The Type 96 and Type 97 were Japanese 150 mm calibre mortars used during the Second World War. The Type 96 designation was given to this mortar as it was accepted in the year 2596 of the Japanese calendar (1936).[1] It had a caliber of 150.5 mm, and approximately 90 were produced. The Type 96 was used in Iwo Jima and China, but its performance is not known. In 1941 the weapon was developed into the more portable Type 97 150 mm Mortar, which simply has the recoil absorber removed.
Specifications[]
| Designation | Type 96 | Type 96 long barrel |
Type 97 short barrel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barrel length | 1.3 m (4 ft 3 in) | 1.9 m (6 ft 3 in) | 1.4 m (4 ft 7 in) |
| Elevation | +45° to +80° | ||
| Shell weight | Reported between 23.8–25.6 kg (52–56 lb) | ||
| Muzzle velocity | 214 m/s (700 ft/s) | ||
| Weight | 722 kg (1,592 lb) | 342 kg (754 lb) | 232.5 kg (513 lb) |
| Range | 3.9 km (2.4 mi) | ||
| Quantity produced |
90 | 110 | |
References[]
Notes[]
- ↑ War Department Special Series No 30 Japanese Mortars and Grenade Dischargers 1945
Bibliography[]
- US War Department Special Series No 30 Japanese Mortars and Grenade Dischargers 1945
External links[]
The original article can be found at Type 96 and Type 97 150 mm infantry mortar and the edit history here.