105 mm Improvised artillery mortar spigot shell

This is an improvised spigot shell which was fired from a 105 mm improvised mortar - see RELAWM 36878. It was fabricated from a 105 mm High Explosive artillery shell (as used in the Type 91 howitzer), to the base of which, where the driving band would normally be located, is rivetted a brass cartridge case from a Type 88 105 mm gun. The cartridge case was emptied of its charge, the base cut off and four small brass fins attached to the lower exterior. The entire arrangement was 850mm in length. The cartridge case was loosely fitted over the launching spigot until the base of the shell rested on the forward end of the spigot.

This shell was an improvised weapon used by the Japanese Army during the Second World War. The shell and its associated launcher was captured by 14/32 Battalion AIF at Waitavalo, Wide Bay New Britain, at 1235 hours on 18 March 1945. The map reference was given in the Battalion's war diary (folio 19 AWM 52 8.5.53) as 632521. Its exact capture position, near Lamshed's hill, is shown in the map at folio 70. The weapon is described in Australian Military Forces; M.G. O. Military equipment; no 19 1945; Section 3, 'Jap. Equipment', p 66. (the date of capture was incorrectly given in that document as 13 March 1945).