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OF TRIUMPHS AND TROPHIES - The weapon being presented to the camera is the Japanese Type 98 machine gun, fitted with a 75 round double drum (also called a "saddle drum") magazine. The 75 rounds of ammunition  evenly distributed in each side of the spring-forced magazine with a central feed "tower" where the ammunition is fed to the bolt. The weapon was originally produced in Germany as the MG 15, with a 7.92mm round.  The Japanese acquired a license in 1937, and started producing them in 1940, using them with a flexible mount as a defensive aerial MG. It was one of the few aerial guns used by both the Army and the Navy. With the destruction of many Japanese aircraft on the ground, or with them being grounded for lack of spare parts, there was rarely any shortage of fully automatic weapons to equip the defending Japanese units. Due to the wide ranges of Japanese weapons of different caliber, rim and rimless, with ammunition that was not interchangeable, local shortages of ammunition often resulted. On Negros, though, there seemed no shortage of either.

THIS IS THE LAST OF THE WESTER SERIES, FOR THE MOMENT - MANY THANKS TO DOYLE WESTER FOR HIS PATIENCE

� 2009 Doyle Wester & 503d PRCT Heritage Bn