VICTORY OVER JAPAN

Tenno Heika Banzai meaning Long Live the Emperor, shortened to Banzai, was the battle cry of fanatical Japanese troops as they charged American marines and soldiers in suicidal human wave attacks. Banzai charges were often conducted by remnants of Japanese troops following defeats in organized battle, as a last resort and alternative to surrender, leading to some of the most savage fighting in the Pacific/ Asia theater during WWII. Tenno Heika Banzai was also the title of one of the battle themed contests in the recent 14th annual VJ Day Military Match conducted by the New Jersey Arms Collectors Club (NJACC). Military aficionados and serious arms collectors from all parts of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York made the trek to the Shongum Sportsman's Association range at Oxford, New Jersey on August 15, 2015 for a day of friendly competition and a hearty lunch prepared by the club's own culinarian and stand in cook, Tom P. There was lots of food and plenty of it, so if anyone left hungry it was their own fault. Happily no casualties were reported to have resulted from lunch again this year. Once again participants brought examples of American, British, Russian, and Japanese rifles used in those long ago battles and competed for trophies and the ultimate glory of being mentioned in this dispatch. Contest rules required shooters fire 10 rounds in 2 minutes at targets placed at 100 yards. This year there were sixteen contests in the course of fire, three of which were combination rifle/handgun events and two handgun only events. A quick tour of the benches disclosed many competitors had brought a fine variety of U.S. M1 Garands, 1903 Springfields, and Model 1917 US Enfields. Several Thompson semi auto carbines were on hand as was an ultra nifty Model 1918A2 type BAR semi auto rifle. British and Australian weapons were also well represented by MKIII SMLEs, No.4 Enfields, No. 5 Jungle Carbines. Last but not least there were plentiful samples of Japanese Type 38 and Type 99 rifles and their many variants including a nice Type 100 paratroop rifle and a rare Type 30 "Hook Safety". In addition a few less common rifles from the Asia/ Pacific war were on the line and highly worthy of note. Among these were: a Chinese Hangyang type rifle and very nice Italian made Japanese Type I along with a number of 98K rifle similar to those used by China and several Mosin Nagant 91/30s used by Russia. After a brief sighting in period, the match got under way. Rifle competition progressed smoothly under the watchful eye and expert guidance of the NJACC club's shoot chairman Stan G. and range safety officer Steve S. Once again, combination rifle and pistol contests, which have become increasingly popular at these matches, drew a goodly number of competitors. Two new combined events were added this year; The first called the Palm Tree Clearance contest required the shooter fire a 12 gauge shotgun and a pistol at a silhouette target The second event called Gung Ho was a multi-positional contest using an M-1 Garand and a 1911 pistol. Also added this year, was the afore mentioned Tenno Heika Banzai contest that required the shooter to fire a Japanese rifle off-hand with fixed bayonet at a target placed at 100 yards. Many top shooters vied for the trophies awarded for the highest score in each contest. One shooter, Chris C. participated as a Filipino Scout in an awesome and authentic WWII uniform. All shooting benches were taken as over 20 shooters competed, setting a high bar for accuracy with some very close scoring. The top score of the day (99-4X) was turned for the Manchurian Contest by a 70 year old shooter firing an 80 year old Turkish copy of the Chinese Hangyang type rifle, proving that some of those antiques can still shoot. The Tenno Heika Banzai trophy for best score with a Japanese rifle with fixed bayonet went to John M. using a Japanese Type 99 rifle with a score of 81, which was no mean feat considering the awkwardness of those weapons. John also won the grueling Gung Ho contest with a score of 273-3X and the Edson's Ridge event with a score of 95-2X. Glenn K. successfully cleared the Palm Trees with a score of 322, which was over 50 points higher than the next closet competitor, using a very nice Remington Model 10 shotgun and an original Colt 1911. The overall big winner of the day in the rifle contest category was Jay R. who took home four of the coveted trophies. He was followed by John M. and Paul M. with three wins each. After a satisfying gourmet lunch of authentic military style cuisine consisting of tube steak smothered in crusted chili on a bun with sauerkraut and baked beans, the pistol events commenced on the indoor range under the supervision of Steve S. Contestants brought a treasure trove of vintage collectable pistols used by Japanese and Allied troops. Glenn K. who also won the Palm Tree Clearing contest, dominated in the pistol events winning all of the contests with highly respectable scores using a Japanese Nambu model 94 and an original Colt 1911. As usual, the unsung task of registering competitors, scoring targets, and reporting results was handled by Tom P. in addition to his duties as demi-chef. Tom did have some help from a couple of shooters and Shongum Staff in scoring while he was trying to play catch-up. All scores were certified by a range official and are shown below.

