TERA rifles (挺進 落下 傘 小 銃 ／ 挺身 落下 挺進 小 銃 "Teishin Rakkasan Shyoujyu") are special rifles designed for paratroopers of the Imperial Japanese Army and paratroopers of the Navy . All options could either be folded up or easily assembled and disassembled. In total, three types of such rifles were created.
Content
Type 0
Type 0 (aka Type 100) - created in 1940 based on the design of the German collapsible Karabiner 98k Fallschirmjäger . The base for the alteration was the Type 99 rifle.
All the main parts of the bolt , bolt cover, magazine , sight with flip-up viewfinders, monoscale, swivels, bayonet mount type 30 were taken without changes. The stock is divided into two parts. In order to disassemble the rifle in the lower part of the connection between the barrel and the receiver, a stopper button was pressed on the bed (from turning in the assembled state) and the barrel turning in the cracker connection was separated from the receiver . After 100–200 shots were fired, sediment and chipping of the surfaces of the threaded joints occurred, after 500 shots the barrel shut became more than noticeable and was no longer safe for operating a rifle. [one]
A total of 500 copies were produced for military trials. [2]
Type 1
Type 1 was designed for ground forces airborne troops (Teysin Südan). Based on cavalry carbine Type 38.
In general, copying the mechanism of Karabiner 98k "Klappschaft", at the same time it did not disassemble into two parts, but took shape.
Butt folded into the transport position on the metal loop on the right side. Fixation in the folded position is not, it was supposed to drop with a case tied to the leg. In the unfolded position, the butt is locked with a simple hook and clamped with a wing nut. The backlash of the joint was present initially, a relatively weak 6.5 mm Japanese cartridge on the back shook the structure even more. Carabiners were issued to parachutists sporadically up to 1945 . [3]
In general, the arsenal in Nagoya in 1941 for military tests produced about 250-300 such carbines.
Type 2
Type 2 - redesigned rifle Type 99 . Created due to unsatisfactory characteristics of Type 0.
When constructing without changes, all the main parts of the Type 99 rifle were taken — the bolt , bolt cover, magazine, sight with fold-over sight, monoscale, unings, bayonet mount. In comparison with Type 0, the connection method was completely reworked, completely abandoning the loaded dry joint, an effective way of connecting the receiver and the barrel unit using a transverse bolt was introduced. This method was successfully used on a quick-detachable connection of a superheated barrel on Type 96 and Type 99 light machine guns.
To disassemble the carabiner on the right side, a transverse bolt wedge with several turns of coarse thread is unscrewed. A D-half ring is installed on the head of the bolt to exclude the loss of the bolt (by tying it to the bed with a chain or cord). Bolt partially or completely removed from the channel in the box. The receiver unit is pulled forward. This type of connection proved to be more reliable, individual rifles withstand up to 3000-5000 shots with a minimum of shat. The wear of the bolt channel and the wedge bolt itself could be eliminated by selecting a spare with a minimum clearance. [four]
Comparative characteristics
| Sample | Type 0 | Type 1 | Type 2 |
| Cartridge | 7.7 × 58 mm Arisaka | 6.5 × 50 mm Arisaka | 7.7 × 58 mm Arisaka |
| Mass of weapon, gr, without a bayonet with bayonet | 3900 4300 | 3950 4,000 | 3950 4340 |
| The length of the weapon, mm, without a bayonet with bayonet Folded | 1120 mm 1520 723 | 970 mm 1360 665 | 1115 mm 1515 711 |
| Barrel length, mm | 657 | 480 | 645 |
| Store capacity cartridges | five | five | five |
| Fighting rate of fire shots / min | 15-30 | 15-30 | 15-30 |
| Sighting range limit, m | 1500 | 2000 | 1500 |
In popular culture
- The Type 2 rifle was used as a sniper rifle by the serial killer Scorpion in the 1971 film “Dirty Harry” .
- The Type 2 rifle appears in the 1962 film The Manchurian Candidate as a two-part sniper rifle of the Soviet Army . [five]