The gun was of wire-wound construction and had an overall length of 18.84 meters (61 ft 10 in) with a bore 18.294 meters (60 ft 0.2 in) long. It weighed 102,000 kilograms (224,872 lb), including the Welin-type breech. This used the Elswick three-motion short-arm mechanism, much like the British BL 18 inch Mk I naval gun designed around the same time. Chamber volume was 467.11 litres (28,505 cu in).[1]
Rear view of the gun on display at the Yamato Museum
Initially the gun was fitted in twin-gun turrets that had an elevation range of –2°/+35°.[2] It was initially equipped with the Type 88 1,000-kilogram (2,200 lb) armor-piercing, capped (APC) shell, that had a muzzle velocity of 790 m/s (2,600 ft/s).[3] This was superseded in 1931 by the Type 91 shell that weighed 1,020 kilograms (2,250 lb). It was fired at a muzzle velocity of 790 m/s (2,600 ft/s) to a range of 30,200 meters (33,000 yd).[4] Also available was a 936-kilogram (2,064 lb) high-explosive shell that had a muzzle velocity of 805 meters per second (2,640 ft/s). A special Type 3 Sankaidan incendiary shrapnel shell was developed in the 1930s for anti-aircraft use.[3] The gun's firing cycle was one round every 24 seconds.[4]
The turrets aboard the Nagato-class ships were replaced in the mid-1930s, using the turrets stored from the unfinished Tosa-classbattleships.[5] While in storage the turrets were modified to increase their range of elevation to –3°/+43°, which gave them a maximum range of 37,900 meters (41,400 yd), and their firing cycle was reduced to 21.5 seconds.[4]
The gun was only initially known as the 41 cm/45 3rd Year Type naval gun before it was redesignated as the 40 cm/45 3rd Year Type naval gun on 29 March 1922 to comply with the terms of the Washington Naval Treaty which forbade guns larger than 40.6 cm (16 in).[4] Third year type refers to the Welin breech block on which design began in 1914, the third year of the Taishō period. This breech block design was also used on the 20 cm (7.9 inch), 15.5 cm (6.1 inch), 14 cm (5.5 inch), 12.7 cm (5 inch), and 12 cm (4.7 inch) naval guns.[6]
Service
The Nagato-class dreadnoughts were the only ships to use this gun, although it would have been used by the Tosa-class and Kii-class dreadnoughts as well as the Amagi-classbattlecruisers had they not been cancelled due to the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922.[1] The gun was also deployed in three coast-defense turrets intended to close off the Strait of Tsushima. One turret each was deployed on Iki and Tsushima Islands while the third was mounted in Pusan, Korea.[7]
Mutsu’s original number 4 turret, removed during her interwar refit, is on display on the grounds of the former Imperial Japanese Naval Academy at Etajima, Hiroshima, where it was placed as a training aid in the 1930s. The two aft turrets from Mutsu's wreck were salvaged in the 1970s; No. 4 in July or August 1970 and No. 3 in September of the following year. Both were scrapped. One gun from Turret No. 3 is at the Kure Maritime Museum, popularly known as the Yamato Museum, in Kure, Hiroshima while the other is at the Museum of Maritime Science in Odaiba, Tokyo.[8]
Shells into bombs
Obsolete Type 88 shells were modified in 1939–40 to create the Type 99 No. 80 Mk 5 armor-piercing bomb used during the attack on Pearl Harbor.[9] The armor-piercing cap and windscreen were removed, the body was machined down and tapered to reduce weight and a new, thinner, base plug installed with two fuzes.[9] The filling was replaced by 23 kilograms (50 lb) of trinitroanisole and the bomb weighed 796.8 kilograms (1,757 lb).[10]
Beginning in 1942 an improved version of the bomb was built. Its nose was much less thick and it contained 35.7 kilograms (79 lb) of trinitroanisole. It weighed 811.2 kilograms (1,788 lb).[10]
Campbell, John (1985). Naval Weapons of World War Two. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN0-87021-459-4.
Friedman, Norman (2011). Naval Weapons of World War One: Guns, Torpedoes, Mines and ASW Weapons of All Nations; An Illustrated Directory. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN978-1-84832-100-7.
