West Point Military Museum - Artillery / 25 Japanese WWII Model 89 Knee Mortar
Bill Maloney
3/13/2009

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25 Japanese WWII Model 89 Knee Mortar

25 Japanese WWII Model 89 Knee Mortar

Japanese WWII Model 89 Knee Mortar (Grenade Launcher)

More Japanese WWII Knee Mortars at other Military Museums in the Northeast
Japanese WWII Knee Mortar Japanese WWII Knee Mortar Japanese WWII Knee Mortar
A WWII Japanese Knee Mortar can be found at the Watervliet Arsenal Museum in Watervliet, NY Japanese WWII Knee Mortar at the Eldred World War II Museum in Eldred, PA Another WWII Japanese Knee Mortar can be found at the Military Museum of Southern New England in Danbury, CT

Caliber: 1.97 inches
Action: Smoothbore, lanyard operation
Muzzle Velocity: fps
Range: 130 yards
Weight of Round - 28 oz
Maximum Powder Charge:
Barrel Length: 10 inches
Weight: 10 lbs
Year Built: 1929 The Knee Mortar was designed to be leaned against a log or rock with the barrel at about 45 degrees. Range was adjusted by changing a variable chamber space within the weapon. It could also be used for direct fire by placeing the base against a tree or wall. Allied soldiers initially thought it was to be placed on the knee and fired. The resulted in a number of fractured thigh bones until word was passed along the front lines about its intended use.