#japanese submachine gun

[historyofguns]

The article "Japanese Type 100 Submachine Gun — Too Few and Too Late," authored by Tom Laemlein, explores the Japanese Type 100 submachine gun and its delayed production during World War II. The article details Japan's initial lack of interest in submachine guns during the 1930s, and how, despite eventually manufacturing the Type 100 in 1944, they missed the opportunity to effectively compete with other nations' short-range firepower. The article traces the history of submachine guns, highlighting the influence of the .45 caliber Thompson and European models, the development of a simplified Bergmann-type submachine gun by Japan, and the evolution of the Type 100 through various models such as the paratrooper version with a folding stock. Despite efforts to update and improve the gun, it was ultimately limited by production constraints and the underpowered 8x22mm Nambu round. The Type 100 remains a historically interesting weapon but was not on par with other submachine guns of World War II.

[sepiadays]

Training of the People’s Liberation Army with the Thompson M1921 submachine gun – China – 1930s.

Entraînement de l’Armée Populaire de Libération au pistolet-mitrailleur Thompson M1921 – Chine – 1930’s

[sgtgrunt0331-3]

A U.S. Marine fires his M1 Thompson submachine gun at Japanese positions on the island of Peleliu, September 1944.

(Photo courtesy of USMC)

[greatworldwar2]

• M50 Reising Submachine Gun

The .45 Reising submachine gun was manufactured by Harrington & Richardson (H&R) Arms Company in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA, and was designed and patented by Eugene Reising in 1940. The three versions of the weapon were the Model 50, the folding stock Model 55, and the semiautomatic Model 60 rifle. Over 100,000 Reisings were ordered during World War II, and were initially used by the United States, though some were shipped to Canadian, Soviet, and other allied forces.

Reising was an assistant to firearm inventor John M. Browning. In this role, Reising contributed to the final design of the US .45 ACP M1911 pistol. Reising then designed a number of commercial rifles and pistols on his own, when in 1938, he turned his attention to designing a submachine gun as threats of war rapidly grew in Europe. Two years later he submitted his completed design to the Harrington & Richardson Arms Company (H&R) in Worcester, Massachusetts. It was accepted, and in March 1941, H&R started manufacturing the Model 50 submachine gun. H&R promoted the submachine guns for police and military use, and the Model 60 for security guards. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 the US was suddenly in desperate need of thousands of modern automatic weapons. Reising's only competitor was the .45 ACP Thompson submachine gun. The US Army first tested the Reising in November 1941 at Fort Benning, Georgia. During this test, several parts failed due to poor construction. Once this was corrected, a second test was made in 1942 at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. In that test, 3,500 rounds were fired, resulting in two malfunctions: one from the ammunition, the other from a bolt malfunction. As a result, the Army didn't adopt the Reising, but the Navy and Marines did, due to insufficient supply of Thompsons.

The Reising submachine gun was innovative for its time. In comparison to its main rival, the famous Thompson, it possessed similar firepower, better accuracy, excellent balance, a lighter weight, a much lower cost, and greater ease of manufacture. Despite these achievements, the poor combat performance of the Reising contrasted with favorable combat and law enforcement use of the Thompson mired the weapon in controversy. The Reising was far less costly ($62) compared to the Thompson ($200). It was much lighter (seven vs. eleven pounds). The Model 55 was also more compact (about twenty-two vs. thirty-three inches in length). The M50 Reising's delayed blowback operation, often classified as hesitation lock, works as follows: as the cartridge is chambered, the rear end of the bolt is pushed up into a recess, in a manner similar to tilting-bolt locked breech guns; but whereas such weapons rely on an additional mechanism to unlock them, in the case of the Reising the end of the bolt that pushes against the back wall of this recess, is subtly rounded, while the wall is correspondingly curved. On firing, the extreme pressure from the propellant gases is thereby able to force the bolt-end down, back to the horizontal. From here the bolt can move to the rear removing the cartridge from the chamber; but the combination of mechanical disadvantage and friction the force of the gases must overcome to push the end of the bolt down has achieved a delay of a fraction of a second, allowing pressure in the barrel to drop to a level sufficiently low for safe and efficient cartridge extraction. The Reising was made in selective fire versions that could be switched between semi-automatic or full-automatic fire as needed and in semi-auto only versions to be used for marksmanship training and police and guard use. The Reising had a designed full-auto cyclic rate of 450–600 rounds per minute but it was reported that the true full-auto rate was closer to 750–850 rounds per minute.

The U.S. Marines adopted the Reising in 1941 with 4,200 authorized per division with approximately 500 authorized per each infantry regiment. Most Reisings were originally issued to Marine officers and NCOs in lieu of a compact and light carbine, since the newly introduced M1 carbine was not yet being issued to the Marines. Although the Thompson submachine gun was available, this weapon frequently proved too heavy and bulky for jungle patrols, and initially it, too, was in short supply. During World War II, the Reising first saw action on August 7th, 1942, exactly eight months to the day after Pearl Harbor, when 11,000 men from the 1st Marine Division stormed the beaches of Guadalcanal, in the Solomon Islands. The same date of Guadalcanal's invasion, the Model 50 and 55 saw action with the 1st Marine Raiders on the small outlying islands of Tulagi and Tanambogo to the north. Serious shortcomings in both guns were becoming apparent. The reality was that the Reising was designed as a civilian police weapon and was not suited to the stresses of harsh battle conditions encountered in the Solomon Islands—namely, sand, saltwater that easily rusted the commercial blued finish, and the difficulty in keeping the weapon clean enough to function properly. Tests at Aberdeen Proving Ground and at Fort Benning, Georgia, had found difficulties in blindfold reassembly of the Reising, indicating the design was complicated and difficult to maintain. The producer, H&R, had not yet mastered mass-production technologies in 1940-1941, and many of the parts were hand fitted at the factory just like the company did with their commercial firearms. While more accurate than the Thompson, particularly in semi-automatic mode, the Reising had a tendency to jam. The Reising earned a dismal reputation for reliability in the combat conditions of Guadalcanal. The M1 carbine eventually became available and was often chosen over both the Reising and the Thompson in the wet tropical conditions.

