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Light Infantry Mortar

Introduced Year : 1911
Caliber : 75 mm
Shell Weight : 12.7 kg
Muzzle Velocity : 70 m/sec
Weight : 49.8 kg
Range : 130-420 m

It is an obsolete infantry mortar used in WWI. It has no type designation.


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Type 11 70mm Infantry Mortar

Introduced Year : 1922
Caliber : 70 mm
Barrel Length : 0.75 m (L10.7)
EL Angle of Fire : +43 to +73 Degrees
Shell Weight : 2.5 kg
Muzzle Velocity : 147 m/sec
Weight : 63 kg
Range : 1,550 m
Production Qty : 234

Type 11 had a rifled bore and a trigger to fire like old type mortars in WWI. Later, Type 11 had been replaced with Type 92 Infantry Gun.


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Type 94 90mm Infantry Mortar

Introduced Year : 1935
Caliber : 90.5 mm
Barrel Length : 1.27 m
EL Angle of Fire : +45 to +80 Degrees
Shell Weight : 20 or 40 kg
Muzzle Velocity : 227 m/sec
Weight : 159 kg
Range : 3,800 m
Production Qty : 450

From Type 94, Japanese mortars had a smooth bore and could be fired by dropping a shell. Type 94 was used in the Chinese-Japanese War, but Type 94 was rated low, because it was too heavy for infantry to carry.


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Type 96 150mm Infantry Mortar

Introduced Year : 1936
Caliber : 150.5 mm
Barrel Length : 1.325 m
EL Angle of Fire : +45 to +80 Degrees
Shell Weight : 25.65 kg
Muzzle Velocity : 214 m/sec
Weight : 722 kg
Range : 3,900 m
Production Qty : 90

Type 96 was the largest infantry mortar in IJA. It is said that Type 96 was used in China and Iwo Jima, but its details are unkown.


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Type 97 81mm Infantry Mortar

Introduced Year : 1937
Caliber : 81.4 mm
Barrel Length : 1.269 m (L15.6)
EL Angle of Fire : +45 to +85 Degrees
Shell Weight : 3.33 kg
Muzzle Velocity : 196 m/sec
Weight : 67 kg
Range : 2,850 m

Type 97 is a most popular mortar in IJA and it was widely used during WWII. This mortar was also produced by IJN under the IJN name of Type 3 Mortar.


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Type 97 90mm Infantry Mortar

Introduced Year : 1937
Caliber : 90.5 mm
Barrel Length : 1.217 m
EL Angle of Fire : +45 to +85 Degrees
Shell Weight : 5.26 kg
Muzzle Velocity : 227 m/sec
Weight : 172.5 kg
Range : 3,800 m
Production Qty : 600

Type 97 is a simplified model of Type 94 by removing the recoil mechanism.


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Type 97 150mm Infantry Mortar

Introduced Year : 1941
Caliber : 150.5 mm
Barrel Length : 1.935 m (Long Barrel), 1.395 m (Short Barrel)
EL Angle of Fire : +45 to +80 Degrees
Shell Weight : 23.8 kg
Muzzle Velocity : 212 m/sec
Weight : 342 kg (Long Barrel), 232.5 kg (Short Barrel)
Range : 3,850 m
Production Qty : 110

Type 97 is a simplified model of Type 96 by removing the recoil mechanism. There are two sub-models, the short barrelled model and the long barrelled model.


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Type 99 81mm Infantry Mortar

Introduced Year : 1939
Caliber : 81 mm
Barrel Length : 0.62 m
EL Angle of Fire : +45 to +85 Degrees
Shell Weight : 3.33 kg
Muzzle Velocity : 82 m/sec
Weight : 24.8 kg
Range : 650 m

Type 99 is an airborne model and it is able to be disassembled.


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Type 2 120mm Infantry Mortar

Introduced Year : 1942
Caliber : 120 mm
Barrel Length : 1.535 m
EL Angle of Fire : +40 to +80 Degrees
Shell Weight : 12.76 kg
Muzzle Velocity : 239 m/sec
Weight : 260 kg
Range : 4,200 m
Production Qty : 750

Type 2 was an effective mortar with long range and large caliber. However, its production had commenced in the late WWII, and its service in action was limited.


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Type 98 50mm Mortar

Introduced Year : 1938
Caliber : 50 mm
Barrel Length : 0.65 m
EL Angle of Fire : Fixed 40 Degrees
Muzzle Velocity : 147 m/sec
Weight : 22.4 kg

Type 98 was used by engineers to detonate the barbed wire. It discharges the spigot bomb (right bottom) or the bangalore torpedo with fins (left bottom). The range of fire is between 300 and 420 m depending on its ammo.