Type 99 Machine Gun : Group Captain A G Grant, RAAF Technical Air Intelligence Unit.

The Type 99 light machine gun is an automatic gas operated weapon. The gas system utilises a long stroke piston located below the barrel. A manual gas regulator with five settings is attached to the barrel. A flash hider is attached to the muzzle of the barrel. The locking system features a tilting 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 carry 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. A rear folding monopod is attached under the butt stock. The Type 99 light machine gun has a bayonet lug fitted to the barrel to accommodate a standard Arisaka Type 30 infantry bayonet which can be attached to the gas block below the barrel. The rear sight is an adjustable open peep type offset to the left to clear the overhead magazine and calibrated up to 1,500 meters. The front sight is a protected post type offset to the left. There is provision for a 2.5 x magnification telescopic sight to be attached which is also offset to the left The bipod has been broken off the barrel bracket. A leather sling with three Japanese characters written in white paint and a box magazine are fitted to this weapon. Markings - Chuo Kogyo Kaisha Company Arsenal markings.

This gun was captured on the morning of 2nd July 1945, by 270313 Group Captain Gordon Grant, OBE of Queensland, who was of the Staff of RAAF Command with the RAAF Technical Air Intelligence Unit. Grant with other R.A.A.F. personal, were asked by an A.I.F. patrol to help clear a Japanese strong point during a critical stage of the battle for Balikpapan. The RAAF party went forward then came under rifle, mortar and machine-gun fire. The Japanese machine gunner was stalked and killed by Grant who souvenired this gun. It had been mounted high in a tree so as to sweep one of the smaller valleys. Further details are to be found on file 749/040/010 and this action is described in The Final Campaigns 1963, p.520. Dr Grant, OBE.