Type 3 grenade
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (June 2016) |
Type 3 "anti-tank" grenade | |
---|---|
Type | Anti-tank grenade |
Place of origin | Japan |
Service history | |
In service | 1943 - 1945 |
Used by | Imperial Japanese Army |
Specifications | |
Mass | various |
Length | various |
Diameter | various |
The Type 3 "anti-tank" hand grenade is a Japanese grenade produced from 1943 to 1945 during World War II. It was designed to destroy the Allies' tanks. There are three variants (sub-types) of the weapon: Ko (Type A), Otsu (Type B), and Hei (Type C).
History
Throughout
This Japanese grenade is extremely hard to find today.
Design
The Type 3 has an odd and cheap appearance. It has a tear drop-like shape. The grenade consists of a thin steel cone mounted on a wooden standoff head. The explosive is cast around the cone and covered by a cloth bag made of either silk or hemp twine. The upper extremity is made of a very basic impact firing mechanism. The hemp tail attached at the top serves as a stabilizer for when the grenade is in flight, thus ensuring that the target is struck successfully. When thrown, the Type 3's twine seemed to create a tail-like skirt.
The grenade has a penetration power of 70 mm (2.8 in). This shows that it exceeds the penetration of the Type 99 magnetic grenade.
Sub-Types
There are three official variants of the Type 3 hand grenade.
Ko (Type A) This variant has a length of 17.3 cm, a diameter of 11 cm and a weight of 1270 grams. The explosive filling is RDX/TNA and has a weight of 853 grams. The colour of the sack is either white or brown-yellow.
Otsu (Type B) This variant has a length of 14.8 cm, a diameter of 10 cm and a weight of 853 grams. The explosive filling is
Hei (Type C) This variant has a length of 15 cm, a diameter of 10 cm and a weight of 830 grams. The explosive filling is Picric acid and has a weight of 690 grams. The colour of the sack is yellow.
Sources
- ^ "Type 3 H.E.A.T. Anti-Tank Grenade". inert-ord.net. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
- ^ "Last Ditch Grenades of Japan". dieselpunks.org. Retrieved 31 May 2016.