Type 94 90 mm infantry mortar

The Type 94 90 mm mortar was a 90 mm smoothbore infantry mortar, introduced in 1935, used by the Japanese in World War II. The Type 94 designation was given to this gun as it was accepted in the year 2594 of the Japanese calendar (1934).

Design

By giving the Type 94 an especially heavy and stable mount and bipod, a massive shock absorber group, a powerful projectile, and a lengthy tube and heavy powder charge capacity for long range, Japanese designers intended the weapon to serve as a substitute field or artillery piece that could be hauled in pieces to remote locations, a useful attribute for an army short on transport as well as modern towed large-caliber field howitzers and artillery. The Type 94 had a range of some 4000 yards.

Combat record

The Type 94 was encountered throughout the war in China. In the Pacific campaign, it was first used against U.S. forces in the Philippines, and later at the Battle of Guadalcanal. Because of its weight, it was normally employed in static siege or defense situations. Japanese forces sometimes went to great lengths to transport these heavy mortars to remote jungle locations when preparing defensive works.

References

Notes

Bibliography

• TM E-30-480 at hyperwar.org
• http://www3.plala.or.jp/takihome/
• War Department Special Series No 25 Japanese Field Artillery October 1944

External links

• Shell diagram at Lonesentry.com

1. Type 97 90 mm infantry mortar
2. Type 97 81 mm infantry mortar
3. Type 98 320 mm mortar
4. Type 96 and Type 97 150 mm infantry mortar
5. Type 11 70 mm infantry mortar
6. Type 90 75 mm field gun
7. Type 93 150 mm infantry mortar
8. Type 41 75 mm mountain gun
9. Type 94 37 mm anti-tank gun
10. Type 99 81 mm mortar
11. Type 94 75 mm mountain gun
12. List of infantry mortars
13. List of World War II infantry weapons
14. Type 94
15. Type 11 37 mm infantry gun
16. Type 3 81 mm mortar
17. Type 2 20 mm AA machine cannon
18. Type 4 20 cm rocket launcher
19. Type 10 120 mm AA gun
20. Type 98 20 mm AA machine cannon