From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Howa Type 89 Assault Rifle, referred to as
the 89式5.56mm小銃 (はちきゅうしきごうてんごうろくミリしょうじゅう,
hachikyuushiki goutengourokumiri syouzyuu
?),[5][6]
is a Japanese assault rifle used by the Japan Self-Defense
Forces,[6]
the Japan
Coast Guard's Special Security Team units,[6]
and the Special Assault Team. It was never
exported outside of Japan due to its strict anti-hardware export
laws. It is known in J.G.S.D.F service as
Buddy.[6][7]
It has replaced the Howa Type 64 battle rifle in frontline
units.
History
During the Vietnam
Conflict, the United States military
replaced the M14 with
the M16 for a variety of
reasons, one of the most important being the advantage of increased
rate of fire, light weight, and lower recoil of the 5.56x45mm NATO
round over the larger 7.62x51mm NATO round. Despite the fact
that this shortened the effective range of the average infantryman
during a firefight, the 5.56x45mm round (SS109) eventually became the
standard of ammunition type for all NATO member assault rifles. In
accordance with this, the Japanese
Defense Agency began development on their next generation
assault rifle to replace the 7.62x51mm Type 64 assault rifle after its 25-year
span of service.[6][3]
Development was handled primarily by Howa since it was already licensed to produce the
AR-180 version of the Armalite AR-18 rifle for commercial
purposes. In order to determine suitability of the rifle, it was
issued in limited numbers to the Japan Self-Defense Forces for
field testing purposes. After the data collected from the field
testing stage of the AR-18 was examined, formal development of the
next-generation assault rifle began with its designation as the
HR-16 (HR1604).[3] The
HR-15 was the first version of the experimental rifle that would
eventually become the Type 89, but was developed concurrently with
the HR-10, HR-11 and HR-13 by 1989.[3]
Features
J.G.S.D.F soldiers practice
CQB tactics at the Central
Training Area's combat town, armed with Type 89s.
J.G.S.D.F soldier of the 20th Infantry Regiment engages mock enemy
soldiers in the Ojojibara Maneuver Area in Sendai, Japan during
Exercise Forest Light 2004.
- One of the most advantageous features of the Type 89 rifle over
the Type 64 was the ability to ease the load on the individual
soldier in relation to the amount of ammunition that he could
carry. Also, due to the use of aluminum and thermoset plastic as opposed to the steel
and wood construction of the Type 64 rifle, the speed with which a
soldier could react to a threat was increased. The fixed stock
version of the rifle contains a storage space covered by a
rubberized cap that may be accessed by pulling the cap away from
the body for the rifle and rotating it in either direction.
Although the typical issue model is equipped with a fixed stock, a
small number of the steel tubing folding stock version were
produced for AFV crews and paratroopers.[6][8]
- It is believed that the rifle is at least as accurate as the
Type 64 rifle, but it has not been verified since the information
has not been released officially by the Defense Agency. The Type 89
rifle is equipped with an integrated bipod[9] as its
predecessor the Type 64 was in order to facilitate accuracy.
However, unlike the bipod on the Type 64, the version on the Type
89 is easily removable as it is clamped onto the barrel behind the
bayonet lug with a clothes-pin style spring mechanism and
retained with a lever-like lock. Also, the Type 89's handguard is
molded with inlets along its lower edges in order to accommodate
the legs of the bipod if they are folded inwards for storage.
- Fit and finish of the Type 89 was improved greatly over the
Type 64 due to the use of forged aluminum, molded thermoset
plastics and stamped steel manufacturing methods pioneered by the
processes used to produce the AR-18 and Heckler
& Koch G3 series rifle. Also, because the rifle was
designed from the beginning for the Japanese physique it shares the
ergonomic and weight advantages of the Type 64 rifle over similar
weapons of its type.
- The Type 89 was designed with simplified operation and minimal
number of parts due to the understanding that the complex structure
and large number of parts were responsible for the often defective
operation of the Type 64 rifle. Because of this, the cost of the
Type 89 rifle was roughly half that of the 870,000 yen Type 64
rifle in 1989. According to the Defense Agency, the unit cost of
the Type 89 rifle was reduced to about 340,000 yen by fiscal year
2005. Despite this, it is still considered too expensive for
general issue as the ideal price required by the Japanese
Government for general production is between 10,000 to 100,000 yen
per unit. This is further complicated because the procurement
method for the weapon is limited to single fiscal year accounting
and further reductions in manufacturing process costs are currently
non existent.
