Type 89 grenade discharger
The Type 89 grenade discharger , inaccurately and colloquially known as a knee mortar by Allied forces, is a Japanese grenade launcher or light mortar that was widely used in the Pacific Theater of World War II. It got the nickname the "knee mortar" because of an erroneous Allied belief that these launchers could be fired by propping its plate against the leg. However, anyone trying to fire it this way would receive a severe bruise from its hefty recoil.
Japanese soldier demonstrating the correct use of the Type 89 discharger
In use in Zhèjiāng Province, China (1942)
A grenade launcher is a weapon that fires a specially designed, large-caliber projectile, often with an explosive, smoke, or gas warhead. Today, the term generally refers to a class of dedicated firearms firing unitary grenade cartridges. The most common type are man-portable, shoulder-fired weapons issued to individuals, although larger crew-served launchers are issued at higher levels of organization by military forces.
Milkor MGL revolver-style grenade launcher
A United States Army Special Forces advisor instructing a Vietnamese Civilian Irregular Defense Group trainee on how to use an M79 grenade launcher
French grenade launchers from 1747
French soldiers with a Sauterelle, c. 1915