Japanese Militaria at Castle-Thunder.com

[gtbehary]

I purchased this piece of Japanese ordnance from a Chinese Ebay seller. Seems to be a smoke or booby trap. Any ideas?





_________________
Life Is For Service

[Edokko]

That is a smoke screen canister. The larger cylinder is staked to the ground or tied to a pole, and when lit the inside smaller canister would be ejected to a certain distance and pour smoke. Following is contents of a quick reserach I did for Jerry Price a bit ago.


"Well, I'll be darned, this was more easier than the other stuff I researched. I managed to pull out a copy of the original document that officialized the Type 99 smoke screen launching canister and it included the specs and how to use instructions.
The inner canister was actually launched upto 300 meters maximum depending on how hard or sturdy the surface that the canister was placed on. The inner smoke canister contained 660 grams of smoke agent mainly consisted of Hexachloethane. The canister had another lid taped on the bottom which was taken off at time of use, the lid contained a friction piece that was used to strike the match fuse inserted on the side of the bottom propellant chamber. The canister was to be supported onto the ground at a 45 degree angle using the mounting bracket and aiming was done by the white vertical stripe painted along the canister tube, the matchfuse length was about 7 seconds and the inner tube would launch to a distance of 300 meters at 45 degree launching angle, where it will start emitting the smoke."

[gwsiii]

Great information! Thanks for posting! Trey
_________________
Subscribe to BANZAI!
Fill out a Japanese Rifle Datasheet.
I didn't pay to much for that old Arisaka, I just bought it a little bit too soon!

[Edokko]

Trey, my pleasure.
Forgot to mention this, but these pieces were named "Kyu-kyu Shiki Hassha Hatsuen-to" and translates to Type 99 Launched Smoke Canister.

[gtbehary]

Thanks for the great information. I saw Jerry Price at the last gunshow and he happened to have a really nice example of the outer case. He said it was extremely rare. Although mine is in relic condition, I guess the actual smoke canister is even rarer than outer case.
The inner canister only has two small holes for the pressure to secape. Did this explode in the air or did the smoke escape from the holes.
_________________
Life Is For Service

[Edokko]

Good to know my info helped. Yes, I have seen a photo of Jerry's example and indeed that one looks very nice. Also concur that your actual smoke canister is very valuable. I think the smoke billowed out of the open side of the canister at a certain point of the launch, usually at the point of reach.

[gtbehary]

Edokko,
Jerry is using my smoke grenade for his research papers on it. He said that very few of these were saved by the ordnance experts. I guess some of them had poison gas mixed with the smoke.
_________________
Life Is For Service