The Type 10 grenade discharger (十年式擲弾筒, Juu-nen-shiki tekidantō) was a Japanese smoothbore, muzzle loaded weapon used during the Second World War. It first entered service in 1921. The Type 10 has a range of 175 m (191 yd), greater than other grenade dischargers of that time. It had a range control device at the base of the barrel in the form of a graduated thimble by which a gas port at the base of the tube could be varied in size. For shorter ranges, part of the propellant gases escape to the side. Due to a translation error, the Type 10 was called the "knee mortar" by the Americans.[3]
The manual for the mortar instructed the troops to carry the mortar on the upper thigh, with the base plate attached to the belt and the barrel running down the thigh. It was not strapped or secured directly to the thigh.[3] It was also carried strapped to the backpack. American troops on Guadalcanal became aware of the name "knee mortar" and thought the light design allowed it to be fired with the base plate resting on the thigh. If the Type 10 were fired in this manner, it would result in serious injury due to recoil.[3] However, once a few troops injured themselves, the mistranslation was discovered and further experimentation discouraged.
World War II era US intelligence thought that the weapon was primarily used to discharge signal flares, the larger and heavier Type 89 grenade discharger being used to fire explosive rounds instead. This assessment was largely correct, although the Type 10 grenade discharger could fire and was issued with the Type 10 high-explosive shell. [4]
^ abcRottman, Gordon L. (2005). Japanese Army in World War II - Conquest of the Pacific 1941-42. Oxford, England: Osprey Publishing. p. 46. ISBN1841767891.
^Ness, Leland. Rikugun: Volume 2 - Weapons of the Imperial Japanese Army & Navy Ground Forces (p. 29).