In late 1943 following numerous complaints, the Reising was withdrawn from Fleet Marine Force (FMF) units and assigned to Stateside guard detachments and ship detachments. After the Marines proved reluctant to accept more Reisings, and with the increased issue of the .30-caliber M1 carbine, the U.S. government passed some Reising submachine guns to the OSS and to various foreign governments (as Lend-Lease aid). Both the Soviets and Canada purchased some Model 50 SMGs, others were given to various anti-Axis resistance forces operating around the world. Many Reisings (particularly the semiautomatic M60 rifle) were issued to State Guards for guarding war plants, bridges, and other strategic resources. After the war, thousands of Reising Model 50 submachine guns were acquired by state, county, and local U.S. law enforcement agencies. The weapon proved much more successful in this role, in contrast to its wartime reputation. Production of the Model 50 and 55 submachine guns ceased in 1945 at the end of World War II. Nearly 120,000 submachine guns were made of which two-thirds went to the Marines. H&R continued production of the Model 60 semiautomatic rifle in hopes of domestic sales, but with little demand, production of the Model 60 stopped in 1949 with over 3,000 manufactured. H&R sold their remaining inventory of submachine guns to police and correctional agencies across America. Decades later, in 1986, H&R closed their doors and Numrich Arms (aka Gun Parts Corporation) purchased their entire inventory.

[captain-price-unofficially]

Japanese SNLF troops on Kurogane motorcycles in the Shanghai area. They brandish Type 11 light machine guns, Type 38 rifles, Type 14 pistols and Swiss SIG M 1920 submachine guns.

[historynerdj2]

Others: If you were asked to write for the 5th Valkyria Chrinicles game, how would you write it?

Me: As a mixture of the Burma, New Guinea, and Borneo campaign.

Others: … What?

Me: Well, the Valkyria chronicles franchise has always liked toying with some degree of moral ambiguity, with an empire that is clearly in the wrong, but the side you are fighting for, while better, still has glaring flaws. Furthermore, the fourth game implied and talked about the idea that nations within the Federation has colonies, and while I am skeptical of how much of what the Imperial soldier stating that claim is stating established facts or state propaganda, that could be an angle to explore plot wise.

Think about it, perhaps the Empire launches a naval invasion to try and take over these resource rich colonies, and are banking on creating a narrative that they are liberators to the indigenous population, just like how the Japanese did during their initial pushes into Southeast Asia.

This could also mean a new perspective of what I shall dub for the sake of this post, the “Commonwealth”, who draws inspiration from mainly British colonial forces and Commonwealth, more specifically, Indian and Australian forces, with a heavy side of Gurkhas. Where you have to manage and combat this narrative, between members of your squad that are descendants of Edinburgh Federation settlers (Australians), indigenous peoples (Indians, Indonesians, Malaysians, and Nepali Gurkhas) and those actually from the Federation (British).

Not to mention, this could also be interesting to explore in the context of why they are siding with the Federation. Those actually from the Federation might view the conflict through the lens of ideology, and preserving the Empire Federation. Meanwhile the settlers might not care about the broader Federation, but they do care about their home being threatened. Finally those who are indigenous might have negative feelings about their current Colonial overlords, but be even more skeptical to the Imperial claims, or maybe even be exposed to the actual Imperial treatment that is far worse than anything the Federation have done.

And the Darscen can be explored in an interesting lens, as the Federation-native members might have the most amount of anti-Darscen soldiers, while settlers might still talk about them using offensive terms, but otherwise treats them better due to the need for the skill sets often associated with Darscens being particularly useful and valuable, while the indigenous members don’t have the context for the hate, and as far as they’re concerned, it’s someone else’s problem.

Gameplay-wise, the door is open to a lot of creativity. Jungle warfare can open the door to a lot of new mechanics and tactical situations. Maps could be very claustrophobic due to the thick jungle. Closer engagements could lead to having classes be more flexible, such as the inclusion of melee, bonus equipment like flares for the Scout class that helps to boost accuracy within the zone, or even new skills like engineers being able to build emplaced weapons.

Then there are the tanks. Tanks could play an interesting role, as tanks were used in far more limited numbers and roles compared to the European fronts, but I can easily see an interesting exploration in this world about smaller more compact tanks that function like anti-infantry roles, like how the Australians use Matilda tanks in the liberation of Borneo.

I could also see the dropping of the lancer class (iconic as it is), but the adoption of a new class that I would dub the “point man”, who would act as a mix of the scout and the shock class, having high movement range, but armed with more short ranged weapons like submachine guns and introducing shotguns to the series.

And the enemy can be interesting as well, with perhaps less use of the traditional image of the Imperial forces within the series, but instead more like naval troops and sailors and marines, perhaps their own colonial forces, and maybe even native people who side with the Imperials, deeming the Federation too irredeemable.

Finally, aesthetic. I think people are too obsessed with either the German, Soviet and/or American WWII aesthetic, but I personally find British commonwealth and colonial forces too be an awesome aesthetic, and also because I believe people often overlook the actions and achievements of British imperial forces.

Personally, I think people might be intrigued with playing characters inspired and based off Sikh, Malay, Gurkhas, Australians, and even British forces. Slouches hats, Bren guns, Owen guns, and Kukri knives, honestly it would be cool to see and use.

Besides, what could be cooler than siccing a fantasy world equivalent of a Gurkha or Aussie on an unsuspecting Imperial?

Others:… Go back to having the shower thoughts be about Genshin.

