Type 89 grenade discharger

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Type 89 Grenade Discharger

Type 89 Grenade Discharger and various grenades, shells, and accessories
Type Grenade launcher
Place of origin Flag of the Empire of Japan Empire of 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)
Caliber 50 mm (1.97 in)
Effective range (Type 89 grenade): 120 m
Maximum range (Type 89 grenade): 670 m
Type 89 discharger wtih Type 89 grenade. More views
Type 89 discharger wtih Type 89 grenade. More views
Type 91 high explosive grenade.
Type 91 high explosive grenade.
50 mm Incendiary grenade.
50 mm Incendiary grenade.

The Type 89 Grenade Discharger (Japanese: 八九式重擲弾筒 hachijūkyū shiki jūtekidantō) 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 fuse might detonate upon hitting the jungle canopy [1]. The mortar can be disassembled into three parts for ease of transport. Allied forces mistakenly assumed that the grenade launcher was propped on the leg to fire and therefore referred to it as a "knee mortar". A U.S. Marine on Guadalcanal, however, who tried to fire a captured Type 89 in this fashion broke his thigh.

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].

Contents

[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 fuse.
  • Type 91 high explosive grenade fitted with 7 second delay fuse.
  • 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 incendiary material.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

A Japanese army soldier demonstrates the use of a Type 89 launcher.
A Japanese army soldier demonstrates the use of a Type 89 launcher.
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Japanese infantry weapons of World War II
Side arms
Rifles & carbines
Submachine guns
Light machine guns
Heavy machine guns
Grenades
Support weapons
Cartridges