded explosive. In addition, a '40 mm training round' is also available. It is not interchangeable with the 40x53 mm Mk 19 grenade launcher equipped by the AAV7 amphibious vehicle operated by the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force. [7][8]

A variant with an additional sight was introduced in the 2011 Fuji General Firepower Exercise. [7]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "96式 40mm自動てき弾銃" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2009-01-06. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  2. ^ a b "96式40mm自動てき(擲)弾銃" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2009-11-12. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
  3. ^ "96式40ｍｍ自動てき弾銃". Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  4. ^ a b 96式装輪装甲車 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  5. ^ "９６式40mm自動てき弾銃" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2008-06-20. Retrieved 2009-01-27.
  6. ^ ９６式４０mm自動てき弾銃 (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  7. ^ a b c 96式自動てき弾銃 荒木雅也 スピアヘッドNo.11 P80-85 アルゴノート社
  8. ^ 自衛隊装備年鑑 2006-2007 朝雲新聞社 P43 ISBN 4-7509-1026-0
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