Japanese 15 cm Cannon Type 89 (1929)
Technical Information

Background
The Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) 15 cm Cannon Type 89 (1929) was the main heavy artillery gun of the prewar era and World War II. Also known as Model 89 (1929) 150mm Canon. This gun was comparable to the U.S. Army 155mm howitzer (M1918) but had a shorter range and was considered less efficient.

The Type 89 has a variable hydro-pneumatic recoil system and an interrupted thread breech block, the latter has a mushroom head and stepped-up buttress type screws. An 8 ton prime mover was used to tow the piece. For traveling, the gun is broken down in two loads: the barrel tube and carriage. The trail was the split-box type with detachable spades. The traversing hand wheel and the scale were located on the left side of the carriage. The elevation scale, the range drum, and the sight were on the right side of the carriage.

Wartime History
This type of gun was used by the Japanese in Manchurian, Battle of Khalkhin Gol (Nomonhan Incident), Bataan and Corregidor, Okinawa until the end of the Pacific War and surrender of Japan.

Technical Details
Caliber 149.1mm
Muzzle Velocity  2,870 ft/sec.
Shell  31.3 kilograms (69 lb)
Rate of Fire  2 round/min
Horizontal Range  21,800 yds.
Total Weight  22,830 lbs
Ammunition  HE, APHE, Long pointed HE, Shrap., Illumi