V-J Day Match
CONTEST / Guns of the Era	Winner / Rifle	Score
SPECIAL TROPHIES
YOUNG SAMURAI (BONZAI) Best score for person under 18	Matt A Marine Raider Thompson Carbine	84
3) TOKYO ROSE For Best Female Score	Pam A. Marine Raider Thompson Carbine	50
EVENTS 1 - 6,8 RIFLE 10 Rounds - 2 Minutes - 100 Yards
1) MANCHURIA JAPANESE TYPE-30,38 MOD 98 MAUSER, GERMAN MOD 88/05 or CHINESE HANYANG	Paul M Hangyang Mauser	96-4X
2) GUADALCANAL '03 SPRINGFIELD, '03A1 SPRINGFIELD, ANY 6.5 JAPANESETYPE 38 or TYPE I(Italian)	Paul M. Jap Type 38	90
3) BATAAN US M1917 ENFIELD, ANY JAPANESE 6.5 OR 7.7MM Long RIFLE)	Dave T. US M1917 Enfield	89-2X
4) OKINAWA '03A3, M-1 GARAND, ANY JAPANESE 6.5 OR 7.7MM SERVICE RIFLE or CARBINE	Jay R. 7.7 Japanese	97
5) BURMA TYPE-38 OR TYPE 44 JAPANESE CARBINE, #5 ENFIELD JUNGLE CARBINE .45-70	Jay R. #5 Enfield Jungle Carbine	94-1X
6) MANDALAY ANY JAPANESE SERVICE RIFLE,BRITISH #3 SMLE OR #4 ENFIELD	Jay R Enfield SMLE .303	93-3X
7) PACIFIC SNIPER TYPE-97 OR TYPE-99 WITH ORIGINAL SCOPE, '03A4, 1942 USMC, M1C-SNIPER, #1 MK-IV(T) (1 SHOT - 100 YARDS)	Jeff A. '03A4 Springfield	0
8) KHALKHIN GOL SVT, MOSIN NAGANT, ANY JAPANESE 6.5MM SERVICE RIFLE	Paul M. Mosin Nagant 91/30	96-4X
9) CABANATUAN M1 Garand - 8 shots off hand 100yds, / 1911 - 7 shots 50 Feet	Jack S	120
10) Marine Raider THOMPSON/REISING CARBINE (Full Silhouette Target)	Jeff A Thompson Carbine	90-1X
11) GUNG HO! M1 Garand, 1917 Revolver/1911 SemiAuto 24 Rounds M1 -3 Positions- Standing, Kneeling, Prone Six Rounds .45acp at 25yds	John M M1 Grand & 1911A1	271
12)Tenno Heika Banzai Any Japanese Service Rifle w/Bayonet, Standing Off-hand	John M Type 1 w/Bayonet	87
13) Edson's Ridge Semi Auto Browning BAR,1917 or 1919	John M BAR	78
16) Palm Tree Clearance Five Rounds @ 35yards - 12ga 00Buck WW-II 12ga Shotgun 20" Bbl, Six Rounds GI Handgun @ 25yds	Glenn K. Remington Model 10 & Colt 1911	322
EVENTS 14 & 15 Handguns -12 Shots Off-Hand @ 50 Feet
14) SAMAURI TROPHY Any Japanese Service Pistol or Revolver Type 26, 14, 94, Nambu	Glenn K Nambu	86
15) VICTORY OVER JAPAN ANY WWII ALLIED FORCES SERVICE PISTOL, 1911, 1911A1, TOKAREV, BROWNING HP, C96, COLT, S&W,WEBLEY, ENFIELD, NAGANT	Glenn K Colt 1911	86
All Reported Scores