Japanese 15 cm Howitzer Type 96 (1936)
Technical Information

Background
The Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) 15 cm Howitzer Type 96 (1936) was designated 15cm (150mm) but the actual bore size was 149.1mm. In Japanese, 九六式十五糎榴弾砲 Kyūroku-shiki Jyūgo-senchi Ryūdanhō. This howitzer was one of the most modern, well designed and effective weapons in the Japanese artillery arsenal and highly praised by artillerymen. The gun was mounted on wooden wheels with rubber-shod and was normally towed by a tractor. This howitzer replaced the 15cm Type 4 howitzer and fired the same shell. One outstanding characteristics was its ability to elevate to 65° if a deep loading pit was dug beneath the breech.

Wartime History
The Type 96 15 cm howitzer first entered combat in the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937 and was also used during the Nomonhan Incident and the entire Pacific War. In the Philippines used to bombard Bataan and Corregidor. In the Solomon Islands they were landed on on western Guadalcanal and used to shell the U.S. perimeter and nicknamed "Pistol Pete". Also used on Okinawa and until the end of the Pacific War.

Production
A total of 440 were built.

Technical Details
Caliber 149.1mm
Muzzle Velocity  540 m/s (1,772 ft/s)
Shell  31.3 kilograms (69 lb)
Rate of Fire  3 - 4 round/min
Horizontal Range  11,900 meters (13,014 yds)
Total Weight  1,106.6 kilograms (2,440 lb)
Ammunition  HE, AP, Shrapnel, Smoke and Incendiary Tracer