- Japanese 50 mm Mortar, Type 89 -
"Knee Mortar"
World War II

Japanese 50mm Type 89 The Kit:  
This 1/35th scale kit is from the Tamiya Japanese Army Infantry set and is molded in styrene plastic. Technically, this weapon was classified as a Grenade Launcher, but it is more commonly known as a "knee mortar", and this is why I've included it in this collection of infantry mortars.
       
Japanese 50mm Type 89

The Details:

   
This kit is constructed of a single part that required some minor parting line clean-up. I drilled out the barrel, and then added the firing strap out of a thin strip of drafting tape.
       
Japanese 50mm Type 89

The Figure:

   
The Ariska Rifle was added to the kit figure and detailed by the addition of the rifle sling and 'hardware'. The sling being made from a narrow strip of drafting tape, with bent wire and styrene bits. The helmet's camouflaged net was made from individual strands of gauze bandage that was white-glued on.
       
Japanese 50mm Type 89 Base and Groundwork:

This base is oak and is cut to 3-1/2 inches in diameter. It is stained and sealed with multiple coats of Polyurethane. Sculptamold mixed with white glue was added for the groundwork and to this, I added various ground up sticks and twigs that were used for the jungle litter. I made the palm fronds from paper sandwiched on a length of wire, cut to shape and painted. I've also included tall grass, static grass, and dried flowers.

       
Japanese 50mm Type 89 Painting, Weathering and Finishing:
Acrylic paints were used to paint this subject. Artist oils thinned with an odorless brush cleaner and thinner were used for the washes. Weathering on the mortar was accomplished by using a silver art colored pencil. An acrylic flat coat was then applied overall to the finished subject.
  Japanese 50mm Type 89  

General Mortar Info:
The Type 89 differed significantly from the previously issued Type 10. The Type 89 consisted of a rifled barrel and this weapon utilized the three times more effective Type 89 grenade as it's standard ammunition. The weapon was heavier than the Type 10, and therefore was normally broken down into 3 parts for ease of carrying by three infantrymen. Each IJA platoon normally contained 3 or 4 Type 89s.
The illustrations below show how the Type 89 was normally fired. Note that this weapon was not fired from the knee or based upon any part of the body. Serious injury from the recoil of the weapon would result if fired in that manner.
  Reprinted with permission  

Actual Mortar Data:  
Barrel Length: 248 mm

Range with Type 89 Grenade: 650 m

Overall Length: 608 mm 

Range with non-Type 89 Grenade: 190m

Weight: 4.7 kg

Year Introduced: 1929


Ammunition Types:

Image: Four types of 50mm Grenades with partial markings.

 

A) Type 89
High Explosive (HE)

C) Type 89 (Naval Issue)
High Explosive (HE)

B) Type 89
High Explosive (HE)

D) Type 95 Smoke

50mm Grenade Types and Markings

 

Sources:
Imperial Japanese Army Home Page

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Mortars in Miniature, Created and Maintained by
Kevin Robert Keefe, Copyright © 2012
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