Type 96 150 mm howitzer

The , also known as a "15-cm" gun,Rottman, Gordon L. (2005). Japanese Army in World War II: Conquest of the Pacific 1941-42, p. 50; 15-cm = 150-mm was a howitzer used by the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA).This field gun type was named "ninety-six" because it was approved in 1936; and 1936 was the 2596th year since Emperor Jimmu, the first Emperor of Japan.  The Japanese Imperial year was Kōki 2596 (皇紀2596年). 

This artillery piece was designed to replace the Type 4 150 mm howitzer in front line combat. Type 96s fired the same ammunition as the Type 4s.Bishop, The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II. 

History
Type 96s began to be built in 1937. A total of 440 units were produced.US War Dept, "Model 96 150-mm howitzer," Handbook on Japanese Military Forces, p. 228.  A medium artillery regiment had 24 Type 96s.US War Dept, "Artillery," p. 45.

Combat record
The Type 96 15 cm howitzer was used in the Second Sino-Japanese War and in World War II.  The 96s were among Japan's most used artillery weapons.Hogg, Ian V. (1970). The Guns: 1939/45, p. 53.

One of the Type 96s is preserved at the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo.  

Related pages 
 Artillery of Japan
 List of howitzers

References

Other websites

 Taki's Imperial Japanese Army page 
 US Technical Manual E 30-480

Category:Japanese weapons
Category:Howitzers