The Type 4 grenade or ceramic grenade (四式陶製手榴弾, Yon-shiki tōsei teryūdan) was a "last-ditch" hand grenade developed by the Imperial Japanese Navy in the closing stages of World War II.
Type 4 "ceramic" grenade
Two Type 4 grenades. The one on the left does not have the rubber cover on.
By late 1944 and early 1945, much of the industrial infrastructure of Japan had been destroyed by Allied strategic bombing, and there was a growing shortage of raw materials due to Allied naval blockades and submarine warfare. Lacking in metals to mass-produce hand grenades in the vast quantities that would be needed against the projected Allied invasion of Japan, the Imperial Japanese Navy Technical Bureau developed a design for a cheap, easy-to-make grenade made of ceramic or porcelain materials. Kilns famous for the production of traditional Japanese pottery, such as Arita, Bizen and Seto were pressed into service to manufacture these relatively crude weapons. There were a tremendous number of variants on shape, size and color, because the design depended on each kiln.
Designedit
The Type 4 grenade had a fragmentation body made of terra cotta or porcelain materials. The grenade was round-shaped with a bottle neck with a rubber cover and a simple fuse. This detonator was no more than a blasting cap crimped on to a five-second length of fuse. The other end of the fuse, which was outside the rubber plug, was covered with a match-head composition. A slip-on rubber cap covered the whole neck, and fuse. A small, loose wooden block with an abrasive composition on one side was contained in the rubber fuse cover.[1]
^Lone Sentry: New Weapons Captured at Ormoc, Japanese (U.S. WWII Intelligence Bulletin, March 1945)
Referencesedit
US Department of War (1994). Handbook on Japanese Military Forces, TM-E 30-480 (1945) (reprint ed.). Louisiana State University Press. ISBN0-8071-2013-8.
Japanese Explosive Ordnance, TM 9-1985-4. Departments of the Army and the Air Force. 1953. ASIN B000H7NCDS. OCLC 506057724.
External linksedit
Ceramic Grenades
Details of internal construction
January 01, 1970
type, grenade, ceramic, grenade, 四式陶製手榴弾, shiki, tōsei, teryūdan, last, ditch, hand, grenade, developed, imperial, japanese, navy, closing, stages, world, type, ceramic, grenadetwo, left, does, have, rubber, cover, typehand, grenadeplace, originjapanservice, h. The Type 4 grenade or ceramic grenade 四式陶製手榴弾 Yon shiki tōsei teryudan was a last ditch hand grenade developed by the Imperial Japanese Navy in the closing stages of World War II Type 4 ceramic grenadeTwo Type 4 grenades The one on the left does not have the rubber cover on TypeHand grenadePlace of originJapanService historyIn service1944 1945Used by Imperial Japanese NavyWarsWorld War IIProduction historyDesigned1944ManufacturerVessels made by several potteries finishing by Asano CarlitProduced1944 1945SpecificationsMassca 455 g 1 003 lb Heightca 102 mm 4 0 in Diametervarious ca 76 mm 3 0 in FillingType 88 explosiveFilling weightca 100 g 0 22 lb DetonationmechanismFuse delay of 4 to 5 seconds Contents 1 History and development 2 Design 3 Combat record 4 Photo gallery 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksHistory and development editBy late 1944 and early 1945 much of the industrial infrastructure of Japan had been destroyed by Allied strategic bombing and there was a growing shortage of raw materials due to Allied naval blockades and submarine warfare Lacking in metals to mass produce hand grenades in the vast quantities that would be needed against the projected Allied invasion of Japan the Imperial Japanese Navy Technical Bureau developed a design for a cheap easy to make grenade made of ceramic or porcelain materials Kilns famous for the production of traditional Japanese pottery such as Arita Bizen and Seto were pressed into service to manufacture these relatively crude weapons There were a tremendous number of variants on shape size and color because the design depended on each kiln Design editThe Type 4 grenade had a fragmentation body made of terra cotta or porcelain materials The grenade was round shaped with a bottle neck with a rubber cover and a simple fuse This detonator was no more than a blasting cap crimped on to a five second length of fuse The other end of the fuse which was outside the rubber plug was covered with a match head composition A slip on rubber cap covered the whole neck and fuse A small loose wooden block with an abrasive composition on one side was contained in the rubber fuse cover 1 Combat record editType 4 grenades were passed out in large quantities to civil defense organizations such as the Volunteer Fighting Corps Yokusan Sonendan and to reservist organizations involved in preparations against the possible invasion of the Japanese home islands by Allied forces They were also supplied to front line combat troops in large quantities and are known to have been employed at the Battle of Iwo Jima and Battle of Okinawa 2 Photo gallery edit nbsp Schematic of components nbsp nbsp Notes edit Japanese Type 4 Pottery Grenade Inert Ord Net Lone Sentry New Weapons Captured at Ormoc Japanese U S WWII Intelligence Bulletin March 1945 References editUS Department of War 1994 Handbook on Japanese Military Forces TM E 30 480 1945 reprint ed Louisiana State University Press ISBN 0 8071 2013 8 Japanese Explosive Ordnance TM 9 1985 4 Departments of the Army and the Air Force 1953 ASIN B000H7NCDS OCLC 506057724 External links editCeramic Grenades Details of internal construction Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Type 4 grenade amp oldid 1225981187, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
