Launcher, Rocket, 70 mm, Japanese

The rocket launcher is a late World War II Japanese experimental anti-tank rocket launcher, based probably on the American bazooka and the German Panzerfaust. The launcher its very basic and lightweight but probably effective enough at short ranges. It came in two sections for easier transport. The firing mechanism consisted of a spring-activated, hammer-type percussion lock. When ready to fire, the small solid fuel rocket was simply thrust down the tube, the lock was cocked, the sight on the side used to sight the target and the adjustable legs steadied accordingly, and the steel lanyard pulled. The lock came down, punctured the rocket firing fuze or pin, and the rocket shot off through the tube towards its target. The bipod at front was adjustable to steady the launcher on uneven terrain.

The U.S. Army Ordnance Museum transferred this artifact to the Smithsonian in 1989.