Images from top left, clockwise: Australians during the Borneo campaign; Gurkha, unknown location; British soldiers crossing a river during the Burma campaign; Australian Matilda Tanks during the Borneo Campaign; Soldier of the Malay Regiment; Indian Sikh soldiers, Burma campaign

[palant1r]

finding out precisely what guns are used in Death Note is so fascinating like

matsuda uses the same pistol throughout most of the anime, a heckler and coch USP. he even has it in the raid in the anime (though i thiiiink he might have a submachine gun in the manga) which is funny like....he must really like that pistol. but from what i'm seeing, this gun's usage in Japan was limited to the Japanese Special Forces Group, basically a counterterrorism group. on one hand, this seems to suggest that that's where matsuda was before the NPA. on the other hand, why the FUCK would a member of the special forces need his dad's influence to get into the NPA lol

but then. in the most important Matsuda Shoots A Guy scene, the warehouse, he's using a Smith and Wesson 36. Otherwise known as the "Chief's Special," which is such a gut punch considering he's shooting it on behalf of the dead Chief Yagami. not only that, but this gun isn't really like. one's primary sidearm. it's a gun that was sold to the NPA, and would probably be a primary sidearm for NPA officers — but not for Matsuda, who is usually seen with his semiautomatic heckler and coch. or maybe the heckler and coch is just for when he kNOWS shits gonna go down and he normally just has the S&W. we also see aizawa and ide pull the same gun on ryuk.

at least in the US, it's commonly a gun stowed in the pants waist or ankle holster.

this has me asking so many questions. well, first, why didn't the SPK fire on light, given that they knew he was kira? maybe they weren't armed. that would make sense actually, because they wouldn't have the authority to have guns on japanese soil, but they might have been shown with guns earlier. maybe the task force wasnt SUPPOSED to be armed, but they all brought their guns anyway — the easily hidden NPA-issue Smith and Wesson.

but if that was the case, why didn't at least aizawa shoot light? he came into the warehouse thinking light was kira. and why would matsuda bring a gun?

i just have so many questions. like, the death note creators clearly did their research about different types of guns, so what the hell was up with that fake execution scene? why not just have the gun not be loaded?

but i DO think it's really funny that matsuda is as accurate with two different types of handguns as watari is with a rifle and took a goddamn handgun into a mafia raid while everyone else had semiautomatic rifles. same energy as people who use the lightning ram ash of war in elden ring pvp

[thesilliestrovingalive]

Updated: January 22, 2025

Special Weapons of the Iron Eclipse AU

The AR-10 Autorifle, standard-issue for both the Regular Army and Amadeus Syndicate, chambers 7.62mm ammunition. It features an integrated grenade launcher mounted beneath the barrel, granting versatility through its dual capability for precision gunfire and explosive ordnance. Its design draws inspiration from the Japanese Type 64 Rifle, incorporating an M203-style grenade launcher and borrowing elements from the U.S. military's M16 rifle.

The Morden M60 is a 7.62mm machine gun reserved for high-ranking officials within the Rebel Army, capable of firing multiple shoots in controlled bursts. Only two variants are known to exist: the M240 Bravo Machine Gun, distinguished by its swift and silent operation; and the RA240 Machine Gun, a modified version employed by the Regular Army. The RA240 Machine Gun features a Lewis MG-style buttstock, trading some speed and stealth for increased reliability.

The Hexagon Arms M-3685 is a 9mm submachine gun modelled after the Heckler & Koch MP5, featuring a distinctive design element: a built-in tool within its grip that allows for easy adjustment of the front sight. The firearm was crafted by Tarma Roving as a gift to Fio Germi following the Extraterrestrial Alliance Clash, with the primary intention of enhancing her battlefield protection. However, upon taking notice of its potential, the Regular Army secured Tarma's permission to mass-produce the design for their troops.

The HV-01 Heavy Machine Gun, commonly referred to as the Heavy Machine Gun, is a common special weapon firing 7.62mm FMJ rounds compatible with most automatic firearms on the battlefield. Despite sharing comparable firepower with handguns wielded by elite units like the Peregrine Falcons Squad, S.P.A.R.R.O.W.S., and Ikari Warriors, its exceptional fire rate makes it one of the deadliest weapons available. It has a magazine capacity of 200-300 rounds, and it resembles the Heavy Machine Gun that Marco uses in Neo-Geo Battle Coliseum.

The RK-02 Light Anti-Armour Rocket Launcher, commonly referred to as the Rocket Launcher, fires small, slow-moving rockets. These rockets lack the penetration power to defeat heavy armour but are highly explosive and effective against infantry formations. The rockets have a proximity fuzing capability, homing in on nearby targets before exploding on contact. It resembles the Rocket Launcher depicted in Metal Slug 3D.

The FS-03, commonly referred to as the Flame Shot, is a powerful incendiary weapon that unleashes a large blast of flame travelling in a shallow parabolic trajectory when fired horizontally, with significantly increased range when fired upward and reduced range when fired downward. It excels at taking out large groups of infantry with a single shot, but its effectiveness is hindered by limited range and a slow fire rate. At close range, it can severely damage vehicles and instantly incinerate personnel, though its potency decreases with distance. It has a 30-round ammo capacity and features a toggle switch allowing users to alternate between two firing modes: large blasts for high damage and fireballs that cover a wider range but deal relatively low damage. Its design bears a striking resemblance to the Flame Shot featured in Metal Slug 3D.

The SG-04, commonly referred to as the Shotgun, fires 12-gauge rounds loaded with metallic BB pellets, delivering devastating effectiveness at point-blank range. However, the BBs rapidly lose velocity over short distances, rendering them harmless beyond 6 ft (182.88 cm). Despite its limited 30-round magazine capacity, the SG-04 packs immense power, capable of annihilating clusters of infantry with a single blast and effortlessly disabling vehicles with just a few well-placed shots. It resembles the Shotgun depicted in Metal Slug 3D.

