Type-89 Assault Rifle

**Howa Type 89 Assault Rifle** (89式小銃, *hachi-kyū-shiki-shōjū*), referred to as the **Type 89 5.56 mm Rifle** (89式5.56mm小銃, *hachi-kyū-shiki-go-ten-go-roku-miri-shōjū*), is a Japanese assault rifle used by the Japan Self-Defense Forces, the Japan Coast Guard's Special Security Team units and the Special Assault Team.

## Overview

Development was handled primarily by Howa since it was already licensed to produce the AR-180 version of the Armalite AR-18 rifle for commercial purposes. In order to determine suitability of the rifle, it was issued in limited numbers to the Japan Self-Defense Forces for field testing purposes. After the data collected from the field testing stage of the AR-18 was examined, formal development of the next-generation assault rifle began with its designation as the HR-16 (HR1604). The HR-15 was the first version of the experimental rifle that would eventually become the Type 89, but was developed concurrently with the HR-10, HR-11 and HR-13 by 1989.

## Specification

* **Mass:** 3.5 kg (7.7 lb)
* **Length:** 916 mm (36.1 in), (670 mm (26.4 in) with Howa Type 89-F)
* **Barrel length:** 420 mm (16.5 in)
* **Cartridge**: 5.56 × 45 mm NATO
* **Rate of fire:** 750 rounds/min
* **Muzzle velocity:** 920 m/s
* **Effective firing range:** 500 m
* **Feed system:** 20/30-round detachable STANAG magazines
* **Sights:** Iron sights; optical sights can be placed with weaver or Picatinny railing mount

## Variant

### Type 89-F

The only variant of the Type 89 is the **Type 89-F** rifle, also known as the **Type 89 Para**, which has a folding stock compared to the fixed stock of the standard Type 89. The Type 89 Para is issued to airborne soldiers, tankers, recon soldiers, and armored infantry soldiers. The folding stock folds to the left side in order to not cover the safety selector on the right side.

## Service History

### Rodenius War

The Type-89-F assault rifle is used by the JGSDF's 1st Airborne Brigade and the SAT of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police during the raid at Castle Hark

### Operation Momotarou

the Type-89 Assault Rifle is very effective against Goblins and Orcs. However, it has no effect against Ogres and Demon Lord Nosgorath.

### Battle of Esperanto Kingdom

In Nihonkoku Shoukan Gaiden 2, the Type-89 was used by Shinji Oka in the shooting competition in the Esperanto Kingdom against the musketeer Zabil. Later, in the defense of the Esperanto Kingdom, Shinji Oka lend some of the Type-89 assault rifles that survived from the crashed C-2 Transport to the Esperanto musketeers. During his stay in Esperanto, Shinji with the help from kingdom's artisan, Say have develop a new weapon called Savior Revolving Rifle, which uses the designs of Type-64 Battle Rifles and Type-89 to aid the kingdom's final battle and defense against Daxild Branmar's forces which killed many of his goblins and orcs monsters.

### New World War

The Type-89 assault rifle is used by the 1st Airborne Brigade during the Capture of Valkyries Airbase, giving them the huge upper hand in fighting the elite troops of the Gra Valkas Empire.

## Trivia

* Just like the Type-64 Battle Rifles, it is also unclear whether the guns lend by Oka are returned to the JSDF.
* Both the Type-89 Assault Rifle and the Type-64 Battle Rifle can use and fire the Type-06 Rifle Grenade.
* It is known in JGSDF service as **Buddy**.

## Gallery

Type 89 assault rifles used by JSDF troops.