Japanese 13.2mm Hotchkiss WWII Anti-Aircraft Display Gun Original Items

Original Item: The famous 13.2 mm Hotchkiss machine gun was a heavy machine gun designed and manufactured by Hotchkiss et Cie from the late 1920s until World War II where it saw service with various nation’s forces, most notably JAPAN.

IMA is pleased to offer our BATF approved non-firing Hotchkiss 13.2mm Display Heavy Machine Gun constructed using the original steel receiver (Re-welded to BATF specs.) Used by Germany as well as Japan in various configurations including barrel weight, and finning, left or right feed and mount types. We are offering the model illustrated with finned barrel and flash eliminator. Each Gun is fitted with a spare grip assembly and comes complete with one giant 13.2mm straight box magazine.

Perhaps the most impressive Display MG we have ever offered!

History of the 13.2-mm Hotchkiss:

Development

In the late 1920s, Hotchkiss proposed a range of anti-aircraft automatic weapons in the 13.2, 25 and 37 mm calibres. They were all based on the same type of gas-operated action than the 8 mm mle 1914 machine gun, that had proven extremely reliable during World War I and was still in service. Hotchkiss also advertised the 13.2 mm machine gun as an infantry weapon, that could be fitted on conventional tripods and be used against light armour. French infantry commanders, that had expressed interest in acquiring light anti-aircraft guns, refused the 13.2 mm. They argued that those heavy bullets falling down could be dangerous to friendly troops, and went to larger calibres where self-destructing shells were available. But the 13.2 mm Hotchkiss saw extensive use as a naval gun, and was also chosen by the French cavalry for some of its armoured vehicles.

When used as a naval weapon-

Early in World War II, the French and Japanese navies were using twin and quadruple mountings on many of their warships. French warships that were refitted in the USA in 1943, such as battleship Richelieu or destroyer Le Terrible, had their 13.2 mm machine guns replaced by more efficient Oerlikon 20 mm cannons.

When used a ground weapon-

The 13.2 mm Hotchkiss was used on the, Belgian T15 and French AMR 35, light tanks as well as the AMD Laffly 80 AM armoured car and on fortifications. In WWII the Japanese mounted of the gun on a number of Type 92 Heavy Armoured Cars which had initially only been armed with only a pair of 6.5mm machine guns.

When used as a Anti-Aircraft weapon-

The Japanese used a single mounting for close-range defense of its airfields and other strategic places.

Specifications:

Weight: 37.5 kg (83 lbs) single gun, stripped

Length: 1.67 metres (5 ft 6 in)

Barrel length: 1 metre (3 ft 3 in)