The LS-05, commonly referred to as the Laser Gun, emits a concentrated stream of energy in the form of a multicoloured beam. This intense energy focal point can slice through tank armour and annihilate enemy infantry with ease. While incredibly powerful, the weapon's high energy consumption leads to rapid ammo depletion. It has a moderate ammo capacity of 200-400 rounds. Its design bears a striking resemblance to the Laser Gun featured in Metal Slug 3D.

The EC-06, commonly known as the Enemy Chaser, is a specialised Rocket Launcher that prioritises advanced guidance over agility and raw firepower. Its enhanced homing system and increased ammo capacity of 40 rounds make it an invaluable asset for land troops in anti-aircraft operations. Although not foolproof, the homing capability significantly improves targeting accuracy. Once launched, the missiles automatically enter homing mode, locking onto the nearest enemies. A notable feature is the independent homing mechanism for each missile, enabling rapid-fire barrages. The weapon was initially conceived by Tarma Roving, who improvised its design after his Rocket Launcher malfunctioned during a critical mission against a Southern European terrorist group. Its effectiveness led to its subsequent adoption by the Regular Army. Its design bears a striking resemblance to the Enemy Chaser featured in Metal Slug 3D.

The SPG-07, affectionately known as the Super Grenade, is a Rocket Launcher variant that unleashes powerful RPGs with increased range. While its explosive payload can swiftly obliterate targets, its smoothbore design prohibits piercing thick armour. The RPGs travel swiftly, generating a massive blast radius capable of annihilating multiple targets. To balance its destructive potential, it has limited ammo reserves, allowing only two RPGs to be fired at a time. Its overall capacity is 10-20 rounds. Notably, its design bears resemblance to the Super Grenade from Metal Slug 3D.

The DS-09, commonly referred to as the Drop Shot, is a modified Rocket Launcher that fires bouncing landmines. These landmines bounce until they hit a target or lose momentum and stop moving. It’s effective against infantry, particularly those hiding in cover, but it lacks the power to easily damage armoured vehicles. The bouncing landmines have a limited range and are affected by the terrain's geography. As a result, soldiers must pay close attention to their environment to use the weapon effectively. Many soldiers dislike it due to its slow firing speed and horizontal movement, making it more suitable as a situational weapon. Its potential for being cumbersome and dangerous in various situations, along with its limited effectiveness in certain terrains, also contribute to its rare usage in the Regular Army. However, a small number of individuals have successfully leveraged its potential, often by modifying the bouncing landmines or combining them with existing weapons.

The SR-001 Iron Lizard, commonly referred to as the Iron Lizard, deploys remote-controlled, unmanned vehicles designed to engage targets with high lethality. These vehicles excel in anti-personnel roles, utilising special warheads filled with combustible chemicals. However, they are ineffective against armoured targets and aircraft. Once deployed, the vehicle-like missiles traverse the terrain until they detect a target, then detonate in a cloud of blue smoke, potentially taking out multiple enemies beyond the initial point of contact. Many people underestimate this weapon, thinking it's a joke due to its unusual ammunition, which oddly combines elements of RC toy cars with explosive missiles. It resembles the Iron Lizard depicted in Neo-Geo Battle Coliseum.

The TSG-002, commonly referred to as the Thunder Shot, is a modified Laser Gun that emits a powerful electrical pulse, automatically targeting enemies with near-instantaneous hits. This pulse can pierce armour and strike multiple targets simultaneously with a single shot. Boasting a 20-round ammo capacity, its capabilities make it an invaluable asset. However, its homing capabilities are inconsistent, often struggling to engage multiple enemies across varying elevations. Initially designed by Tarma Roving and Hyakutaro Ichimonji to rapidly disable technological devices from a distance, its effectiveness led to swift adoption by the Regular Army.

The Double-Barrel Heavy Machine Guns, commonly referred to as the Two Machine Guns, are a unique submachine gun variant inspired by the Heavy Machine Gun. Modelled after the MAC-10, these twin guns offer an impressive 300-round ammo capacity. They strike a balance between range, firepower, and mobility, surpassing pistols and heavy machine guns in versatility. While ideal for long-range combat, they lack the arcing trajectory of traditional Heavy Machine Guns. However, their dual-barrel design significantly increases their rate of fire, but it can rapidly deplete ammo reserves.

The Zantetsu Sword is a blade infused with iron-cutting energy that releases potent waves upon each swing. These energy waves are capable of annihilating clusters of infantry, deflecting incoming bullets, and even disabling armoured vehicles. However, its effectiveness is tempered by its limited range and restrictive aiming capabilities, preventing vertical targeting. During Ralf Jones' expedition to the Oro Sol Ruins, he caught the attention of Sol Dae Rokker, who was moved by his reverence for the ancient site. As a token of respect for Ralf's restraint in not ravaging the ruins, Sol Dae Rokker imbued a deceased archaeologist’s Hori Hori knife with bluish-white energy and presented it to him.

The Hori Hori knife’s extraordinary properties eventually caught the attention of the Regular Army, which successfully replicated its unique attributes and began mass-producing the design. Those used by the Regular Army resemble standard military-issued combat knives, which bear a resemblance to the Combat Knife in Metal Slug 3D.

The AA Machine Gun Turret is a stationary .50-calibre anti-aircraft machine gun primarily used by the Regular Army, and occasionally utilised by the Rebel Army. It fires a continuous stream of light armour-piercing rounds at a high rate of fire. Those with a prominent blue sheen are designed for marine purposes, while ones with a green-tinted silver finish are intended for land-based applications.

The Thunder Cloud is a highly classified, cutting-edge weapon system that utilises an oblong canister loaded with nanobots. These nanobots generate an artificial thundercloud imbued with negatively charged electromagnetic energy. Once deployed, it autonomously targets the nearest adversary, hovering above and unleashing lightning bolts with pinpoint accuracy. The cloud's energy reserve supports 30 to 50 high-energy strikes before dissipating.

