75 mm Type 88 (1928) Anti Aircraft Gun

The Japanese Type 88 (1928) 75 mm anti aircraft gun was the standard anti aircraft weapon of the Japanese Army during the Second World War. The breechblock is a horizontal sliding, semi-automatic design which opens on recoil and closes upon insertion of a shell. The recoil system is hydropneumatic. The gun is mounted on five folding outriggers. When towed, trail and outriggers are brought together and the barrel is run back on full recoil. In the fixed position, wheels are removed and the trail and outriggers opened. An additional outrigger is then attached. All legs are equidistant, making a five point base. Levelling of the base is effected by jacks attached to the end of each trail and outrigger.

The weapon has matching barrel, breech block and firing pin numbers. Japanese cyphers and factory numbers are present on the action parts - Showa 15 (1940). The breech is operational. Sight holding brackets are attached although they have sustained damage. The gun is missing sighting equipment. The weapon is painted in its original Japanese Army brown, yellow and green camouflage.

This gun was one of the several guns of the type which played a leading part in the fighting at Buna, Cape Endairdere and Sanananda during November to December 1942. The gun had a high muzzle velocity, making it suitable for use against ground targets, especially armour. It was used in defense of airfields against ground attack and as an anti aircraft and coast defence gun. Its advantage was all round traverse, but it had the disadvantage of limited mobility. The gun could fire 15 to 20 rounds per minute, to a maximum vertical range of 29,848 feet.