- Type 89 rifle ammunition is interchangeable with the 5.56x45mm
SS109/M855 round used by the U.S. Military and NATO.[10]
Along with the 7.62x51mm round used in the Type 64 rifle, this
allows for interchangeability with ammunition stockpiles of U.S.
forces stationed in Japan. Since the ammunition developed for the
Type 89 rifle is produced in Japan, it is head stamped with the sakura mark
of the Self Defense Forces instead of the typical NATO circle-cross
used on the SS109/M855 round.
- The Type 89 can accept magazines designed for the M16 series of
rifles.[10]
However, the magazine produced specifically for the Type-89 uses a
follower that has a special shape to hold the bolt open after the
final round is spent. If an M16 series magazine is used, the bolt
will not lock back after the final round is expended. The magazine
designed for the Type 89 also differs from ones produced for the
M16 because it has holes in the sides of the body to indicate if it
has been loaded with 30 or 20 rounds of ammunition. Unfortunately
this feature is considered a bit of a nuisance because it allows
sand and other foreign bodies to enter the magazine easily and
cause malfunctions in the operation of the weapon.
- Unlike the M16, the magazine well of the Type 89 is not beveled
or tapered to ease loading because the lower receiver is only
slightly wider than that of the magazine body. This is a point of
considerable dissatisfaction by S.D.F members since it was
discovered during recent urban combat training scenarios that it
increases the time it takes to reload the rifle under certain
combat situations.
- The selector switch is located on the right side of the lower
receiver and is often referred to as the "Atare 3," (アタレサン
Ataresan) referencing the different selection positions.
The markings and associated feature are as follows in functional
order:
- ア (Safe) → レ (Auto) → 3 (Three-Round Burst) → タ
(Semi) [11]
- Its 3-round burst feature is built separately from the rest, so
as to prevent the selector switch from being totally useless in
case it can't be used due to accident or a malfunction.[12]
- The bayonet manufactured
specifically for the Type 89 rifle can be used as a wire cutter by
connecting it to a lug on the scabbard. Furthermore, the end of the bayonet
scabbard can be used as a bottle opener. The US Military M9 bayonet may also be
affixed to the rifle.
- Special forces units of the J.G.S.D.F are
additionally issued a pressure switch activated targeting laser and flashlight which are
mounted on the barrel end of the weapon ahead of the front sight
assembly. Regular members of the Self-Defense Forces may also
obtain these, but must pay for them out of their own funds.
Recent
Improvements
A number of recent modifications have been made to the Type 89
due to the recent armed deployment to Iraq of J.S.D.F members as
well as an overall concern over counter-terrorist and possible
future combat deployments.
- In accordance with the "Iraq Revival Support Law on Special
Measures on Land for the U.S. Military" (イラク復興支援特措法) or the
"Self-Defense Forces Iraq Dispatch Law," a selector switch has been
manufactured and installed on the left hand side of the lower
receiver for ambidextrous use for rifles issued to J.S.D.F members
in Iraq.[11]
However, this is only a temporary modification and the rifle must
be returned to its original state (with the selector switch on the
right side only) when it is returned to Japan.
- In 2004, J.S.D.F elements that had the possibility of seeing
combat were issued an optic (an unmagnified red
dot sight) with their Type 89 along with a mounting bracket in
order to decrease target acquisition time.[10]
However, since the use of the sight is still in its provisional
stage individual J.S.D.F members are expected to purchase their own
commercially available model for use in a possible combat theater.
Among the commonly used optics include the MD-33 manufactured by
Tasco Optics Japan under license.[13]
- During the initial deployment in Iraq, J.S.D.F elements that
had the possibility of seeing combat (for example the Western Army
Infantry Regiment) were issued a removable foregrip and a 25 mm Weaver
rail was installed under the front handguards of their Type 89s
to accommodate it. Shortly afterwards, the restriction was lifted
and all units began to receive foregrips despite common complaints
about damage to the handguards that were caused by the mount.
- A three-point sling was issued to
J.S.D.F elements that had the possibility of seeing combat due to
the positive testimonials of various international military and
police forces.[6]
Individual J.S.D.F members were also allowed to purchase their own
commercially available models for their own use if they
wished.
- Overall, individual J.S.D.F members that were not issued combat
based improvements to their Type 89 rifles were allowed to purchase
and install commercially available accessories at their own
convenience. Nevertheless, those that had the accessories issued to
them were required to reimburse their quartermasters from their own
pay.
Variants
The only variant of the Type 89 is the Type
89-F rifle, which has a folding stock with the original
Type 89 having a solid stock.[14] The
former has been referred to as the Type 89
Para.[10]
References
Bibliography
- Hogg, Ian (2000). Jane's Guns
Recognition Guide Second Edition. Glasgow: Janes. ISBN
0-00-472453-4.
See also
External
links
Japan
Wikis
Quiz
Map
Search