Unknown japanese knee mortar

[genkideskan]

Browsing through some manuals Ive found this 50 mm mortar.
Unknown to me so far. The pic was labeled 50mm Type 27
(Meiji) = 1894 mortar.

Any idea about this model? It is very different to the Type 10.
I wonder what they fired from this mortar - must be something
different to the T 10 grenades/ shells.

I always wonder about the grenade body used for the old japanese
stick and impact grenades.

Doesnt that really look like an grenade body?

No, stripping all grenade parts it looks like a shell. Diameter is arround
47mm. Could this grenade body be the body of the shell that was fired from these grandpa mortar?

 

[genkideskan]

The shell body may be was still available after a new mortar and a new ammunition was introduced. So the body was used to make grenades.
There are several impact types with serrated bodies and even a practice
grenades. The fuzes are of several different constructions. Even a stick
grenade with time delay pull fuze.

 

[genkideskan]

The stick grenades where later made with the common cylindrical pot.
It is possible that the shell bodies where used up with these "substitute"
grenades.

Adding a wooden or metal bottom to the shell body with a propelling charge, an impact fuze and a sort of gas seal or driving band into the circular nut and youve got an good idea of the mortar round.

Here is a close up of the mortar

Any more infos - any ideas???????

 

[Trenchwarfare]

This weapon is a Chinese Type 27. (Probably year of intro) It is a simplified copy of the Japanese Type 10. Due to the construction, it is believed that it fired a projectile similar to the Types 10, and 91. They are discussed in the back of "The Knee Mortars Of Japan 1921-1945" By Mark Strange, and Doss White. Excellent reference.

 

[genkideskan]

Wow,
thanks a lot for the info.