If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Japanese AA Weapon?
Did the Japanese battleship Yamato ever fire an AA salvo during WW2?
A visiting friend of mine in the Navy told me the Japanese had a battery-fired AA weapon that was actually fired in battle. I guess it didn't work as the ship was sunk! Anyone know what this weapon was? I can't find anything on it online and my friend can't remember the name of it. Kenneth Williams |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
"Kenneth Williams" wrote in message ... Did the Japanese battleship Yamato ever fire an AA salvo during WW2? A visiting friend of mine in the Navy told me the Japanese had a battery-fired AA weapon that was actually fired in battle. I guess it didn't work as the ship was sunk! Anyone know what this weapon was? From http://www.warships1.com/Weapons/WNJAP_18-45_t94.htm "As were most Japanese warships, the Yamato and Musashi were provided with a special anti-aircraft incendiary shrapnel shell officially designated as "Type 3 Common" but nicknamed "San Shiki" (The Beehive). This round weighed 2,998 lbs. (1,360 kg) and was filled with 900 incendiary tubes made out of rubber thermite and 600 steel stays. A time fuze was used to set the desired exploding distance, usually about 1,000 meters (1,100 yards). These projectiles were designed to burst in a 20 degree cone extending towards the oncoming aircraft with the projectile shell itself being destroyed by a bursting charge to increase the quantity of steel splinters. The incendiary tubes ignited about half a second later and burned for five seconds at 3,000 degrees C, producing a flame about 5 meters (16 feet) long. " Keith |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Hi
The Yamato had the following weapons dedicated for the anti-aircraft role Six pairs of 5 inch guns Twelve pairs of 25 mm guns Four pairs of 13 mm guns Cheers...Chris |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
"Keith Willshaw" writes:
From http://www.warships1.com/Weapons/WNJAP_18-45_t94.htm "As were most Japanese warships, the Yamato and Musashi were provided with a special anti-aircraft incendiary shrapnel shell officially designated as "Type 3 Common" but nicknamed "San Shiki" (The Beehive). This round weighed Correction to the quoted part: `san shiki' is merely Japanese for Type 3, the short form of the name of the shell. I could't find out what the nickname was in Japanese, but beehive is `mitsuhachi no su', not very catchy. In the past, `beehive' was also known as `hankyujo' (lit. 'hemisphere-shape'), which sounds a lot more likely. Anyone else know for sure ? -- G Hassenpflug * IJN & JMSDF equipment/history fan |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
I think I have identified the source of confusion here. The big guns
on the Yamato are referred to as 'the main battery'. This is a term stemming from the old sailing ships. So when you hear someone casually mention 'the main battery fired antiaircraft shells' one unfamiliar with the term might assume a battery-activated antiaircraft gun. BTW those San-Shiki shells were used but weren't effrective on aircraft. They were also to be used to destroy merchant shipping should the case arise. I suspect they also may have tumbled out of their racks and detonated when the Yamato rolled onto her beam ends and blew the ship in half. FWIW Bismarck also fired her main battery at the Lancasters coming in to sink her on that last mission - but to no avail. Wonder what it was like when the Tallboys came down. Richter 9? Walt BJ |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
"Keith Willshaw" wrote in message ...
