Fall 2026 Militaria and Aviation Auction
Lot 120:
Description
Imperial Japanese Army Type 89 Knee Mortar Projectile, Inert. This lot features an inert, demilitarized example of the standard high-explosive round utilized by the Type 89 Grenade Discharger, commonly referred to as the ‘knee mortar.’ The projectile exhibits the characteristic streamlined body and drive band design specific to the Imperial Japanese infantry support weapon that saw widespread use across the Pacific theater from 1932 through the end of the Second World War. Artillery and mortar support were essential to Japanese infantry tactics in the jungle and island environments of the Pacific. The Type 89 mortar, known for its portability and versatility, allowed Japanese forces to provide accurate plunging fire against Allied positions. Surviving examples of these projectiles serve as critical physical links to the brutal, close-quarters combat that defined the island-hopping campaigns, representing the industrial design and logistical reach of the Imperial Japanese ordnance machine. The projectile body retains its original form, showing surface oxidation and patina consistent with its age and environment. The drive band remains intact and visible, and the shell demonstrates the weight and profile characteristic of the 50mm mortar rounds deployed by the Imperial Japanese Army. It stands as a significant relic of Pacific War ordnance, highlighting the tactical implementation of infantry-carried indirect fire systems during the conflict.
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