Anti Aircraft Sights

[PeterN2]

The Arisaka Type 99 rifle is unique in having a rear sight with aiming arms for use in shooting at aircraft. The T99 long rifle and T99 short rifle has slight variations in that the long rifle had slightly fatter double notched arms whereas the short fifle had thinner single notched arms. The numbers 1, 2 and 3 are aiming references for aircraft at 100, 200 or 300 MPH, or that is how I understand it.

A pic of the long rifle double notched arms

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0703/ ... _sight.jpg[/pic]

A pic of the short rifle single notched arms.

<img src=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0703/ ... tsight.jpg [/pic]

The short rifle in use with arms folded. No aircraft to shoot at that day

<img src=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0703/ ... NSALL2.jpg [/pic]

The T99 rifles are an interersting piece of history that is neglected in the UK.

Regards

Peter.

[Niner]

I have an Arisaka, but no airplane sights. Wonder how they figured out how fast the airplanes were going to know what mark to lead them with.

[riceone]

I have seen a picture of what looked like a platoon of Japanese soldiers lying on thier back with packs under head and shoulders with rifle raised and all pointing the same way with an office standing by. I gather from the photo that maybe the officer gave the sighting instructions. All the ladder sights were raised with arms extended. If the Japanese were like us, the soldier could identify each aircraft and they knew the speed so I guess it was not too bad a call. riceone.