CLEARLAKE ? A suspicious device was discovered in a vacant residence in Clearlake on Aug. 19. Following a lengthy research effort by Clearlake Police Sgt. Rodd Joseph, the device was identified as a Type 89 Japanese mortar shell and ultimately rendered safe by Napa County Bomb Squad.
According to Sgt. Joseph, at approximately 5 p.m. Aug. 19, response was dispatched for a report of a possible grenade in a residence for sale on the 13900 block of Lakeview Place. “The house is currently for sale and the realtor found it,” Sgt. Joseph said. “She told us it was in the window.”
Sgt. Joseph said he evaluated the device on Aug. 19. He then returned to the station and immediately began efforts to identify the object. “I noticed the size, the markings, the shape and color and there looked to be some kind of pin in it,” he said. “After several hours (of Internet research) I was able to identify it.”
The following morning, Sgt. Joseph said he briefed his superiors in the incident and Chief
Allan McClain and Lt. Craig Clausen accompanied him back to the scene. The situation was determined to be potentially dangerous and precautionary efforts initiated in the surrounding area. Request for response by Napa County Bomb Squad followed.
“They put a detonation cord around the middle of it causing it to implode,” Sgt. Joseph said, explaining that the procedure resulted in the removal of the top and bottom portions of the device, which allowed for investigation of its contents. “That”s when they determined it had black powder in it.”
The device was rendered safe at approximately 4:30 p.m. Aug. 20. Sgt. Joseph said no one will be held responsible for the device as the previous resident is now deceased (unrelated to the incident).
Joseph said that the Japanese writing present on the device assisted in his search for information. “This thing has some pretty good history to it,” he said.
According to Sgt. Joseph”s Internet research, the Type 89 mortar shell was the main round used with a Type 89 Heavy Grenade Launcher, which earned the dangerously unfortunate English nickname of “Knee Mortar.” The curved-base plate of the discharger was meant to be braced against a solid foundation and not one”s knee as the recoil would result in broken bones or worse.
The discharger was considered to be one of the most feared weapons in the Japanese arsenal as it was extremely accurate in the hands of a skilled operator. The Japanese made about 120,000 of them and the “89” refers to the device”s introduction in the Japanese year 2589 (1929).
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
