**INERT DEACTIVATED** The Type 89 Grenade Discharger, inaccurately and colloquially known as a knee mortar by Allied forces, (derived from the curved base plate) is a Japanese grenade launcher or light mortar that was widely used in the Pacific Ocean theatre of World War II. It could fire incendiary rounds, smoke rounds, and high-explosive rounds. This is a scarce WW2 Japanese type 89 high explosive mortor round (A diagram of a Type 89 Mortar round is illustrated on page 373 of a U.S. Army Technical Manual Japanese Explosive Ordnance and is reproduced in image 1 together with a period image of a Type 89 Mortar in during WW2). The explosive components of these rounds were: Main charge: TNT. Propellant: Nitrocellulose diphenylamine flaked powder. Our example has its all original finish, black over all with red band at nose and Yellow cylinder band (Navy examples were maroon colour all over). It has the correct Type 88 small instantaneous fuze. The body of this shell is made of three parts. The propellant base housing houses the propellant container and the percussion primer. The main shell base cover is threaded to the top section on one end and to the propellant housing on the other. The top section has an opening in the top to receive the fuze. On firing, the gases generated blow through the ports in the base housing, expanding the copper rotating band into the rifling of the discharger giving a gas seal and imparting rotation to the shell. The fuze, copper band, hollow casing & brass collar with pronged pin and pull string have Japanese kanji marks and numbers (all illustrated). The price for this scarce WW2 Japanese Mortar round includes UK delivery. NB No license is required to own this inert deactivated round in the UK if retained as part of a collection or display. O 2400 (corridor shelf with fuzes)
£750.00