Type 89 Grenade Discharger
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Type 89 Grenade Discharger | |
|---|---|
 Type 89 Grenade Discharger and various grenades, shells, and accessories |
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| Type | Grenade launcher |
| Place of origin | Japan |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1929-1945 |
| Used by | Imperial Japanese Army |
| Wars | Second Sino-Japanese War, World War II |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 4.7 kg |
| Length | 610 mm |
| Barrel length | 254 mm (10 in) |
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| Caliber | 50 mm (1.97 in) |
| Effective range | (Type 89 grenade): 120 m |
| Maximum range | (Type 89 grenade): 670 m |
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The Type 89 Grenade Discharger (Jutekidanto) is a Japanese grenade launcher that was widely used in the Pacific during the Second World War. It entered service in 1929, and differs from the Type 10 Grenade Discharger in that it has a rifled barrel. It could also fire the heavier Type 89 grenade which had a greater range and power than the Type 91 grenade. The Type 89 grenade could not be used effectively in the Jungle because its impact fuze might detonate upon hitting the jungle canopy [1]. The mortar can be disassembled into three parts for ease of transport. The Allied forces accidentally translated the name of the grenade launcher as "knee mortar," which resulted in many leg and knee injuries for Americans who captured them.
Although it could be fired by a single person, it was typically operated with a crew of 3, enabling it to reach a rate of fire of about 25 rounds per minute [2].
[edit] Specifications
- Weight of projectile: 793 g (28 oz)
- Rate of fire: 25 rounds/minute
[edit] Ammunition
- Type 89 high explosive grenade fitted with impact fuze.
- Type 91 high explosive grenade fitted with 7 second delay fuze.
- Type 94 practice shell
- Smoke shell weight: 0.9 kg containing 0.11 kg of HC type smoke mixture.
- Incendiary shell weight: 0.57 kg containing 0.32 of incendary material.
[edit] References
- Leo J. Daugherty III, Fighting Techniques of a Japanese Infantryman 1941-1945, ISBN 1-86227-162-3
- Gordon L Rottman, Japanese Infantryman 1937-45 Sword of the empire, ISBN 1-84176-818-9
- US Army field manual TM-E 30-480 at hyperwar
- Taki (Type 89)
- U.S. WWII Intel Report on Japanese Smoke Grenades
[edit] External links
- Nambu World: Type 89 “Knee Mortar” (Grenade Launcher)
- Type 91 grenade at inert-ord.net
- Type 89 grenade at inert-ord.net
- Colour pictures of the Type 89 and Type 10 at carbinesforcollectors.com
| Japanese infantry weapons of World War II |
|---|
| Side-arms |
| Type 26 Revolver | Nambu Type 1 | Nambu Type 14 | Type 94 |
| Rifles & carbines |
| Type 38 | Type 38 Cavalry Carbine | Type 44 Cavalry Carbine | Type 97 Sniper Rifle | Type 99 |
| Submachine guns |
| Type 100 |
| Machine-guns |
| Type 11 Light Machine Gun | Type 96 Light Machine Gun | Type 97 Light Machine Gun | Type 99 Light Machine Gun Type 1 Heavy Machine Gun | Type 3 Heavy Machine Gun | Type 4 Heavy Machine Gun | Type 92 Heavy Machine Gun |
| Support weapons |
| Type 93 and 100 flamethrowers | Type 10 Grenade Discharger | Type 89 Grenade Discharger | Type 97 20 mm AT Rifle |
