WWII Japanese head-scratcher battlefield relic

[jsandin]

My father found this, on Peleliu (I think) just after the battle in 1944. He was a surveyor with the Seabees in the U.S. Navy.

It is a pouch made of waterproofed fabric, now very brittle, containing what sounds like a powder when the pouch is shaken. My dad told me he thought it could be some kind of Japanese suicide powder. My gut tells me it's not that dramatic...perhaps some anti-malaria concoction or even a dried-up condom.

Help, you guys.

 

[jsandin]

Its precisely made, its not some general stuffing item. Its also not a dressing, we had the real deals availabe in the surplus shops until the early 80s of all shapes and sizes from ww2. Japensese characters are read in context so can be hard as it has changed since ww2. "Big rock mountain" could be "made in big rock mountain". 39 could be a size, not a date.

It has to be a filter or absorber of some sort. I bet the family jewels on it!

.39 is not a date. The date of April, 1942 should be correct. This clue may be helpful. The battle was in 1944.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Peleliu


I think we need to find out if its permeable, Sonny. Would it damage it that much to put a drop of water to see if it beads up? I think it would be a big help in solving this.

Ok, ok, I'll try and put a small water droplet on it tonight, and report the results. Unless I get too distracted by my dirty Martini habit.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I think we need to find out if its permeable, Sonny. Would it damage it that much to put a drop of water to see if it beads up? I think it would be a big help in solving this.

Ok, ok, I'll try and put a small water droplet on it tonight, and report the results. Unless I get too distracted by my dirty Martini habit.

I understand not wanting to damage because it survived this long so be very careful. 8) It looks waterproof.
Look to see if the tiny drop of water beads up or is absorbed into it.

 

[jsandin]

With a toothpick, I applied two tiny water droplets: One on the sewn edge and one in the lighter-colored area toward the center. On both areas, the water just beaded up and sat there, and didn't dissolve the coating or soak into it, even when I rubbed it with the toothpick.

It seems to me that it's waterproofed to protect the contents, whatever they are.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

It seems to me that it's waterproofed to protect the contents, whatever they are.

OK thanks. Whatever the contents are, I think you would need a knife to open it. I dont know if you are supposed to (open it). You would think there would be a note or line "open here" or "cut here." It reminds me of the old slicker raincoat material that was rubber coated canvas and the seams are extra coated.

I doubt that its poison because it would be easier to swallow a pill.

It cannot be a dressing to apply directly to a wound, I dont think. Although it reminds me of a knee pad. It may be powder to sprinkle on a wound.

We have chemical pads today that when you crush them, they heat up. I dont know if they had it back then.

I wish we knew the meaning of "(Huge Rock .39)".

 

[jsandin]

Well, it wouldn't have to be waterproof to protect a rubber. And they wouldn't need rubbers on Peleliu. My money's on Sulfanilamide powder, used as a battlefield antiseptic by both sides.

Here's something on Sulfanilamide and other crucial battlefield drugs.

http://home.att.net/~steinert/wwii.htm#The Use of Sulfanilamide in World War II

Is any powder coming out of the bag?

Nope.

 

[Gary66]

You all think too much...

It's a waterproof holder for a four leaf clover!!

Cool tho

 

[Zephyr]

You may be close.

Going out on a limb here (as my google-fu can't turn up anything), it might be a small packet of dirt from the homeland (Japan) kept as a good luck charm. Looks like it could fit into a locket of some type. Being waterproof would keep it from getting soaked. Probably sold to or given to the troops before they shipped out.

Just my (best) guess....

 

[mickk]

I wonder if the guy that digs all the german and russian stuff in the battlefield relic section has a mate in Japan who might have seen one of these?

You could also ask the people here http://okinawarelics.com/museum.aspx

 

[Kildred]

Don't smoke around this little gem. You have a mortar increment. It changes the range of the projectile when more or less are added to the ammunition.
http://www.inert-ord.net/jap02h/t100mort/index.html

 

[intimer]

read the wikipedia page about the battle----unbelievably horrific!

i was typing a reply with some wags....now all i got to say is


kildred----way to go!

 

[TiredIron]

Excellent Kildred...!!!!
I have the U.S. 60MM Mortar....and this never clicked in my head. The crispy crunchy outer wrapper is "Celuloid"....YES keep it away from all heat/flame. If it did ignite it would flash and burn....wouldn't be a big explosion. I have burned U.S. made increments for the 60MM and 81MM. I still have all my fingers and eyes. Place it in a baggy and label it as soon a possible for future inquiries. I lived on Okinawa from 1959-1962 as a 11 year old kid.
You done GOOD Son..!!!

TiredIron

 

[jsandin]

Don't smoke around this little gem. You have a mortar increment. It changes the range of the projectile when more or less are added to the ammunition.
http://www.inert-ord.net/jap02h/t100mort/index.html

Good enough for me! Thanks, Kildred, and to everyone else who took an interest. I never heard of a mortar increment.

I would donate it to our fantastic war museum here in Kansas City. Only problem is.... it's a WWI museum.

 

[PBK]

Great solve, Kildred... and welcome to TreasureNet!

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Don't smoke around this little gem. You have a mortar increment. It changes the range of the projectile when more or less are added to the ammunition.
http://www.inert-ord.net/jap02h/t100mort/index.html

WOW I saw the green check. Unbelievable ID.


We were right about the Iwa(reply #21), we were right about the waterproof Shellac coating (re #16)and we were right with the Date.(re #36) But we couldnt put it all together. Thanks Kildred.

This was a very interesting thread.

 

[Kildred]

WOW I saw the green check. Unbelievable ID. Do you know how the markings translate?

I read one of the previous posts and increments just popped into my head. I didn't have a clue as to what the markings were but they are explained on the link I provided. Thank you all for the warm welcome.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

WOW I saw the green check. Unbelievable ID. Do you know how the markings translate?

I read one of the previous posts and increments just popped into my head. I didn't have a clue as to what the markings were but they are explained on the link I provided. Thank you all for the warm welcome.

Yes I noticed that but didnt get it deleted fast enough. I guess I should have read it all before I type lol. ...again a Great ID.

Its an Iwa and a company code and the date of manufacturer like we thought.

 

[72cheyenne]

Wow, excellent ID Kildred! I would have never guessed it was munitions related.

 

[mickk]

Geeze, tell me how you worked that out, or had you seen em before?

I didnt know such a thing existed!

Now how excited am I that someone suggested he drop a bit of water on it and not hit it with a hammer!!!!!!!!!!!!

We got a lot right, its certainly precisely made, waterproof, tamper resistant, use specific, but not KABOOM material, dont think anyone would have got that answer using google. Geeze, I dont think we would ever have got it. Now I wonder what Big Rock Mountain means in context, does it translate to Big Mountain go BOOM!

Im so glad I have been put out of my misery.

 

[IronSpike]

Outstanding ID Kildred

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Nowadays you cannot carry this on a plane. What would have happened if it went out with the trash? I notice the ones in the link have been emptied of their contents...