Manufactured in February of 1944. The Type 99 Machine Gun was designed to replace the earlier Type 96; while the 96 was chambered to match the then-standard 6.5mm rifle cartridge, the 99 was chambered in the same 7.7mm cartridge of the Arisaka Type 99 rifle, with some other improvements also implemented. Blade front and knob adjustable peep rear sights, with a fixed carry handle and conical flash hider on the ribbed barrel, bipod and bayonet lug fitted to the gas system, and the Showa date of "19.2" on the right side of the receiver below the serial number. The grip is smooth hardwood, with a smooth buttstock and integral folding steel monopod.