Type 2 rifle grenade launcher

{{Short description|Japanese gun attachment}}

Image:Type 2 rifle grenade launcher and grenades.jpg

The Type 2 rifle grenade launcher was an attachment for the Japanese Type 38 and Type 99 rifles that allowed them to fire special hollow charge grenades. It was a version of the German Schiessbecher grenade launcher. Two grenades were produced for the launcher: a 30 mm calibre grenade and a larger 40 mm calibre grenade, both designated Type 2. The launcher sits over the end of the barrel, held in place with a clamping device. A special crimped blank cartridge or wooden bullet is used to fire the grenades.

The rear of the grenades is pre-rifled to mate with the rifling in the launcher. The rifling ensures that the grenade is spun in flight, giving it stability and arming the rotational fuze. Both grenades use a largely identical fuze, which makes up the rear part of the grenade. On impact, momentum carries the striker assembly forward, overcoming the resistant force of a creep spring into the detonator.

class=wikitable !	30 mm grenade	40 mm grenade
Length | {{convert|160|mm|abbr=on}} || {{convert|180|mm|abbr=on}}
Length of upper body | {{convert|96|mm|abbr=on}} || {{convert|107|mm|abbr=on}}
Diameter of upper body | {{convert|30|mm|abbr=on}} || {{convert|40|mm|abbr=on}}
Length of lower body |colspan=2|{{convert|74|mm|abbr=on}}
Weight |{{convert|230|g|oz|abbr=on}} || {{convert|370|g|oz|abbr=on}}
Explosive content |{{convert|50|g|oz|abbr=on}} || {{convert|100|g|oz|abbr=on}}
Explosive type |colspan=2| 50% TNT / 50% RDX
Armor penetration | 30mm {{Cite web |url=http://bulletpicker.com/pdf/USAFPOA%20Intelligence%20Bulletin%20No%205.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2018-01-10 |archive-date=2018-01-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110234523/http://bulletpicker.com/pdf/USAFPOA%20Intelligence%20Bulletin%20No%205.pdf |url-status=live }}|| 50mm