Type 14 10 cm AA Gun

Japanese Type 14 10cm AA gun
Type 14 10 cm AA gun
Type	Anti-aircraft gun
Place of origin	Empire of Japan
Service history
In service	1925-1945
Used by	Imperial Japanese Army
Wars	Second Sino-Japanese War World War II
Production history
Designed	1925
Number built	70
Specifications
Weight	5.194 ton
Barrel length	4.2 m (13 ft 9 in) L/40
Caliber	100 mm (3.9 in)
Barrels	single
Breech	sliding
Recoil	hydropneumatic
Elevation	0° to +85°
Traverse	360°
Muzzle velocity	700 m/s (2,300 ft/s)
Effective firing range	10,500 m (34,400 ft)
Maximum firing range	16,500 m (54,100 ft)

The Type 14 10 cm AA gun (十四年式10cm高射砲, Jyūyonen-shiki jissenchi Koshahō^?) was an anti-aircraft gun used by the Imperial Japanese Army after World War I. The Type 14 number was designated for the year the gun was accepted,the 14th year of Emperor Taishō's reign, 1929 in the Gregorian calendar. Only a small number were produced, and it was superseded by the Type 88 75 mm AA gun in production before the start of World War II.

Due to combat experience at the Battle of Tsingtao against the German Luftstreitkrafte’s fledgling squadron of combat aircraft, planners on the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff quickly realized that this new technology posed a threat which required countermeasures. This evaluation was further reinforced by reports from military observers on the European front in World War I.

After the introduction of the Type 11 75 mm AA gun into front-line combat service, the Imperial Japanese Army quickly realized that it was underpowered and lacked the range necessary for civil defense of Japanese cities from enemy air raids. A larger version, designated the Type 14 10 cm AA gun was placed into production in 1925. However, it was expensive to produce and lacked accuracy. Only 70 units were completed before production was terminated.