The Japanese Type 98 was a reflector-style gun sight used on many Imperial Japanese Navy and Army aircraft during World War II, including the A6M Zero.
Instead of a simple ring and bead, it used a collimator lens to project a reticule (a aiming pattern, often a crosshair) onto a transparent glass screen. This allowed the pilot to see the aiming point and the target at the same time, without needing to focus their eyes back and forth. This design made aiming faster and more accurate, especially in a dogfight.
The Type 98 reflector gunsight was a standard piece of equipment used by both the Imperial Japanese Navy and Army Air Forces. It was fitted to a variety of their frontline fighter aircraft during World War II.
Some of the most notable aircraft that used the Type 98 sight include:
Mitsubishi A6M "Zero": This was the most famous Japanese fighter of the war, and the Type 98 was a key component of its cockpit.
Nakajima Ki-44 "Tojo": This Army fighter, designed as an interceptor, also used the Type 98 sight.
Kawasaki Ki-61 "Tony": The Ki-61, Japan's only mass-produced liquid-cooled engine fighter, was also equipped with this reflector sight.
Kawasaki Ki-45 "Nick": The Type 98 was used on this twin-engine heavy fighter and night fighter.The Japanese Type 98 was a reflector-style gun sight used on many Imperial Japanese Navy and Army aircraft during World War II, including the A6M Zero.
Instead of a simple ring and bead, it used a collimator lens to project a reticle (a aiming pattern, often a crosshair) onto a transparent glass screen. This allowed the pilot to see the aiming point and the target at the same time, without needing to focus their eyes back and forth. This design made aiming faster and more accurate, especially in a dogfight.
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A32030 - Type 98 Japanese WWII gun sights – 1:32
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