"Kenneth Williams" wrote in message ... Did the Japanese battleship Yamato ever fire an AA salvo during WW2? A visiting friend of mine in the Navy told me the Japanese had a battery-fired AA weapon that was actually fired in battle. I guess it didn't work as the ship was sunk! Anyone know what this weapon was? From http://www.warships1.com/Weapons/WNJAP_18-45_t94.htm "As were most Japanese warships, the Yamato and Musashi were provided with a special anti-aircraft incendiary shrapnel shell officially designated as "Type 3 Common" but nicknamed "San Shiki" (The Beehive). This round weighed 2,998 lbs. (1,360 kg) and was filled with 900 incendiary tubes made out of rubber thermite and 600 steel stays. A time fuze was used to set the desired exploding distance, usually about 1,000 meters (1,100 yards). These projectiles were designed to burst in a 20 degree cone extending towards the oncoming aircraft with the projectile shell itself being destroyed by a bursting charge to increase the quantity of steel splinters. The incendiary tubes ignited about half a second later and burned for five seconds at 3,000 degrees C, producing a flame about 5 meters (16 feet) long. " Keith As noted in the link Keith provided the Musashi ruined one of her 18 inch guns the very first time she fired the Sankaiden ammo. The AA rounds weren't bore safe and Musashi's detonated prematurely. It should also be noted that Sankaiden ammo was not just for use by the Japanese big battleships. The ammo was introduced in 1942 starting with 8 inch guns and moving up to the big 18s of Yamato and Musashi. They were, however, not effective in any caliber and most damaged the ship's guns that fired them. Rob |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
"WaltBJ" wrote in message om... FWIW Bismarck also fired her main battery at the Lancasters coming in to sink her on that last mission - but to no avail. Wonder what it was like when the Tallboys came down. Richter 9? Walt BJ I think you meant Tirpitz there. Keith |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Sounds a bit more sophisticated than putting up waterspouts!
As I recall, Yamato did sortie, so presumably it did fire some guns, though that is hardly certain. It could have been a species of proactive scuttling. "As were most Japanese warships, the Yamato and Musashi were provided with a special anti-aircraft incendiary shrapnel shell officially designated as "Type 3 Common" but nicknamed "San Shiki" (The Beehive). This round weighed 2,998 lbs. (1,360 kg) and was filled with 900 incendiary tubes made out of rubber thermite and 600 steel stays. A time fuze was used to set the desired exploding distance, usually about 1,000 meters (1,100 yards). These projectiles were designed to burst in a 20 degree cone extending towards the oncoming aircraft with the projectile shell itself being destroyed by a bursting charge to increase the quantity of steel splinters. The incendiary tubes ignited about half a second later and burned for five seconds at 3,000 degrees C, producing a flame about 5 meters (16 feet) long. " Keith all the best -- Dan Ford email: see the Warbird's Forum at www.warbirdforum.com and the Piper Cub Forum at www.pipercubforum.com |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Bismarck also fired her main battery at the Lancasters coming in to sink her on that last mission This actually was fairly common. There are many motion pictures showing USN ships banging away in order to create waterspouts in front of low-level kamikaze attacks. I should think that was often done against torpedo bombers, who had to fly at low level. (To be sure, that's different from firing AT the aircraft.) all the best -- Dan Ford email: see the Warbird's Forum at www.warbirdforum.com and the Piper Cub Forum at www.pipercubforum.com |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
"Type 3 Common" but nicknamed "San Shiki" (The Beehive). This round weighed Correction to the quoted part: `san shiki' is merely Japanese for Type 3, the short form of the name of the shell. Adopted in the year 2603 of the Japanese throne. As a means of identifying military gear, year-adopted is one of the most confusing, especially with the pace of adoption in the war years. The most famous example of this system, and the only one that has made it into English, is the A6M "Zero" -- adopted in, you got it, 2600. This was actually considered to be the *long* system. (The full & proper name is Type Zero Carrier Fighter.) A6M is the short system, and was adopted from the U.S. Navy: purpose - sequence number - manufacturer. www.warbirdforum.com/zero.htm all the best -- Dan Ford email: see the Warbird's Forum at www.warbirdforum.com and the Piper Cub Forum at www.pipercubforum.com |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
russia vs. japan in 1941 [WAS: 50% of NAZI oil..] | Military Aviation | 136 | December 6th 03 10:40 PM | |
OT- north korean nuke weapon plutonium - source? | patrick mitchel | Military Aviation | 11 | August 31st 03 04:01 AM |
AIRCRAFT MUNITIONS - THE COBALT BOMB | Garrison Hilliard | Military Aviation | 1 | August 29th 03 09:22 AM |
Japanese Army Navy | Keith Willshaw | Military Aviation | 35 | July 29th 03 03:22 AM |
Rapists and Robbers have a New Weapon | Bumper7 | Aerobatics | 0 | July 17th 03 09:37 AM |