The Mobile Satellite, or MOBS for short, is a highly classified, miniature hovering drone resembling a satellite. Equipped with an advanced radar system and an ion cannon, it autonomously tracks and engages targets, firing continuous ion bolts until destruction or depletion. Its energy reserve supports up to 200 ion bolts, after which the device's power source is exhausted, causing it to plummet and self-destruct.

The Grenade Gun is a modified Rocket Launcher, capable of propelling grenades over extended distances of 10 to 15 feet (304.8 cm to 457.2 cm).

The Missile Pod launches five small, high-velocity homing missiles that automatically acquire and track nearby targets. Its wide area coverage and high damage output make it effective against land troops, smaller aircraft, and combat vehicles.

The Fire Gun is a modified Flame Shot that emits a continuous, adjustable stream of flames that can be directed and arced by adjusting the gun's orientation.

The Bazooka fires a single, high-explosive shell that detonates upon impact, unleashing a devastating, fiery blast that damages and incapacitates nearby targets. It closely resembles the American FIM-92 Stinger man-portable surface-to-air missile launcher.

The Gatling Shot is a large, rapid-firing, multiple-barrel firearm that fires 7.62mm FMJ rounds, identical to those used by heavy machine guns. Its heavy weight and high ammunition capacity (holding up to 500 rounds) are balanced by its rapid rate of fire, which depletes ammunition quickly. As a result, it’s typically reserved for specific situations, such as crowd control. It resembles the Gatling Shot depicted in Metal Slug Attack and Metal Slug: Commander.

[nawtponchoesquire]

Oh god, this manga is about me: Dead Dead Demon's Dedede Destruction

On December 2nd, 2022, a YouTube livestream broadcasted the rollout of Northrop Grumman’s latest technological marvel to thousands of people. Countless hours of R&D, cutting edge engineering, and assembly all lead to this moment. Northrop Grumman CEO Kathy Warden spoke from a podium about “the next generation of capability” and “defining what this nation is capable of when we work together” while the livestream chat gawked and called her Mommy.

After Warden’s speech, the hangar door behind her slowly opened. Blue stage lights cast a powerful aura over a hulking monolith draped in a white cloth. Cinematic orchestra music blared and the lights pulsed with the music. The chat screamed “TRUMP 2024”, “METAL GEAR”, and “MOMMY” still, if you can believe it. The music reached its explosive crescendo, and the curtains dropped: the B21 stealth bomber was introduced to the world in all its glory.

Admiral Christopher W. Grady called it an “Airborne Extended Deterrent”. In his speech after the reveal, Grady waffled a bit about national security, and about how this plane REALLY matters and was, like, TOTALLY worth the tax dollars, guys. “This isn’t just another airplane. It’s not just another acquisition. It’s a symbol and a source of the fighting spirit that President Reagan spoke of” he said.

Livestreams and marketing of this nature aren’t uncommon in today’s late capitalist dystopia. Gun manufacturer Heckler and Koch shows off flashy trailers of their submachine guns, edited with a slow-mo Booj and the musical timing of a Battlefield trailer. At the time of writing, there’s even an extremely late sale on their website for “MARCH MAG-NESS”, with a toggle at the top for civilian and law enforcement of course.

When looking at these pieces as part of my research for this post, I’m left with a sinking feeling that’s hard to describe. I feel swallowed by a culture and a system so determined to casualize warfare, to justify violence against a perceived, sometimes invisible threat. As the planet warms, the rich elude responsibility, and I whittle away my days at an office job, precisely one thought bounces around in my brain: “I can't wait to go home and play videogames”.

This exact feeling is captured in amber by Inio Asano’s latest finished work, Dead Dead Demon’s Dededede Destruction! (henceforth referred to as Dead Dead Demon’s). Set 3 years after a UFO appeared above Tokyo, Dead Dead Demon’s follows two high school grads just living their life while the literal and figurative “end of the world” looms overhead. What starts off as an unassuming pre-apocalyptic slice-of-life unravels into a deeply fascinating vivisection of our current geopolitical climate and how its effects trickle down to the youngest generations like countless streams of Ronald Reagan’s piss.

It’s impossible not to see the political implications of Dead Dead Demon’s. After the giant UFO suddenly appeared above Tokyo, The Japanese military panicked. They shot down the countless smaller UFO’s that poured out of the main craft, raining debris down on Tokyo’s denizens. Thousands were killed, including Kadode Koyama’s father. Kadode’s mother, left traumatized and paranoid after this tragedy, becomes the manga’s version of a conspiracy truther. 3 years after 8/31, Kadode’s mother leaves Tokyo and her daughter behind to live in a commune with her new boyfriend.

In the midst of her high school graduation and early college career, Kadode is left alone. Or, she would be, if not for Ouran Nakagawa, her childhood best friend. Ouran is Kadode’s rock-solid foundation. As the manga comes back to time and time again, they are absolute; an unwavering, unconditional love connects the two in a way that’s rarely portrayed in manga. A running theme throughout the manga is that the people you love can pull you through anything, not through fixing your problems, but simply by being by your side. Or at least, it would be. More on that later.

The duality of Kadode and Ouran is explored throughout the manga in such a way that it builds the two protagonists to be distinct but codependent. Kadode, a victim of bullying in elementary school, developed a discomfort with how easily society labels its ingroups and outgroups. Her only respite from relentless bullying was Isobeyan, an ongoing gag manga that her father worked on.

The titular Isobeyan and his incredible technological gadgets allow a neurotic teenage girl named Debeko to find wacky solutions to her problems. Debeko, unable to escape her own cycles of narcissism and self-loathing, constantly relies on Isobeyan’s gadgets to get her way. Kadode sees her own destructive tendencies in Debeko, and fantasizes about using Isobeyan’s gadgets to fix her own life; it’s a potent fantasy to give someone who is marginalized. Full-color snippets of the fictional manga bookend each volume of Dead Dead Demon’s, serving as a clear visual and structural metaphor for the invaders and how their advanced technology would seem to be able to fix anything.

