WW2 Japanese Sighting Device -Help ID Please

[Porcelain44]

Can anyone helo me identify it? It appears to be a WW2 Japanese artillery sighting device or a clinometer for a machine gun. Does anyone know for sure what it is? It measures approx 4.5 by 4.5 inches. There is a moveable spirit level that whose height can be adjusted via the knob. Thanks a lot! Please see attached pics.

[OpanaPointer]

Might be for a mortar?

[John G.]

Almost certianly for a mortar or an Artillery "gunlayers" aiming device.... don't think its for a machinegun...too big? The Japanese certianly made nice fitted boxes for many of thier "things"....always liked these sorts of artifacts....
John G.

[gambadier]

Field clinometer, given that the max elevation is a tad less than 45 degrees it's probably for a gun. not a machine gun But it is very crude, there being no micrometer scale, so perhaps some crude like a MG.

[ROLAND1369]

This is a gunners quadrant used with the Type 11(1922) 70 MM mortar. Source page 144, "Special Series NO 19, Japanese Infantry Weapons, Military Intelligence Section, War Department, 31 Dec 1943.

[ROLAND1369]

Here is the pertinent page.

[OpanaPointer]

I thought it was a mortar accessory. Thanks.

[gambadier]

Field Clinometer in proper English. Strange having a mortar with max elevation of only 55 degrees.

[OpanaPointer]

Field Clinometer in proper English. Strange having a mortar with max elevation of only 55 degrees.

Any more vertical and the round might land too close to the tube.

[gambadier]

Must have been extremely short range, most mortars can fire a max elevation notably greater even when they have quite short max ranges. If you've got a mortar pit then dropping bombs 50 yards away isn't a problem.

[OpanaPointer]

Must have been extremely short range, most mortars can fire a max elevation notably greater even when they have quite short max ranges. If you've got a mortar pit then dropping bombs 50 yards away isn't a problem.

A pit can be a luxury. I've seen them fired off the bow of river boats. And the round doesn't always fly as intended.

[gambadier]

If mortar bombs don't 'fly as intended', then the users probably do not know what they are doing. Of course using a moving platform is unlikely to help, but it's quite difficult to stuff up mortar firing on firm ground. They are designed to be simple to use. They are no complex weapon systems.

[OpanaPointer]

If mortar bombs don't 'fly as intended', then the users probably do not know what they are doing. Of course using a moving platform is unlikely to help, but it's quite difficult to stuff up mortar firing on firm ground. They are designed to be simple to use. They are no complex weapon systems.

Um, "sh*t happens" would apply. Not ever bomb is manufactured perfectly.

[Porcelain44]

Here is the pertinent page.

Thanks a great deal for the information and the photo.