Sunday 14 June 2015

Imperial Japanese Army Ammunition - 7cm (70mm) Projectiles


 Japanese Explosive Ordnance: Army and Navy Ammunition


We get to the larger caliber projectiles, which include some of the largest used on Japanese tanks, and we start dipping into the howitzer calibers/rounds. Hollow Charge and smoke projectiles also start to make an appearance.



Type 92 7cm (70mm) High Explosive Projectile




Weight of complete round: 4.48kg
Weight of projectile (fuzed): 3.81kg
Weight of filling: 0.59kg
Length of projectile (w/o fuze): 234mm
Length of propellant case: 101mm
Length of assembled round (w/o fuze): 306mm
Diameter of base of case: 81mm
Diameter at bourrelet: 70mm
Width of rotating band: 10mm
Filling:
-Standard: Cast TNT
-Alternate: Pressed mixture of RDX and ammonium nitrate

Fuzing: Type 88 instantaneous nose fuze (Howitzer, mortar type), Type 88 short-delay nose fuze (Howitzer, mortar type)

Propellant:
50g of smokeless powder in 0.5mm square flakes. This powder is contained in four pads made by sewing portions of the powder between two dark blue silk discs. The discs are not of uniform size, holding 5.4, 8.9, 16.8, and 18.7 grams of powder each. A fifth disc, light blue in color, contains a 3.1g black powder ignition charge.

The propellant cases are of two designs. The newer type, designated "B" (OTSU) by the Japanese, is one piece and slips off of the projectile to change the propellant charge. An older design, presumably "A" has a threaded base which may be unscrewed to vary the charge

Used in: Type 92 infantry gun (Howitzer)

Remarks: This projectile is the same as the high explosive Type 92 used in the Type 94 tank gun



Type 92 7cm (70mm) Substitute Projectile




Weight of complete round: No Data
Weight of projectile (fuzed): No Data
Weight of filling: No Data
Filling: Black Powder
Diameter at bourrelet: 70mm
Length of projectile (w/o fuze): 187mm
Length of propellant case: 101mm
Length of assembled round (w/o fuze): 259mm
Diameter of base of case: 81mm
Width of rotating band: 10mm

Fuzing: Type 88 instantaneous nose fuze (Howitzer, mortar type), Type 88 short-delay nose fuze (Howitzer, mortar type)

Propellant: Same as previous projectile

Used in: Type 92 Infantry Gun (Howitzer)



Type 3 7cm (70mm) Hollow Charge Projectile




Weight of complete round: No Data
Weight of projectile (w/o fuze): 2.80kg
Weight of filling: 0.99kg
Filling: A cast mixture of TNT and Cyclonite (RDX) wrapped in varnished paper
Diameter at bourrelet: 69.5mm
Length overall (w/o fuze): 229mm
Length protruding from case: 186mm
Length of projectile body without nose cap: 170mm
Width of rotating band: 10mm

Fuzing: Type 88 Instantaneous fuze (Howitzer, mortar type).

Operation and Employment: This round is used principally as an anti-tank weapon

Used in: Type 92 Infantry Gun (Howitzer)

Remarks:
The use of the white band above a yellow band to identify a hollow charge projectile is assumed to be a combination of the use of white band for armor piercing and yellow band for high explosive in the new color system. Both bands are near the middle of the projectile.

This arrangement is not to be confused with the combination of yellow band above white band to identify high explosive projectiles in the old color system, in which case the yellow band is at the bourrelet and the white band is just above the rotating bang.




Type 95 7cm (70mm) Illuminating Projectile




Weight of complete round: 4.20kg
Weight of projectile (Fuzed): 3.50kg
Weight of filling: No Data
Diameter at bourrelet: 70mm
Length of projectile (w/o fuze): No Data
Length of propellant case: 101mm
Length of assembled round (w/o fuze): 292mm
Diamater of base of case: 81mm
Width of rotating band: No Data
Filling:
-Ejection charge: Black Powder
-Illuminating composition: Not known. It is probably a mixture of magnesium, aluminium, and barium nitrate which is used commonly by the Japanese for illuminating charges.

Fuzing: Type 89 small time fuze

Propellant: 0.6mm square flakes (50g). Either of the propellant cases discussed for the H.E. round may be used for this round.

Used in: Type 92 Infantry Gun (Howitzer)

Remarks:
The illuminating charge burns for approximately 20 seconds with an intensity of about 90,000 candlepower



Type 92 7cm (70mm) High Explosive Projectile




Weight of complete round: 4.42kg
Weight of projectile (Fuzed): 3.81kg
Weight of filling: 0.59kg
Filling:
-Standard: Cast TNT
-Alternate: Pressed mixture of RDX and ammonium nitrate
Diameter at bourrelet: 70mm
Length of projectile (w/o fuze): 234mm
Length of propellant case: 101mm
Length of assembled round (w/o fuze): 306mm
Diameter of base of case: 81mm
Width of rotating band: 10mm

Fuzing: Type 88 short delay nose fuze (Gun type)

Propellant: 138g of 5mm square grain smokeless powder

Used in: Type 94 Tank gun

Remarks:
The projectile is the same as the Type 92 H.E. projectile used in the Type 92 Infantry Howitzer.



Type 95 7cm (70mm) Armor Piercing Projectile




Weight of complete round: 5.04kg
Weight of projectile (Fuzed): 4.45kg
Weight of filling: 0.17kg
Filling: Preformed paper-wrapped filling - Forward portion, "OSHIYAKU" (Picric Acid 90%, Paraffin 10%) - After portion, TNT
Diameter at bourrelet: 70mm
Length of propellant case: 101mm
Length of assembled round: 307mm
Diameter of base of case: 81mm
Width of rotating band: 10mm

Fuzing: Type 95 small A.P. base fuze

Propellant: 5mm square grain - 120g

Used in: Type 94 Tank gun


Next Time: An introduction to the Army's 75mm projectiles (And why you shouldn't label 70mm and 75mm rounds as "7cm")

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