While Kadode Koyama is cynical but reserved, Ouran Nakagawa is a firehose of sparkly anticapitalist rage. She’s brash and completely unfiltered, swinging from scathing cynicism about the future of Japan to raucous joy about the latest patch for her favorite FPS within literal seconds. Ouran is the candle that burns twice as bright and twice as long, loudly proclaiming herself to exist in equal parts joyous laugh and viscous battle cry.

However, that’s not the whole story. Beneath the mask is a deeply empathetic high school girl who really just loves the people she surrounds herself with. She may tease her friends after a bad date, but she’s there to hug them while they cry. Although she talks a lot of shit, she clings to her friends like they are the most important people in the universe to her. Ouran embodies both the hopeless circle-jerk of being at the bottom rung of late-stage capitalism and the boundless love that powers us through the worst of times within that system. And yet, further beneath that, something stirs within her. More on that later.

The alien invasion is a clear allegory for (INSERT HOT-BUTTON GEOPOLITICAL TOPIC HERE). It’s equal parts climate change, refugee crisis, and 9/11. The so-called invaders don’t exactly live up to their name, being about the height of a grade-schooler and waddling around with cute old-fashioned submarine helmets on. They are about as unassuming as an extraterrestrial threat could possibly be, and we even get some chapters with the invaders from their perspective as they try to survive in Tokyo’s quarantine zones. To them, Earth is a hellscape they did not intend to die on. And oh my god, do they die.

This is the part of Dead Dead Demon’s that pulls on some horrible discomfort deep within me. The genocide of the invaders is sponsored by tech industry giants like Samsung and Google, literally mowing down crowds of child-sized invaders with machine guns, while Kadode and Koyama go about their daily lives just a few blocks away. The dissonance between high school antics and the screams of what look like dying children hits close to home. It’s impossible not to see the parallels between how we, as consumers in a post-industrial society, often live willfully ignorant to the cruelties our lifestyles enable.

I’ve grappled with the question, “what is Dead Dead Demon’s Dededede Destruction about?” ever since I first sat down and read it. After a third re-read, I’m not sure that I could boil it down to one specific, sexy thematic clause, and that seems intentional. Inio Asano, the manga’s author, is notorious for creating stories that revel in complexity. Dead Dead Demon’s welcomes, interrogates, and explores a whole host of questions about life in the modern era. And then… the big reveal happens at the midway point; the truth of what this story was really, always about.

Spoilers from here on out, folks. The manga takes a pretty significant turn, one that I actually really like, but it will give you whiplash if you aren’t ready for it.

Okay. So. Time Travel.

The Ouran we’ve seen throughout the first half of the story is without a doubt eccentric. The glimpses of her that we see in flashbacks, however, look like a totally different person. As a child, Ouran is shy and quiet and rolls with the punches. She even stands idly by as Kadode is bullied by her awful classmates. For lack of a better term, she’s perfectly normal. Somewhere along the way, something seriously changed for her.

When Ouran and Kadode were young, they barely spoke. The story goes that they grew close over a summer cram school stuck together, but the secret that brought them together builds out the world and history of Dead Dead Demon’s in a pretty surprising way: Kadode and Ouran found an invader 8 years before the invasion of Tokyo.

Kadode and Ouran go full ET mode and keep the invader disguised in Ouran’s bedroom. After some debate on what to do, the invader finally speaks up for themselves using a small alien device as a translation tool. The invader’s purpose for coming to earth is clear; they are a scout sent by “the home country” to see if Earth is a good place to finally come and colonize.

The interaction here between the scout and these two schoolchildren is fascinating. The scout speaks in vague terms, but they make it clear that humanity exists on earth to create a breathable atmosphere for the invaders, much like how trees create a breathable atmosphere for us. Invaders are beings that aren’t so strongly tethered to a body or physical form; compared to humans, the invaders are actually much more spiritual and transitory. Their child-like bodies only exist as a vessel through which they interact with the world around them.

Kadode and Ouran are bestowed with an impossible burden. They believe that they must prove themselves, and by extension humanity, as welcoming and friendly to this alien civilization. The scout is content to watch this with scientific, unobtrusive collectedness. If they can get a clear read on humanity and its potential threat to the home country anyways, the scout might as well entertain these two girls’ efforts.

Through actively volunteering to do good, the girls feel like they are painting a good picture of humanity for the invader to see. However, it soon becomes clear that the system they are a part of is too big for two small girls to change. Kadode and Ouran can’t do anything about the scandalized politicians, con artists, and criminals. Kadode, fully grasping the situation and its implications, decides that she can do more. No, she needs to do more.

Kadode manages to steal a few powerful tools from the Invader. A small device that sends a devastating force out from its tip, enough to send a car tumbling sideways. An invisible cloak that perfectly obscures its wearer. A device worn on the head that allows one to fly. When these technological marvels are put together, Kadode goes from being an unassuming grade schooler to something else entirely: a vigilante dead-set on purging the horrible people from this world.

Before long, news started to break of a train wreck, and of a politician turning up dead after a hospital stay for a minor medical issue ended with a bullet-shaped wound. Ouran’s favorite pop band member quit, and suddenly the concert was canceled thanks to a technical accident. Over the course of a few days, Kadode has been tracking down horrible people, nearly killing them, and asking them one simple question, “Tell me the worst person you know.”

Ouran finds out that Kadode has been doing this vigilante work, and for the first and only time in the manga, they fight. Kadode, grappling with the sheer weight of trying to fix our world, is left cold, distant, and apathetic. Ouran finds this new side of Kadode to be frightening and alien, like she doesn’t even know who she is talking to. After an argument and a brief physical confrontation, Ouran is left alone for the first time. She is devastated.

