50 mm Type 98 wooden spigot and base of main charge container.

Place Oceania: Australia, Queensland
Accession Number RELAWM27191
Collection type Technology
Object type Munition component
Place made Japan
Date made c 1938
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
Description

Wooden spigot and metal spigot housing for the main explosive charge which fitted into the barrel of a Type 98 (1938) 50 mm Mortar. This is the bottom part of the projectile. This element attached to the rectangular main charge (RELAWM27120)

The mortar was designed to fire a spigot bomb or a bangalore torpedo with fins to detonate barbed wire.

The mortar itself consists of three parts: a rectangular, sectioned base plate, barrel and fixed position bipod. The barrel has a fixed elevation of 40 degrees and at its base has an offset primer seat. Two links, one on each side, extend from the barrel collar. Provision is made for limited traverse.

The mortar was loaded by dropping one or more silk charge bags containing black powder increments down the tube. The charge bags were ignited by friction pull igniters which were fitted into the offset primer seat.

History / Summary

Unknown