Type 89 grenade discharger

Infobox Weapon
name= Type 89 Grenade Discharger


caption= Type 89 Grenade Discharger and various grenades, shells, and accessories
origin=flag|Empire of Japan
type= Grenade launcher
is_ranged=yes
is_bladed=
is_explosive=
is_artillery=
is_vehicle=
is_UK=
service= 1929-1945
used_by=Imperial Japanese Army
wars= Second Sino-Japanese War,
World War II
designer=
design_date=
manufacturer=
production_date=
number=
variants=
weight= 4.7 kg (10.3 lb)
length= 610 mm (24 in)
part_length= 254 mm (10 in)
width=
height=
crew=
cartridge=
caliber= 50 mm (1.97 in)
action=
rate=
velocity=
range= (Type 89 grenade):
120 m (131 yd)
max_range= (Type 89 grenade):
670 m (732 yd)
feed=
sights=

[
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 [http://www.nps.gov/wapa/indepth/extContent/usmc/pcn-190-003117-00/sec5a.htm] . 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.Fact|date=July 2008

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 [http://www.wlhoward.com/museum/id577.htm] .

pecifications

* Weight of projectile: 793 g (28 oz)
* Rate of fire: 25 rounds/minute

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.

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
* [http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/Japan/IJA/HB/HB-9-2.html US Army field manual TM-E 30-480 at hyperwar]
* [http://www3.plala.or.jp/takihome/grenade.htm#89GD Taki (Type 89)]
* [http://www.lonesentry.com/articles/jp-use-smoke/index.html U.S. WWII Intel Report on Japanese Smoke Grenades]

External links

* [http://members.shaw.ca/nambuworld/t89pix.htm Nambu World: Type 89 “Knee Mortar” (Grenade Launcher)]
* [http://www.inert-ord.net/jap02h/t91gren/index.html Type 91 grenade at inert-ord.net]
* [http://www.inert-ord.net/jap02h/knee/index.html Type 89 grenade at inert-ord.net]
* [http://www.carbinesforcollectors.com/kneem.html Colour pictures of the Type 89 and Type 10 at carbinesforcollectors.com]