Gibbs, Jay (2010). "Question 28/43: Japanese Ex-Naval Coast Defense Guns". Warship International. XLVII (3): 217–218. ISSN 0043-0374.
Robbins, C. B. (2004). "Question 51/02: Japanese 16-in/45 Coast Defense Guns". Warship International. XLI (1): 17–18. ISSN 0043-0374.
Skwiot, Miroslaw (2008). Nagato Mutsu, Part II. Encyklopedia Okretów Wojennych. Vol. 52. Gdansk, Poland: AJ-Press. ISBN978-83-7237-202-4.
Williams, Mike (2009). Jordan, John (ed.). Mutsu – An Exploration of the Circumstances Surrounding her Loss. Warship 2009. London: Conway. pp. 125–142. ISBN978-1-84486-089-0.
Zimm, Alan D. (2011). Attack on Pearl Harbor: Strategy, Combat, Myths, Deceptions. Havertown, Pennsylvania: Casemate Publishers. ISBN978-1-61200-010-7.
Zolandez, Thomas (September 2017). "Question 25/45". Warship International. LIV (3): 193–195. ISSN 0043-0374.
External links
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January 20, 2023
year, type, naval, centimeter, breech, loading, naval, designed, during, world, imperial, japanese, navy, served, primary, armament, nagato, class, dreadnoughts, completed, after, coast, defense, mountings, turrets, their, guns, were, salvaged, during, 1970s, . The 41 cm 45 3rd Year Type naval gun was a 41 centimeter 16 1 in breech loading naval gun designed during World War I for the Imperial Japanese Navy It served as the primary armament in the Nagato class dreadnoughts completed after the end of the war and in coast defense mountings Two turrets and their guns were salvaged during the 1970s from the wreck of the Japanese battleship Mutsu and are on display in Japan 41 cm 45 3rd Year Type naval gun41 cm 45 3rd Year Type naval gun from the battleship Mutsu outside the Yamato MuseumTypeNaval gunCoast defense gunPlace of originJapanService historyIn service1920 1945Used byImperial Japanese NavyWarsWorld War IIProduction historyNo builtabout 40SpecificationsMass102 000 kilograms 224 872 lb Length18 84 meters 61 ft 10 in Barrel length18 294 meters 60 ft 0 2 in bore length ShellSeparate loading bagged chargeShell weight1 020 kilograms 2 250 lb Caliber41 centimeters 16 1 in BreechWelin breech blockElevation 2 to 35 later 3 to 43 Rate of fire1 round per 24 secondsMuzzle velocity780 790 meters per second 2 600 2 600 ft s Effective firing range30 200 meters 33 000 yd Maximum firing range38 400 meters 42 000 yd Contents 1 Description 2 Service 3 Shells into bombs 4 See also 4 1 Weapons of comparable role performance and era 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksDescription EditThe gun was of wire wound construction and had an overall length of 18 84 meters 61 ft 10 in with a bore 18 294 meters 60 ft 0 2 in long It weighed 102 000 kilograms 224 872 lb including the Welin type breech This used the Elswick three motion short arm mechanism much like the British BL 18 inch Mk I naval gun designed around the same time Chamber volume was 467 11 litres 28 505 cu in 1 Rear view of the gun on display at the Yamato Museum Initially the gun was fitted in twin gun turrets that had an elevation range of 2 35 2 It was initially equipped with the Type 88 1 000 kilogram 2 200 lb armor piercing capped APC shell that had a muzzle velocity of 790 m s 2 600 ft s 3 This was superseded in 1931 by the Type 91 shell that weighed 1 020 kilograms 2 250 lb It was fired at a muzzle velocity of 790 m s 2 600 ft s to a range of 30 200 meters 33 000 yd 4 Also available was a 936 kilogram 2 064 lb high explosive shell that had a muzzle velocity of 805 meters per second 2 640 ft s A special Type 3 Sankaidan incendiary shrapnel shell was developed in the 1930s for anti aircraft use 3 The gun s firing cycle was one round every 24 seconds 4 The turrets aboard the Nagato class ships were replaced in the mid 1930s using the turrets stored from the unfinished Tosa class battleships 5 While in storage the turrets were modified to increase their range of elevation to 3 43 which gave them a maximum range of 37 900 meters 