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Unique Japanese Type 89 Rounds

D

dmm9623

Member
Does anyone recognize the mortar round pictured below the tube? Going through volumes of technical data I can find only one photo with a brief description but no type designation. It's 50mm with six fins, a hole just above the fins, three gas check grooves and accepts a standard type 88 fuze. Also, take note of the type 89 round. It was fired/launched with the safety clip still in place. Evidenced by rifling on the drive band, holes blown out of the copper propellant cup and bent clip. It was found buried nose down in soft jungle soil. A rare find or are dud rounds common place?
T-89 7 & ORDNANCE.jpg50mm MORTAR.jpgDUD TYPE 89 PIECES.jpg
 
Same mortar round, different reference with higher quality images and much more information. Attached photo shows the nose adaptor with very fine LH threads. Your response is greatly appreciated.
IMG_0369.jpg
 
There were a great many improvised munitions in both China and the Philippines, built by resistance fighters in the areas. China has at least one museum dedicated to them and their equipment. Many of these used ordnance developed or found in the areas, modified to utilize captured Japanese equipment. Interesting that this item shares some features of French 5cm mortars.

The MEIU folks at the time did a pretty good job of trying to document everything that they found in the different locations, putting out the MEIU Reports. These reports were later consolidated into the Blue Book, which weeded out (dropped) some items that were not actual adopted items or items seen in significant numbers. The Blue Book was then revised with a second volume, and then the volumes were later consolidated and turned into OPNAV 30-3M, one of the best US documents done on Japanese ordnance. If you have many of the original reports, followed by the Blue Books (rare) and the OPNAV you can track the history of the items, see how the intell was processed for mass consumption, and note what items didn't make the final documents. Best guess is that this may be the case with your mystery mortar.
 
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