Type 99 Light Machine Gun captured by the 31/51 Infantry Battalion

The Type 99 light machine gun is an automatic gas operated weapon. All metal construction apart from the wooden butt, pistol grip and carry handle. The gas system utilises a long stroke piston located below the barrel. A manual gas regulator with five settings is attached to the barrel. The locking system features a tilting bolt locking block located in the receiver below the bolt and operated by an inclined surface on the gas piston rod. The barrel is heavily finned and can easily be removed for replacement or maintenance. A folding wood and metal carrying handle is attached to the barrel for easy barrel change. Feed is from a curved 30 round staggered box magazines inserted from the top of the receiver. The magazine housing is fitted with a top opening dust cover. Firing controls include a single trigger and a manual safety, located on the left side, in front of the trigger guard. Standard furniture includes a folding bipod attached to the gas block, a pistol grip and a wooden butt with a steel butt plate. The Type 96 light machine gun has a bayonet lug fitted to the barrel for fitting a standard Arisaka Type 30 infantry bayonet which can be attached to the gas block below the barrel. Standard sights are of the open type offset to the left to clear the overhead magazine and calibrated up to 1,500 meters. There is provision for a 2.5 x magnification telescopic sight to be, which attached is also offset to the left. The action is stamped with the Kokura Arsenal mark, the serial number and 17.11 (1942 November). The quick change air cooled barrel is machine turned for the complete length and has a carry handle near the breech end. The weapon is complete with a bipod on the recoil piston tube and an adjustable monopod on the toe of the butt.

This gun was captured at Nauru Island by the 31/51 Infantry Battalion in September 1945 and donated by 2 Military History Field Team per SS Marella. The Type 99 machine gun was a development of the Type 96 machine gun. The primary difference was the adoption of the 7.7 mm rimless cartridge and the addition of a folding monopod attached to the rear of the butt plate.