Kadode doesn’t show up to class for a few weeks. Then she moves away. In one last ditch effort, Ouran goes to Kadode’s new home and asks to speak with her. Kadode is disheveled, but seems somewhat happy to see Ouran. Therapy has convinced her that Kadode hallucinated or dreamed up her vigilante spree, but talking to Ouran reminds her all too well that what she did was real. The people she killed, the burden of proving humanity to be good, and the destruction of her relationship with her best friend, all push her beyond her limits. She can’t do this anymore.

In the middle of their brief conversation, Kadode jumps from the fourth story of her apartment building.

This series of events, observed by the invader, force them to come to one conclusion: Earth cannot be trusted and should not be visited by the Home Country. Hopeless and devastated, Ouran asks the invader if there’s anything they can do to bring Kadode back. While the invader can’t bring back Kadode, he can do something else: transplant Ouran’s consciousness to a different timeline. This would come with all sorts of risks, such as mental deterioration, but it would allow Ouran to relive her summer school cram days to do things right. Ouran could direct the timeline so that the two never encounter the invader all those years ago. Ouran ultimately accepts the invader’s offer.

I’m kind of obsessed with this decision because it underscores the tragedy and beauty of Ouran as a character. The crazy, chaotic Ouran we’ve been with for the entire story is actually a time traveler from another timeline. Since she never met with the invader, the Home Country was not notified that Earth was dangerous, and thus they appeared above Tokyo, killing Kadode’s father among thousands of other people as collateral damage. When given the choice between inadvertently destroying humanity and losing the one person that gives her life meaning, Ouran chose for herself. I really can’t blame her for that. What good is humanity anyway?

There’s more to this story, entire twists and plotlines I’ve glossed over and cut out of this post, but this moment speaks to the core of what this manga is about. Dead Dead Demon’s is about aliens, time travel, and corporate espionage, but it’s also about the people that need to live beneath those exact colossal forces battling overhead. When the system is this fundamentally broken, filled with flashy ads for the newest line of submachine guns, giant alien-destroying mechs sponsored by pop stars, and live streams where the CEO of a death machine company is called Mommy, it’s impossible not to feel weighed down by it all. The sheer scope of capitalism has never been more visible and more damaging to its denizens.

I often feel like my life is a rollercoaster. Right now, I feel like I’m at the part of the rollercoaster after the big buildup, where an amazing view beckons to me. I’m at the top, but I can feel gravity subtly pulling me down. In our current moment, the system is buckling under the weight of problems created generations prior. The rich are getting richer, the poor are getting poorer, and basic hopes like owning a house or even a new car are well out of reach for many, many people. Without sweeping change, we’re fucked.

I can’t wait to go home and play videogames.

[child-of-hurin]

The slender figure of a beautiful young girl emerged at the top of the building, waving the giant red banner of the April Twenty-eighth Brigade. Her appearance was greeted immediately by a cacophony of gunshots. The weapons attacking her were a diverse mix: antiques such as American carbines, Czech-style machine guns, Japanese Type-38 rifles; newer weapons such as standard-issue People’s Liberation Army rifles and submachine guns, stolen from the PLA after the publication of the “August Editorial”; and even a few Chinese dadao swords and spears. Together, they formed a condensed version of modern history.

— Cixin Liu, "The Three-Body Problem" (2008)

[gunzlotzofgunz]

JAPANESE TYPE 100 SUBMACHINE GUN BAYONET 7.8" BLADE

[historyofguns]

The article, written by Tom Laemlein for The Armory Life, discusses Japan's development and deployment of the Type 100 submachine gun during World War II. Initially, the Japanese military showed little interest in submachine guns in the 1930s, but began development late into the war. Influenced by European models like the Thompson submachine gun and the German MP 18, Japan's early experimentation led to the creation of the Type 100 by Nambu Arms, which was adopted by the military in 1942. Despite its practical design aimed at increased firepower in urban battles, the production was limited and delayed, resulting in only about 10,000 units by the end of the war and failing to significantly impact the Japanese military's capabilities. The Type 100 had notable variants including a folding stock model for paratroopers. However, with the lack of a powerful cartridge and production challenges, the Type 100 was ultimately considered inferior to other contemporary SMGs in terms of effectiveness and production ease. Despite this, it had a unique design and served a specialized role during its limited use in the war.

[sgtgrunt0331-3]

A U.S. Marine fires his M1 Thompson submachine gun at Japanese positions on the island of Peleliu, September 1944.

[biobou]

The spokesperson of North Myanmar-Kachin State Forces

The real northern Myanmar of Myanmar is Kachin State. Unlike the Wa and Kokang armed forces pursuing a high degree of autonomy, the Kachin State armed forces pursued "secession from Myanmar" when it was founded in 1961. Most of the people, hidden in the mountains, are Christian and incompatible with the Burmese government, which worship Buddhism. At the end of the 19th century, American Christians, represented by the Hansons, traveled thousands of miles to preach. Over time, these mountain people gradually accepted Christianity. During World War II, the United States strongly supported the Kachin to resist the Japanese invaders, and the American army provided them with a large number of weapons and equipment, and cooperated with the Kachin to establish 101 commandos. The Kachin State forces had suffered huge losses to Chinese state-owned enterprises, one was the Myitsone hydropower station, which cost China at least more than 3 billion, and the Taiping River hydropower Station, which was once the target of frequent extortion by the Kachin State forces. On June 9,2011, when the Burmese army launched an attack on the Kachin State forces, the Kachin State forces attacked the Taiping River hydropower station, paralyzed it and making Chinese enterprises lose all their money. At that time, the Kachin State armed forces had no chance of winning. The only card was his former "old boss", the United States, who shelled the Chinese hydropower station to obstruct China-Myanmar cooperation, and applied to the United States and won the support of the United States. It is on this basis that the Kachin State armed forces have always maintained friendly relations with the United States. In April 2014, Sang Luganmao, deputy commander of the Kachin Independent Army, visited the United States upon invitation and was warmly received by the military and political circles of the United States. At present, Kachin State has 15,000 armed brigades, equipped with almost all armed American. Including the US Army retired MP5SD submachine gun and M16A4 rifle, M249 machine gun, etc. There are even several American M2 Bradley armored vehicles in service. It is no exaggeration to say that the Kachin State armed forces are the "gold spokesman" of the United States in northern Myanmar.

