Japanese Militaria at Castle-Thunder.com

[UBE Mechanic]

In 1941 and 1942, the Japanese captured thousands of enemy weapons. How much use did they get from them? I have head of them using captured Stewart tanks on Luzon and some Springfields, but what about the Enfields, Dutch Johnsons and other arms?

[gwsiii]

I'm not sure I've heard any more than that. I've seen some stuff converted to training rifles, and a few bayonets with Japanese markings. Chip and Gunnar are probably best equipped to share knowledge on that subject. Lets see what they say when they drop in. Trey
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[gwsiii]

Japanese Soldier in Manila from Life photo Feb. 1942 is that an 03 Springfield?

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[seinen]

[Francis C. Allan]

The Japanese used everything they captured. I understand that the 19th Div (?) in the PI was nearly entirely equiped with Allied equipment; M3 Stuarts, T-12 (Half tracks w 75s), Bren carriers (U.S. took them off a ship after Singapore surrendered), M1919 MMGs, etc. Dutch bolt-action rifles, Dutch Lugers, etc were also used in the NEI.

The Japanese were fanatical about using captured equipment long after ammo captured for them was depleted. They even issued a manual that described captured ammo they were using. I have a copy some place.

Frank
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Francis C. Allan
20Courtney Place
Palm Coast, FL 32137

(386) 445-4225

[Mike Rockhill]

There are known pics of japanese troops with springfield and enfield rifles. There are the modified dutch rifles, there are modified dutch short sword, converted to act as bayonets, converted standard dutch bayonets. all manner of things. I think there is a passage in "ordnance went up front" by roy dunlap where he mentions the japanese use of US weapons they had captured during the first phillipines battles early in the war. I think he specifically mentioned the only way at that point of the war (1944) to find US M1 ball (173gr boattail, not considered optimal for the garand so changed to the 150gr flatbase, M2 ball) was to find some recaptured from the japanese who used it in 1903 and 1917 rifles.
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Fat, Drunk,and Stupid is no way to go through life son.

[UBE Mechanic]

Thanks for the replies. I was well aware of the use of captured aircraft such as the C-47, but was wondering if they used the small arms due to the ammo shortages.
John

[Francis C. Allan]

Dear UBE Mechanic;

Actually the Japanese had licenses to build Lockeed Model 14s and DC-3s and they were pretty much their standard aircraft transports, although there were some domestic types as well. I do not know of any captured C-47/DC-3s that the Japanese used. Interesting area of history.

Frank
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Francis C. Allan
20Courtney Place
Palm Coast, FL 32137

(386) 445-4225

[gwsiii]

Didn't English speaking Germans, and or the Japanese also, land a captured plane on an allied airfield somewhere, refuel and take off again for their original destination?
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I didn't pay to much for that old Arisaka, I just bought it a little bit too soon!

[UBE Mechanic]

Frank,
While in Thailand in 1968, working on B-52D and KC-135 aircraft, I had an oppertunity to work on a C-47 that was rumored to have been used by the Japanese during WWII. I was told that all of the aircraft records prior to recapture were missing. Again, I have no proof and until then it remains just a story. I was aware of the Japanese built Taffy and the Lockheed aircraft. Didn't the Val dive bomber come from German designs which came from American designs?
John Davison

[gwsiii]

Here's some captured airplanes from J-aircraft.com. Scroll down to the bottom left side, I think I have a link to his main page on the links page.
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[Francis C. Allan]

Off of the top of my head the Japanese probably purchased a few complete aircraft as examples as they obtained their manufacturing licenses.

I think the rumors of Vals being updated American or German designs are untrue but their paying attention to our dive bombing concepts was true.

Frank
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Francis C. Allan
20Courtney Place
Palm Coast, FL 32137

(386) 445-4225

[kablam]

There was a show on the military channel not too long ago that told of the Japanese using the 30 cal machine guns they captured on Guam to defend the island later.

Mike

[DEFUC]

very cool aircraft site Trey,some really neat planes there,the japanese marked B-17 is pretty cool

[gwsiii]

I've got a book/thick magazine, nothing but Planes used by the Japanese.
May be the same one some of those pictures came from...
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I didn't pay to much for that old Arisaka, I just bought it a little bit too soon!