Japanese Mortar Shell

[Shenkursk]

Or is it? This came with a GI souvenir lot - his captured souvenir paperwork listed it as a "(Japanese) mortar shell, disarmed." This is not one that I am familiar with. Perhaps someone here knows the proper designation for this piece of ordnance?

Thanks!!

[Shenkursk]

disassembled:

[blinky]

It's a fuze for a Bangalore torpedo. The projectile looking piece is threaded onto a tube and the fuze goes in the back end.
Very neat

eric

I should explain: the tubes come with end caps and are designed to be threaded together. The projectile shaped cover goes on the end to help it penetrate obstacles. Since each torpedo only needed one fuze and one pointed cover they came together as a set. Looks like a very nice later war example.

[blinky]

I thought I had it in a book

[jagjetta]

Very cool!

Very cool Blinky! Is that a Japanese "No. 70 Bangalore" torpedo head?

John A-G
Iola, WI

[blinky]

You know, I don't know what the designation of the bangalore is. The picture is from the August 15 1945 edition of the Handbook of Japanese Explosive Ordnance and it doesn't give any designation other than Bangalore torpedo. I was a bit of an engineer equipment geek and had been trying to pick up a bangalore from a friend for 10 years before I finally gave up.

eric

[blinky]

One more not-so-good picture

[Shenkursk]

Blinky thank you very much!! Had scratched another soft spot into my head over that one.

[Jareth]

Jeff, great piece! Let me know if it's a keeper or for sale.

[Shenkursk]

Jeff, great piece! Let me know if it's a keeper or for sale.

Hello Jareth!

It belongs to a customer who has asked us to sell it via our AGM catalog - will be for sale on Catalog 70 which should come out some time in mid to late May. (I did not post it here to be a tease, just wanted to make certain that we had the identification correct.)

We have a lot more Japanese items than usual on our next one (Catalog 69) which is coming out on Monday at 3:00 PM central time.

I have been fighting the temptation to keep the best stuff and start my own Japanese WWII collection, but you can't be your own best customer and stay in business for long. Most of the Japanese uniforms and gear is considerably less expensive than 3rd Reich, and though there are fakes and forgeries to look out for, that does not seem to be anywhere near as prevalent as it is in 3R. Plus, when other people are in the house and see your Japanese collection, they do not leap to uncomfortable conclusions.

[peleliuexplorer]

Any idea where the vet p/u the item? There is classic archival film footage of a Japanese soldier on Peleliu Island throwing a banglore torpedo on a ridge right before being cut down by infantry fire. The devise explodes nearby. Awesome footage and the only known of such a devise in action that I have seen!

Thanks for posting, Eric

[Shenkursk]

Any idea where the vet p/u the item? There is classic archival film footage of a Japanese soldier on Peleliu Island throwing a banglore torpedo on a ridge right before being cut down by infantry fire. The devise explodes nearby. Awesome footage and the only known of such a devise in action that I have seen!

Thanks for posting, Eric

Hi Eric:

According to the document, the soldier was a Sergeant in Co. M, 105th Infantry. He was authorized to ship 1 bayonet, 1 hand grenade, and 1 mortar shell. All three are with the group. Document is dated 29 September 1944. All of this leads me to believe that it is likely that these items were acquired on Saipan.

[peleliuexplorer]

Hi Eric:

According to the document, the soldier was a Sergeant in Co. M, 105th Infantry. He was authorized to ship 1 bayonet, 1 hand grenade, and 1 mortar shell. All three are with the group. Document is dated 29 September 1944. All of this leads me to believe that it is likely that these items were acquired on Saipan.

Thanks! Yes, you are right, the 105th fought on Saipan (also on Makin, I think...or was that the 165th of the same Division?), was slammed head-on by the banzai charge. I knew a vet from that outfit who brought back a knee mortar and samurai sword from that charge. Thanks for the info!

-Eric