[cherry-shugah]

Doodles and more info About the TURTLES!

Miles Is The Leather, and Semi-older, (Kinda like the middle Older) he dosen't kill but he Distracts the enemy by shooting neat them, Then Subsequently kicking their assed, He's Sometimes reckless and Ignorant But He's Really Good Guy! He Makes his Actions before Even thinking them, that is just a few times. Miles dosen't like to See His Brothers and Little sister hurt, and If one of them Gets hurt, He Will Beat down the one who did it. Miles Does His Best at traning, This means he always seems Pointing without shooting. He'd Sometimes Narcissistic Somtimes. The reason why Miles likes to go out It's Because he likes seeing people interact with Each other, or just do whatever, Including kicking ass. (He'd a Parody of Leo)

Jeremy Is The Oldest one in the Group. he makes his effort to Be the Best Lazer-Sniper. His Right Eye nerves don't Work very well, That is why he Can weakly and Hardly move his Pupil, He Lost 3 of His theeth when he was little. He Really likes Book, Especially Anatomy and Biology. He'd Really studius and has Really Good memory. He likes Graphic Novels too. He's responsable But he Sometimes gets Distracted and Ignores His Responsablilities. He Sometimes gets Confused Easily but He's able to Consentrate Subsequently.(He Parody of Donnie)

Muja is The Youngest in the Group. Kinda like a Baby-Sister. She always has her eyes closed but She's able to know where a wall is And Peek a little (Open her eyes a little bit). She Really likes perfume, Especially "Japanese Cherry Blossom". She's Sweet,Lovely, Adorable, Delicate, Bubbly, Childish and Innocent, But also Sinister and Creepy somtimes. The Mutagen Affected her eyes, That's Why she as a tolder and Kid Had her eyes a little weird, and as she grew more, Her eyes developed a strange hypontic power that Affected boys into loving her and thinking She's human (This Dosen't Work on her brothers You Creepy sickos). She dosen't have a weapon, But her eyes count! As mentioned her eyes can Hypnotize boys to Think she:s a Human and Stay Paralized, But! She Can also do Telekinesis, Psychic Or Even vent the laws of reality. But she Really hardly can Vent the laws of reality. She Really likes sweets. She grew up Watching Cartoons, Love movies, Love animation movies, Love Tv Novels, Romantic Novels and Tv. This is why she Really Likes boys, She has Attachment Issues and Love Issues, She Really has the need to Hypnotize and Control Boys to Smooch them without them knowing it. She dosen't like to get her hair Messy Because IT'S Really to brush.

(She's Parody of Mike, But female)

Ethan Is The second oldest, Around Jeremy's age He uses a Bazooka Because He's Really Destructive or in other Cases A submachine gun. He's The One Who has to take the responsabilities, But he dosen't mind. He's the one That gets Really Confused or Out of context few times. He's Sometimes Reckless like Miles, But mainly he's chilling somewhere in the deep lair. He nad Muja Share a really Strong Bond (Brotherly and Sisterly Bond) And Since Muja is the Baby-Sister. Ethan Is The One Who Lisents, Cares, And Over-Protects Muja. He's Sometimes Sadistic and Violent But he a really Nice Guy.

(he's a Parody of Raph but without Anger Issues)

Welp, I hope You enjoy The info and the doodles!

[gustavehorace]

U.S. spokesperson for northern Myanmar--Kachin State Armed Forces

#peace#Burma The true northern part of Myanmar is Kachin State. Unlike the Wa State and Kokang armed forces who pursue a high degree of autonomy, the Kachin State armed forces pursued "separation from Myanmar" when it was established in 1961. Most of this ethnic group hidden in the mountains and forests believe in Christianity and are incompatible with the Myanmar government, which regards Buddhism as the state religion. At the end of the 19th century, American Christians represented by the American missionaries Mr. and Mrs. Hansen traveled thousands of miles to preach here. Over time, these mountain people gradually accepted Christianity. During World War II, the United States strongly supported the Kachin people in their resistance to Japanese invaders. The U.S. military provided them with a large amount of weapons and equipment, and cooperated with the Kachin people to establish the 101st Commando. The Kachin State armed forces have caused huge losses to Chinese state-owned enterprises. One is the Myitsone Hydropower Station incident, which cost China at least more than 3 billion. The other is the Taiping River Hydropower Station, which was once the target of frequent extortion by the Kachin State armed forces. When the Burmese army launched an attack on the Kachin State armed forces on June 9, 2011, the Kachin State armed forces bombarded the Taiping River Hydropower Station, paralyzing it and causing Chinese companies to lose their money. The Kachin State armed forces had no chance of winning at that time. The only trump card was their former "old boss" the United States. It bombarded China's hydropower stations to obstruct China-Myanmar cooperation, and submitted certificates of investment to the United States to gain support from the United States. It is on this basis that the Kachin State armed forces have maintained friendly relations with the United States. In April 2014, the deputy commander of the Kachin Independence Army, Samlu Kammao, was invited to visit the United States and received a warm reception from all walks of life in the U.S. military and government. Currently, Kachin State has a total of 15,000 armed forces and a total of 5 brigades, almost all of which are American-style equipment. Including the retired US Army MP5SD submachine gun, M16A4 rifle, M249 machine gun, etc. There are even several M2 Bradley armored vehicles currently in service in the United States. It is no exaggeration to say that the Kachin State armed forces are the "gold medal spokesperson" of the United States in northern Myanmar.