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ITALIAN-JAPANESE MP 38/43 MACHINE PISTOL
Part II
The Japanese were expanding their thrust into the South Pacific
territories and heading toward The Dutch East Indies in 1942. They would
again impose upon their Italian mutual assistance partner for additional
supplies of small arms. This time it would be in the machine pistol
category.
In 1942, the Beretta firm had introduced a 9mm machine pistol derived from
an earlier version of their model 1938A. This new modification titled
Moschetto Automatico Beretta 38/42 Machine Pistol was of a simpler more
economical design of sheet metal stampings, rolled steel receiver and
simpler surface finishing. The perforated barrel shroud was eliminated and
a new barrel was adopted having horizontal flutes to decrease barrel
weight and enhance heat dissipation. Compensator slots were cut on the top
at the barrel’s muzzle. This series was produced by the Beretta firm as a
standard issue for the Italian troops. In 1943 the weapon barrel was
modified by eliminating the flutes and providing a smooth round
configuration. No other changes were made. The Beretta firm titled this as
Model MP 38/43 however they did not change the original MP 38/42 markings.
The Imperial Japanese Navy did not produce or possess a machine pistol of
their design or of copy for their troops prior to and through World War
II. Instead they purchased limited lots from foreign sources or utilized
captured enemy material. Examples of foreign source material included
products from France, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland while captured
weapons originated from Australia, China, Denmark, Great Britain and the
United States.
In June 1943 the Yokosuka Naval Arsenal issued a purchase order contract
directly with Beretta for the purchase of 350 itariya machine pistols
which included three, 20 round capacity magazines and 2000 cartridges of
Beretta “special” ammunition per gun. Although no slings were furnished
the guns did incorporate the provisions. The buttstock heel plates were
metal with the traditional double screw securing. No magazine loaders were
mentioned in the order. The special parabellum type ammunition was of high
velocity and produced by the Beretta firm for use in their machine
pistols. It is identified as follows:
CARTUCCE CAL. 9MM.
PER MOSCHETTO AUTOM. BERETTA M. 38
SCIOLTE
S p. A GIULIO FIOCCHI - LECCO
There were some interesting features of the Japanese version. The Beech
stocks were of the traditional split pattern. The otherwise smooth barrel
retained machine marks as an additional cooling feature. [This feature has
historically been referred to as a characteristic of poor quality
workmanship but in reality, it was deliberate, serving a specific
purpose]. They lacked manufacturer identification on the weapons. Only a
four digit-serial number and “cal 9mm” were inscribed. There was no
specific serial numbering to identify the Japanese contract guns. The
numbers were of normal production sequence and except for the noted
features were incorporated in their lot runs. There may have been an
additional purpose to this lack of identity; the Italian and German
relationship was becoming strained by mid 1943. After the September 8
announcement of a possible armistice between Italy and the U.S. allies the
Germans moved swiftly against the Italian military forces for intended
occupation.
In early August of 1943 the Yokosuka Naval Arsenal received the first and
only shipment of 50 guns of the model MP 38/43 with the specified
magazines and 50,000 rounds of ammunition. There were no Japanese
identifying marks on the weapons indicating the Japanese inspection
commission authority in Italy accepted the guns at the time. Weapons were
referred to by the itariya abbreviated Kanji character:
Distribution of the weapons is unknown and survival of the single digit
count is limited to specimens captured in the South Pacific Territories.
REFERENCE: [030917] Excerpted from the
soon to be published book: DRAGONS OF FIRE by William M.P. Easterly
[www.dragonsoffire.com]
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