Murata rifle
| Murata rifle | |
|---|---|
 Type 22 Murata repeating rifle | |
| Type | Bolt-action service rifle |
| Place of origin |  Japan |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Empire of Japan |
| Wars | First Sino-Japanese War Boxer Rebellion Russo-Japanese War World War I |
| Production history | |
| Produced | 1880–1905 |
| Variants | Type 13 Type 16 Type 18 Type 22 Type 22 carbine civilian |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 4.09kg |
| Length | 1294mm |
| Barrel length | 840mm |
| Cartridge | 11×60mmR Murata 8×53mmR Murata |
| Caliber | 11mm 8mm |
| Action | Bolt action |
| Muzzle velocity | 435m/s |
| Feed system | Single-Shot (Type 13, Type 16, Type 18, and civilian models) 8, 5-round tube magazine (Type 22, Type 22 carbine) |
The Murata rifle (村田銃, Murata jyū) was the first indigenously produced Japanese service rifle adopted in 1880 as the Meiji Type 13 Murata single-shot rifle.[1] The 13 referred to the adoption date, the year 13 in the Meiji period according to the Japanese calendar.
Development
The development of the weapon was lengthy as it involved the establishment of an adequate industrial structure to support it.[2] Before producing local weapons, the early Imperial Japan Army had been relying on various imports since the time of the Boshin War, and especially on the French Chassepot, the British Snider-Enfield and the Spencer repeating rifle.[2] This was about 300 years after Japan developed its first guns, derived from Portuguese matchlock designs, the Tanegashima or "Nanban guns".
The combat experience of the Boshin War emphasized the need for a standardized design, and the Japanese Army was impressed with the metallic-cartridge design of the French Gras rifle. The design was invented by Major Murata Tsuneyoshi, an infantry officer in the Japanese Imperial Army.[3] Adopted in Emperor Meiji's thirteenth year of reign, the rifle was designated as the model 13 and went into production as the 11-millimeter Type 13 single-shot, bolt-action rifle in 1880.[4]
Superficial improvements such as components, bayonet lugs, and minor configurations led to the redesignation of the Type 13 to the Type 18 rifle in 1885. Further modifications in the same year involving both tubular and box magazines led to the Type 22 rifle, which used a tubular magazine and was reduced to caliber 8mm. The Type 22 was the first Japanese military rifle to utilize smokeless powder and entered military service in 1889.[5]
Three models of bayonets were produced for the rifles: Type 13 and Type 18 which were used with the single-shot variants and Type 22 which were compatible with the repeater variants.
Usage
The Murata rifle was the standard infantry weapon of the Imperial Japanese Army during the First Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895) and in the Boxer Rebellion. The Imperial Japanese Army was quick to recognize that the design of even the improved Type 22 version of the Murata rifle had many technical issues and flaws. Following the combat experience of the First Sino-Japanese War, a decision was made to replace it with the Arisaka Type 30 rifle, which had been designed in 1898, and which also used the more modern smokeless powder. The rifle performed well in any situation and terrain. However, due to insufficient production, many of the reserve infantry units sent to the front-lines during the latter stages of the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905 continued to be equipped with the Murata Type 22 rifle.[6]
Variants
- Type 13 (1880) preliminary model (11×60mmR). Bolt action, single-shot.
- Type 16 (1883) carbine (11×60mmR). Derived from Type 13, structurally identical.
- Type 18 (1885) final version (11×60mmR). Improved internal mechanisms and ergonomics.[7]
- Type 22 (1889) smaller caliber repeater (8×53mmR). Tube magazine, capacity of eight rounds.[7]
- Type 22 carbine (1889) carbine variant of original Type 22 (8×53mmR). Tube magazine holds five rounds.
- Civilian models (various) usually retired Type 13s and Type 18s; were commonly converted to bolt action shotguns via omission of bayonet lugs and rifling.
See also
References
- ^ "Japanese MURATA Type 13 (M.1880)". MilitaryRifles.com. 2008-08-28. Retrieved 2009-07-19.
- ^ a b Rifles of the World John Walter, p.88
- ^ Honeycutt & Anthony p. 8
- ^ Honeycutt & Anthony p. 8
- ^ Honeycutt & Anthony p. 16
- ^ Kowner, Rotem (2006). Historical Dictionary of the Russo-Japanese War. Scarecrow. ISBN 0-8108-4927-5. p. 247.
- ^ a b Rifles David Westwood, p.370
- Honeycutt Jr., Fred L. and Anthony, Patt F. Military Rifles of Japan. Fifth Edition, 2006. Julin Books, U.S.A. ISBN 0-9623208-7-0.
External links