41 400 yd and their firing cycle was reduced to 21 5 seconds 4 The gun was only initially known as the 41 cm 45 3rd Year Type naval gun before it was redesignated as the 40 cm 45 3rd Year Type naval gun on 29 March 1922 to comply with the terms of the Washington Naval Treaty which forbade guns larger than 40 6 cm 16 in 4 Third year type refers to the Welin breech block on which design began in 1914 the third year of the Taishō period This breech block design was also used on the 20 cm 7 9 inch 15 5 cm 6 1 inch 14 cm 5 5 inch 12 7 cm 5 inch and 12 cm 4 7 inch naval guns 6 Service EditThe Nagato class dreadnoughts were the only ships to use this gun although it would have been used by the Tosa class and Kii class dreadnoughts as well as the Amagi class battlecruisers had they not been cancelled due to the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922 1 The gun was also deployed in three coast defense turrets intended to close off the Strait of Tsushima One turret each was deployed on Iki and Tsushima Islands while the third was mounted in Pusan Korea 7 Mutsu s original number 4 turret removed during her interwar refit is on display on the grounds of the former Imperial Japanese Naval Academy at Etajima Hiroshima where it was placed as a training aid in the 1930s The two aft turrets from Mutsu s wreck were salvaged in the 1970s No 4 in July or August 1970 and No 3 in September of the following year Both were scrapped One gun from Turret No 3 is at the Kure Maritime Museum popularly known as the Yamato Museum in Kure Hiroshima while the other is at the Museum of Maritime Science in Odaiba Tokyo 8 Shells into bombs EditObsolete Type 88 shells were modified in 1939 40 to create the Type 99 No 80 Mk 5 armor piercing bomb used during the attack on Pearl Harbor 9 The armor piercing cap and windscreen were removed the body was machined down and tapered to reduce weight and a new thinner base plug installed with two fuzes 9 The filling was replaced by 23 kilograms 50 lb of trinitroanisole and the bomb weighed 796 8 kilograms 1 757 lb 10 Beginning in 1942 an improved version of the bomb was built Its nose was much less thick and it contained 35 7 kilograms 79 lb of trinitroanisole It weighed 811 2 kilograms 1 788 lb 10 See also EditWeapons of comparable role performance and era Edit BL 16 inch Mk I naval gun British equivalent 16 45 caliber Mk 1 5 amp 8 gun American equivalentNotes Edit a b Campbell p 181 Skwiot p 20 a b Campbell p 182 a b c d Friedman p 269 Skwiot p 19 Campbell pp 173 190 Gibbs p 217 Skwiot p 16 Williams pp 138 39 a b Zimm p 62 a b Campbell p 215References EditCampbell John 1985 Naval Weapons of World War Two Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 0 87021 459 4 Friedman Norman 2011 Naval Weapons of World War One Guns Torpedoes Mines and ASW Weapons of All Nations An Illustrated Directory Barnsley UK Seaforth Publishing ISBN 978 1 84832 100 7 Gibbs Jay 2010 Question 28 43 Japanese Ex Naval Coast Defense Guns Warship International XLVII 3 217 218 ISSN 0043 0374 Robbins C B 2004 Question 51 02 Japanese 16 in 45 Coast Defense Guns Warship International XLI 1 17 18 ISSN 0043 0374 Skwiot Miroslaw 2008 Nagato Mutsu Part II Encyklopedia Okretow Wojennych Vol 52 Gdansk Poland AJ Press ISBN 978 83 7237 202 4 Williams Mike 2009 Jordan John ed Mutsu An Exploration of the Circumstances Surrounding her Loss Warship 2009 London Conway pp 125 142 ISBN 978 1 84486 089 0 Zimm Alan D 2011 Attack on Pearl Harbor Strategy Combat Myths Deceptions Havertown Pennsylvania Casemate Publishers ISBN 978 1 61200 010 7 Zolandez Thomas September 2017 Question 25 45 Warship International LIV 3 193 195 ISSN 0043 0374 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to 41 cm 45 3rd Year Type naval gun 41 cm 45 3rd Year Type on navweaps com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 41 cm 45 3rd Year Type naval gun amp oldid 1112625097, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
