Type 97 81mm

History

During World War II, the Imperial Japanese Army used various arch artillery systems in its conquest of the Pacific. Chief among them is the unique grenade launcher, which is more of a miniature mortar system that fires smaller projectiles.

However, like all modern armies at the time, the IJA also valued more traditional mortar designs, which appeared in two popular calibers - 81mm and 90mm.

The Type 97 (or Type 97) is an 81mm mortar not unlike the American M1 system in design, range and operation. It consists of three main components, including the launch tube, base plate and adjustable bipod assembly. A crank on the neck of the bipod allows the crew to change height.

The base plate is heavy, rectangular, and the 81mm projectile is small enough to be held in two hands while carrying it. The crew adjusted all aspects of projectile launch based on terrain and resistance.

The operation consists of dropping a valid 81mm grenade into the launch tube, where the grenade hits the waiting firing pin, igniting the projectile's propellant charge. This forces the projectile out of the launch tube and towards the calculated arc target.

The 81mm Type 97 mortar has an effective range of up to 3,062 yards and fires at a muzzle velocity of 643 feet per second. The crew can raise the launch tube from +45 degrees to +85 degrees to attack targets close to the launch point. The system weighed a total of 148 pounds, required several crew members to transport, and was eventually broken down into several parts.

The primary 81mm projectile used by the Type 97 is the Type 100 high-explosive (HE) shell, which weighs just over 7 pounds.

The Type 97 81mm mortar entered service with the IJA in 1937 and remained in service until the end of the war in August 1945. The weapon is deployed anywhere in the Pacific and Southeast Asia where the IJA is active.

Specification

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