Y-40

The Y-40 is a 'heavy shotgun' developed by Yoshikawa Heavy Industries specifically for Tsumiheishi berzerkers as an alternative to the NKT-62 GPMG as a main weapon. 
Y-40 is its manufacturer designation. Its official designation in the Imperial Japanese armory is 0式 40mm 重散弾銃 (Type 0 40mm Heavy Shotgun), or JSJ-0. It has various informal names, such as the "Zero Shotgun", "Zero Blaster", and "Zero Shiki". The "Type" designation comes from the year of the current Emperor's reign the weapon was accepted into service. This is a change from the designation system in place since 1945 which was based off of the Japanese fiscal year.
Although designed as a shotgun, the weapon borrows many characteristics with automatic grenade launchers, and is fully capable of utilizing 40x53mm high velocity grenades common to that weapon type. The result was more or less a "rifle-ized" take on the AGL concept, far too large and heavy for a human to comfortably use, but suitable for the stronger and stockier Tsumiheishi. This also allows Tsumiheishi to make use of a plethora of special ammunition types without having to design an entirely new projectile.
The design process was relatively short, resulting in some imperfections primarily regarding the weapon's feed and ejection system. Prototypes tested a conventional internal tube magazine loading from the top, but this design was quickly scrapped in favor of a box magazine. Issues with the feed system persist due to the high chamber pressure resulting from the size of the cartridge fired, necessitating a fluted chamber to be added to the production model. Nonetheless, the weapon continues to suffer from jamming somewhat frequently. Magazine size is limited to four rounds, with a larger 6-round curved magazine available, as well as a special belt-feed system.
Deployment of the Type 0 freed up demand for Type 62/74 GPGMs brought on by the China War, also diversifying Tsumiheishi squad loadouts, allowing for a mix of heavy shotguns, light machine guns, heavy machine guns, and recoilless rifles.
Category:PACYOA: TE
Category:TE Technology
Category:Firearms
Category:Japan