Japanese Typ99 "Kiska" Grenade

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T99 "Kiska" Internals and Label

Two grenades, manufactured thirteen months apart. It would appear that wartime demands for expediency are in evidence.
Not unusual as every country involved was faced with conservation of limited resources, be that time or materials.

Bottom Grenade, dated Jan 1942, has a refined internal paper capsule for the explosive .This would be an early production Type 99.
A high degree of detailed workmanship involved to create, fill and seal that assembly.
Top Grenade, a year later, dated Feb.1943, has a simplified fiberboard liner to separate the picric acid explosive from the iron casing.
An obvious improvement in assembly effort, but a possible safety risk?

Picric Acid, a typical explosive filler, is known to chemically interact with iron, producing unstable shock-sensitive explosive salts over time.

(Making an assumption here: The grenade parts are the original configuration. - Not mixed and matched.)

From an estate sale of a Navy Seabee.

"This article is safe for handling or shipping"
"K. Thomas Chief of Ordnance, 76NCB."
(Naval Construction Battalion).

Inside was this exceptional example of the T99 instruction label, usually glued to the outside of the body.
Translation:

(Right Side)
How to use, when thrown by hand.
(1) Hold grenade as shown in illustration.
(2) Pull out safety pin and pound the fuze head flatly on hard object.
(3) Once the detonator has fired throw the grenade.

(Left Side)
When fired by grenade launcher
(1) Pull out safety pin.
(2) Load with fuze upright (upside).
If grenade is not to be used, immediately replace safety pin and roll-up the string (for storage).
Thanks Mark S. & his friend Peter in Australia for the translation help!

It's printed on very thin and delicate paper. It's no wonder these labels didn't survive well.

Compliments to the soldier who had the foresight to save this interesting bit of WWII militaria.

20.11.20

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