| Sumitomo NTK-62 | |
| Origin: | Japan |
| Type: | General purpose machine gun |
| Is Ranged: | yes |
| Service: | February 15, 1962[1] –present |
| Used By: | Japan |
| Wars: | Cold War Iraq War |
| Designer: | Masaya Kawamura |
| Design Date: | 1954 |
| Manufacturer: | Sumitomo Heavy Industries |
| Production Date: | 1962–present |
| Unit Cost: | ¥2,000,000 (c. 1985)[2] |
| Variants: | See Variants |
| Weight: | 10.152NaN2 |
| Length: | 12001NaN1 [3] |
| Part Length: | 546mm |
| Cartridge: | 7.62×51mm NATO |
| Action: | Gas-operated |
| Rate: | 650 RPM[4] |
| Max Range: | 1,000 m 1,500 m (with bipod) |
| Feed: | Belt-fed[5] |
| Sights: | Iron sights |
The is the standard issue general-purpose machine gun of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. It's also known as the Type 62 GPMG.[6]
When first issued, it fulfilled both light and medium machine gun support throughout the JGSDF. Though the Sumitomo Heavy Industries' M249 firing the smaller 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge has largely replaced it in the light machine gun role at the squad level in the JGSDF,[7] [8] the Type 62 still plays the support role at platoon and company level for the infantry as a medium machine gun firing the more powerful 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge. It also continues to be used as a co-axial weapon in various armored vehicles, including tanks and APCs.
Like all modern Japanese-made firearms, it was never exported.
After years of using the Browning M1919A4 as its standard GPMG during the early days of founding the Japan Self-Defense Forces, NTK-62 GPMG was designed at Nittoku Metal Industry (NTK) in order to market it as the M1919's successor.[9] The GPMG was made to meet the requirements of the Japanese Defense Agency.[1]
The designation "62" was present due to the fact that first batches of the NTK-62 were made in 1962 after development started in 1954.[2] It was specifically adopted on February 15, 1962, effectively replacing the M1919 Browning machine gun in JGSDF service.[1]
In 2013, SHI was involved in a scandal where NTK-62 test data was falsified on purpose for 5,350 machine guns produced from 1974.[10]
The Sumitomo NTK-62 is a gas operated machine gun chambered in the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge, belt fed with the use of M13 disintegrating links.[3] Pressed metal was used in parts of the machine gun during manufacturing in order to reduce overall weight.[9] While normal 7.62 NATO ammo is used, a version with reduced powder charge is also used.[9]
It has an unusual feed tray as the pivoting lever is above the bolt in the receiver, rather than in the feed tray cover found on most machine guns.
The design was done based on physique of the Japanese person who would be expected to handle the machine gun.[11]
The is a fixed mount variant for AFV use, including the Type 74, Type 90 and Type 10 MBTs, Mitsubishi Type 89 IFV and the Komatsu Type 87 Reconnaissance Vehicle.[12]
It weighs 20.4 kg (45.0 lb), unlike the Type 62 which weighs 10.15 kg (22.4 lb).[13]