Japanese Paratrooper Parachute?

[RobertE]

Hi folks,

I nothing about Japanese paratrooper equipment. This appears to be a large, silk parachute , bag, and smaller parachute intended for paratroopers, not aircrew. It has some edge damage, but appears to have all the lines attached and they terminate into riser bundles.

I think it is Japanese Army paratrooper, but am not certain. I base this on the fact it had a green and yellow pack with it, but it got lost along the way.

Can anyone confirm it's for paratroopers, and also identify what the smaller parachute and wooden ring night be for?

I appreciate the help - regards, Robert

[RobertE]

2

[RobertE]

3

[RobertE]

large parachute markings

[RobertE]

small parachute markings

[Nick Komiya]

No not paratrooper, but a type 92 chest parachute for non-pilot crew.

[RobertE]

Thank you, Nick. I read the type 92 was originally believed to be for non-aircrew, but is now accepted as a paratrooper parachute. It had this type bag with it, which I believe is the color combination for army paratroopers.

Here's the bag, barely visible under the bag. Army packs were orange with dark green tape trim and reinforcement - what about the non-crew parachutes?

Thanks for the help - I hope I'm not being too thick about this. Also - any idea what the small parachute is?

regards, Robert

[GHP]

The small parachute is the pilot 'chute -- it helps deploy the main parachute.

I don't recall having pilot chutes when I jumped the T-10 (or maybe I've forgotten); but apparently today the main chute has a pilot chute.
You definitely need a spring-loaded pilot chute in the reserve pack to help deploy the reserve when needed.

2-7. MODIFIED IMPROVED RESERVE PARACHUTE SYSTEM
The MIRPS (used with the T-10- and MC1-series) is an emergency-type parachute designed to be activated by the parachutist if the main parachute malfunctions. It is chest-mounted, manually operated, and loaf-shaped when packed. It weighs between 13 and 13.5 pounds, has a combined shelf life and service life not to exceed 16.5 years, and is 24 feet in diameter. It is repacked every 365 days. The MIRPS consists of six major components: pilot parachute, bridle line with weight and apex weight, ejector spring, canopy assembly, pack assembly, and rip cord assembly.

a. Pilot Parachute Assembly. The pilot parachute assists in deployment of the parachute canopy by serving as an air anchor. It is a five-foot, flat, circular parachute with bridle line and is constructed from zero-porosity nylon parachute cloth and marquisette netting. The netting is reinforced with six radial tapes that form the bridle attachment loop. A centerline is attached to the parachute cloth to speed pilot chute inflation and also forms part of the bridle attachment loop. The pilot chute does not have suspension lines. It resembles a large ball.

b. Bridle Line Assembly. The bridle line assembly is 13 feet long and is constructed from two-inch-wide polyester webbing with a four-inch loop at each end. One end of the bridle line is fitted with an apex sock that aids in pressurizing the reserve main canopy during low-speed deployments. Adjacent to the apex sock, the bridle line is fitted with two curved metal pins that are used to secure the canopy staging flaps located in the pack assembly. The other end of the bridle line is fitted with a five-ounce deployment weight. The deployment weight provides the necessary mass to cause positive launch of the pilot chute once the ejector spring reaches full extension.

c. Deployment Assistance Device. The ejector spring is a 30-inch-long helical spring encased in marquisette netting and fitted with an end cap at each end. On one end cap, two grommet tabs are attached. These are used only during packing to keep the spring compressed. Before the final closing of the pack, the spring compression aid is removed, and the grommet tabs are no longer used.

You can see the pilot chutes in this image:



I really don't think I'd like to jump that current parachute!

--Guy

[GHP]

.... identify what the ... wooden ring night be for?

Robert,

I scanned the Army Publication Japanese Parachute Troops (1 July 1945) and could find but three mentions of a ring:

(P.5) Three jumps at the training speed are considered sufficient preparation for jumps from planes moving at combat speed. At the order "prepare to jump" the static-line swivel ring is attached firmly to the proper place in the fuselage. ...

but that doesn't sound applicable to yours.

(P.40) At the top of the canopy is a vent 30 inches in diameter, which is restricted by two heavy elastic rings to a diameter of approximately 8 inches. ...

And that doesn't sound right ... they're elastic.

(p. 40) The harness is made of single-thickness, silk webbing of a tensile strength of approximately 2,900 to 3,000 pounds, dyed dark green. Well-fitting, the harness holds the wearer securely. The hardware, small and light, is easily adjusted on the thin silk webbing. It is chromium-plated throughout. A quick-release device is incorporated, which, however, is not considered positive in operation. Rings are provided near the seat sling for attaching battle equipment, a life raft, or food kit. High on the harness risers are D rings for attaching the reserve chute.

I somehow doubt that description can apply to your wooden ring ....

We're at a loss until someone who knows better can help.

Regards,
--Guy

[RobertE]

Thanks Guy, that detailed description certainly helps with some well thought out possibilities.

regards, Robert

[Nick Komiya]

The type 92 chute was not used at all by paratroopers in combat, only during the early stages of training before a paratrooper chute got developed. The type 92 chute was for non-pilots (recon and navigation personnel) and the pilot's seat-type chute was the type 97. Because they had no other choice, both were used in initial training phases while in Manchuria and Hamamatsu training grounds. The type 92 being a chest chute, required one to dive head first like into a pool, which was not really appreciated, but the saving grace was that it had a slightly larger canopy than the 97 and thus offered softer landing. However, it did not allow equipment to be carried in front. By the time the paras moved to Kyushu from Manchuria in Sept 1941, they were finally issued the type 1 set for paratroopers. So the drop on the oil fields employed the type 1. However, there was later an embarrassing fatality during an exercise attended by the emperor, which spurred on further improvements leading to the type 4, which was employed in the drop on Leyte in the fall of 1944.

[RobertE]

Nick, thank you for that excellent overview of this parachute - I understand it's purpose now.

regards,

Robert