Type 97 Anti-aircraft predictor

Place Oceania: Pacific Islands, Bismarck Archipelago, New Britain
Accession Number REL43474
Collection type Technology
Object type Artillery accessory
Maker Japanese Armed Forces
Place made Japan
Date made c 1937-1945
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
Description

This device is a modified, late model plan prediction type of computer. It was most likely employed with the Japanese Type 88 (1928) 75 mm anti-aircraft gun. The director is normally provided with telescopes and with electric data receivers for azimuth, angular height, altitude and horizontal range prediction. This particular model has been upgraded by the addition of extra electrical data transmission equipment so as to provide more data input from the use of an external tracker such as a radar unit. The artifact is made primarily from metal, is square shaped and is bolted to a conical pedestal mount. There are numerous hand-operated wheel dials attached to analogue gauges that input ballistic information into the computer. There are additional electrical connections which would be used to relay tactical input from a tracking radar. There are a number of electrical components missing and the glass covers of some of the analogue dials are broken. Markings - Japanese operating instructions written on aluminium plates are attached to the processing unit of the predictor.

Translation:

1. Directional angle adjustment and tracking

" Turn the revolution-angle wheel and with the sight telescope adjust a sight [at the target].
" In case of receiving a directional angle from the visual guidance device (or the searchlight sight device), turn the revolution-angle handle to chase the standard needle (red) with the chasing needle (white) in the directional-angle meter.
(The revolution speed of the directional angle by turning the revolution-angle handle has two settings, high speed and low speed. If necessary, it is possible to modulate the speed, using the gear handle

2. Flight time tracking and fuse

Turn the flight-time-tracking handle to chase the standard needle (red) with the chasing needle (white) in the flight-time meter. Transmit the fuse running time by operating & fuse-running-time meter & the indicating needle. [Because of the paint covering part of the label, this section is not clear.]

History / Summary

The Japanese Type 97 anti-aircraft director was the standard ballistic computer used for anti-aircraft defence by the Imperial Japanese Army during the Second World War. This particular model was upgraded to accommodate the ever increasing speed of aircraft and also was given the capability to input ballistic tracking information from external radar units. The director was collected in New Britain after the Japanese surrender in September 1945.