I can understand for when they where doing the Banzai attacks, but even Type-100 had a bayonet lug and so did the Type-99. They are automatic weapons, why would they need one?

Believe it is the link to the ancient Samuri tradition where upon only "noble birth" people could legally own "blades" of killing potential. This made the idea of "cold steel" as a weapon hightly thought of in the culture of the Japanese military. It also gave the conscripted farmer's son a direct "tie" to the tradition of the warriors of his ancestor's legends.

It would seem to me that it was more a psycological weapon, on both the receiving and giving ends than a truly functional weapon in some instances. But then again, we had bayonet lugs on a few of our (Allied) weapons as well, which would seem "out of place".

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Happy Trails,
Clint.

For some reason I'm imagining a tank with a bayonet lug.

The Japanese tanks were rather small, but I don't see one of them considered a hand-held weapon by any stretch!

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Happy Trails,
Clint.

Think of it more as a can-opener for close-range tank battles.

(Yes, I know it's American, but Japanese WWII tank barrels are too short).

Attached Images

tank-bayonet.jpg (26.0 KB, 50 views)

Only Marine Corps tanks have bayonet lugs. Actually I think everything in the Marine Corps has the abilty to accept bayonets; even the bayonets and salt shakers.

I agree with Clint, its all about the Bushido

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"Logos, Philos, Arete"

I disagree. It's not so much psychological towards themselves, but towards the enemy. Their Banzai charges were actually kinda feared, not easily mowed down like in the video games. Also the jungle warfare gave them plenty more chance to use the bayonet than the European plain might. As for the submachine guns, I guess they were planning ahead for when they would run out of ammo, which was happening more and more later in the war.

Plenty of grisly photos of them using the bayonet as a feared tool of occupation and oppression.

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"Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed."

actually, by 1941, japanese army officers and conscripts who were descended from the samurai class were a marked minority. ever since the army allowed non-samurai to attain officer rank in the army (1918?) the samurai class went to the navy (most navy officers and fliers during the war were samurai.)

the nambu machine gun was designed as a marching fire weapon and concievably required a fixed bayonet in such an application. even the BAR, whcih was designed for marching fire in WW1 was considered having a bayonet lug as a requirement.

I made this thread because last night I thought, did WW2 Imperial Battle Ships have a little bayonet on them for good measure? LOL

Thanks for the replies everyone. Some helpful information.

That's not as far-fetched as you might think. Attacking enemy ships by deliberately ramming into them is a tactic as old as naval warfare itself.

Some ancient galleys had a specially sharpened prow sticking out just below water level, as a kind of "sea bayonet". In more modern times, I know of at least one Soviet submarine in which some forward spaces were filled with concrete, intended to absorb the shock of a desperate ramming attempt.

Ramming was used in World War II, though it wasn't very common. Sometimes a destroyer would attempt to run down a submerging U-boat. There was also one case in which a small British ship, on fire and sinking after an encounter with a German battlecruiser, attempted to ram its enemy.

However, I don't know if there were any special structures on WWII ships designed for ramming.

well thats what you get for thinking

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"Logos, Philos, Arete"

A famous British sub-hunter was famous for ramming German U-boats after they surfaced with his frigate. Can't recall his name for the moment.

Yes, but by Iwo Jima the more thoughtful Japanese commanders had understood that bazai charges against an army well equipped with semi-automatic and automatic weapons is suicide.

The japanese didn't actually hesitate to attack tanks using 'cold steel' on at least one occasion



From a old thread at : Weapons of World War II - this story was confirmed by 3.Carabiners Regiment

Of topic: Some tank videos and photos

Pictures by fsorensen2 - Photobucket

armies armed with bolts had pretty much the same developed tactics with fixed bayonets. i remember the british in the book "the raiders of arakan." talk about cool fighting. rushing towards the enemy right as soon as the grenage goes off and sticking one's bayonet at the surpised guys throats when they're just recovering from the shock of the blast. no gunfire involved.

On a serious note:

Bayonets are an integral part of American service rifles as well. Somewhere on here or on the "Talk" is a link to an article about a Brit Bayonet charge in Iraq/Afghanistan during the recent unpleasentness.

even though I dislike Wikipedia I will offer this:

Bayonet - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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"Logos, Philos, Arete"

2 words- 1 hit KO. So 2 words and 1 number. So sue me. Anyway, the code of bushido said 1-hit kills were what's up. Simple as that.

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To the German Commander-- Nuts.

-- The American Commander

Yep i put the iraq one up in living history a while back.

Despite the Japanese banzai warrior being mental and the psychological effects and mental strength a bayonet gave him, bayonets were and are just plain practical. Unlike the the video games, a solider cannot draw and slash his combat knife instantly. A bayonet gave an instant, effective close quarter weapon. Especially consider the fact that a Japanese infantryman was issued a Arisaka, which is a bolt action weapon. Between reloads, a bayonet acts kind of like a sidearm.

I actually read somewhere (can't find it now) that the Japanese were specially trained with emphasis on the bayonet due to their lack of a half decent sub machine gun and semi automatic rifle. Basically because their guns weren't the greatest. I also heard that they used live Chinese prisoners to train on...

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In war there is no prize for the runner-up.-
General Omar Bradley

It must be considered that with the warrior tradition of the Japanese that blades would always stick around.

WW2 was a time were Bayonets still proved their usefullness as a close quarters weapon.

When people think in that "Why dont they just shoot them before they get to you" mood, they miss an issue. The Japanese made experts out of hiding in bushes brandishing Katanas and Bayonets while screaming towards your back.

Sure you might get the warning of the Banzai but by the time you turn around, that same man who screamed likely cut you down the center with his blade.

Yes that wouldnt be the case every time and im not sure why they did the occasional mass charge but it gives the same effect as running at a trench and you and your comrades giving your battle cry.

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-Dustin

"Zey send zer hounds! zey to vill find only death!"

The japanese believed that the way to die was bye tranditional ways and by you own actions not the actions of you gun

im sorry for the terrible spelling my keyboards broke

That attack on the tank must have scared the bjesus out of the rest of the crew when they found out... And imagine if he didn't go all....

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To the German Commander-- Nuts.

-- The American Commander

Maybe the USMC planes had bayonet lugs XD! although I actually did hear on a show called "Dogfights"(anyone heard of it) that a Zero rammed a Dauntless or some plane... can't remember. Well... as you may have expected, the Dauntless won, and the Zero went down in flames with part of its wing torn off. The Dauntless returned to base, that was its 3rd kill of the day. So I guess the Dauntless was actually dauntless.... (Dauntless: Zero:)

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To the German Commander-- Nuts.

-- The American Commander

It all boils down to having sharp, shiney pointy things on the end of a weapon for close combat. The Japonese used a charging type battle plan a lot of the time. A spear would have been as or more effective, with bayonette attached the standard rifle was a long weapon. I think given the right circumstances, a Zulu short spear would be more effective if properly used. On the other hand, early in the island hopping campains a good machine gun placement really depleated and decimated the bonzai charges. Maybe some of the VETS who faced one could chime in and shed some light here.