[3] The Imperial Japanese Army considered the Type 89 grenade launcher to be an effective weapon, often employed in two to four pieces as part of a typical rifle platoon.

The range to the target was adjusted by turning a dial that altered the volume of the gas chamber by moving the firing pin, along with the trigger assembly, up and down.

Weighing approximately 2 pounds (910 g), it was known as the Type 89 50 mm shell, and was made in high explosive (HE), incendiary and smoke variants.

[9] The method worked equally well when firing from deep trenches or pits, or between various building obstructions when fighting inside a built-up town or city.

[9] With its curved support plate, the Type 89 was designed to be placed on the ground or against a log or trunk at a fixed firing angle of 45 degrees.

The Imperial Japanese Army issued three Type 89s per platoon, making it their most widely used infantry fire support weapon.

Japanese Navy paratroopers carried special containers for the Type 89 clipped to their harnesses to provide fire support right on the landing zone.

[3] Allied troops quickly learned to take cover when they heard the weapon's "pop" when launching its grenades or shells, in some cases from more than 200 yd (180 m) away.