| An Imperial Japanese Army crew operates a Type 11 37 millimeter (1.45 inch) infantry gun during the Battle of Lake Khasan. This light gun, introduced in 1922, provided infantry battalions with organic artillery, meaning they no longer had to wait for heavier guns to deliver indirect fire on targets such as pillboxes, machine gun nests, and armored vehicles. But its light charge, low velocity, and low rate of fire rendered it obsolete during the Pacific War. The gun captain is sighting the weapon. The main gunner is operating the gun. The 1st reserve gunner kneels immediately behind them. The squad leader is kneeling off slightly to 1 side, and 2 reserve gunners are lying off behind the gun. The Battle of Lake Khasan, also known as the Changkufeng Incident, was a battle fought between the Soviet Union and Japan from July 29 to August 11, 1938. The puppet state of Manchukuo invaded the Soviet Union, claiming territorial disputes over the 1860 Treaty of Peking between Imperial Russia and the Qing Dynasty. Japanese troops overwhelmed and eliminated Soviet garrisons at Changkufeng on July 31. In response, the Soviets assembled a combined aerial, ground, and naval assault, which ultimately failed due to adverse weather conditions and poor coordination. Initially, the assaults failed, but by August 6, Soviet bombers attacked Japanese positions on the heights overlooking Changkufeng, and infantry drove the Japanese out. Japanese counterattacks failed to reclaim their positions. The Japanese sued for peace in the face of a wider conflict. The Battle of Lake Khasan was 1 of several border clashes in Manchuria. These confrontations with the Soviets convinced the Imperial Japanese Army to look south for the resources the Japanese needed, setting the nation on the course to the Pacific War. | |
| Image Filename | wwii1541.jpg |
| Image Size | 1.29 MB |
| Image Dimensions | 4259 x 2953 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | Imperial Japanese Army |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | August 1, 1938 |
| Location | |
| City | Lake Khasan |
| State or Province | Khasansky |
| Country | Soviet Union |
| Archive | |
| Record Number | |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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