The Japanese 46 cm/45 Type 94 naval gun (四十五口径九四式四〇糎砲, Yonjūgo-gōkei kyūyon-shiki yonjussenchi-hō) was a 46 cm (18.1 in) naval gun, the largest ever mounted on a warship. Only two ships carried them, the Imperial Japanese Navy's World War II battleshipsYamato and Musashi. They were designated as a much smaller 40 cm (15.75 in) gun in an effort to hide their true size.
46 cm/45 Type 94
A Type 94 Naval Gun being calibrated on Yamato during construction
The gun was designed in accordance with the prevailing Japanese naval strategy of Kantai Kessen, the Decisive Battle Doctrine, which presupposed Japan would win a war by fighting and winning a single, decisive naval action. Essential to that victory was being able to out-gun and out-fight its adversary. No other ship built could match the firepower and broadside weight of a Yamato-class battleship.
In spite of this, there were no battleship-to-battleship engagements involving either completed vessel of the Yamato-class and an enemy warship. Both were sunk by aerial attack.
The 46 cm (18.1 in) 46 cm/45 Type 94 naval rifle was a wire-wound gun. Mounted in three 3-gun turrets (nine per ship), they served as the main armament of the two Yamato-classbattleships that were in service with the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. When the turrets and the guns were mounted, each weighed 2,510 tons, which is about the same tonnage as an average sized destroyer of the era.
The Japanese guns were of a slightly larger bore than the three British 18 inch naval guns built during World War I, although the shells were not as heavy. Britain had later designed the N3-class battleship with 18-inch guns, but none were built, leaving no Allied naval guns to compare with the Type 94. Unlike most of the very large guns of other navies, they could fire special anti-aircraft shells (Sanshiki), referred to as "beehive".
Construction
Some 27 guns were built for the three battleships of the Yamato class. Only 18 were ever shipped, nine each aboard the Yamato and Musashi; the third vessel of the class, the Shinano, was converted into an aircraft carrier and sunk before it entered combat. The complex Type 94 barrels were constructed in three autofrettaged stages. A half-length tube was fitted over the first tube and shrunk onto it. The assembly was then wire wound and two additional tubes shrunk over the entire length of the gun tubes. A final inner tube was then inserted down the gun and expanded into place. This inner tube was then rifled to finish the gun. As designed, this gun could not cost effectively be relined but instead had to have the entire gun tube replaced due to wear.[2]
Unlike previous designs the turrets were found to have nothing in common with previous British Vickers designs used in other Japanese battleships when examined by a US naval technical team. Each gun was independently sleeved allowing for separate elevation. The shell hoists and powder rams were found to be ingenious though unduly heavy designs that allowed a relatively rapid rate of reload.[2] 180 shells (60 rounds per gun) were stored in the turret's rotating structure. The shells were stored vertically and an innovative system of geared mechanical conveyors was employed to move the extremely large and heavy shells from the shell rooms. The mechanical advantage required to move the heavy shells meant these conveyors operated extremely slowly but the 180 shells stored in each turret were considered sufficient for a surface engagement.[3]
^ ab, U.S. NAVAL TECHNICAL MISSION TO JAPAN Target O-45(N), Japanese 18" gun mount
^ ab. NavWeaps. Archived from the original on 2016-11-15. Retrieved 2018-04-23.
^Garzke, William; Dulin, Robert (1985). Battleships : axis and neutral battleships in World War II. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. p. 90. ISBN0870211013.
Campbell, John (1985). Naval Weapons of World War Two. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN0-87021-459-4.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to 40 cm/45 Type 94 naval gun.
18.1"/45 caliber, Nihon Kaigun
Japan 46cm/45 (15.9") Type 94 - Actual Size 46cm (18.1"), Navweaps.com
PIECES LOURDES : 240 et plus, le.fantasque.free.fr
External links
January 12, 2023
type, naval, japanese, 四十五口径九四式四, 糎砲, yonjūgo, gōkei, kyūyon, shiki, yonjussenchi, naval, largest, ever, mounted, warship, only, ships, carried, them, imperial, japanese, navy, world, battleships, yamato, musashi, they, were, designated, much, smaller, effort,. The Japanese 46 cm 45 Type 94 naval gun 四十五口径九四式四 糎砲 Yonjugo gōkei kyuyon shiki yonjussenchi hō was a 46 cm 18 1 in naval gun the largest ever mounted on a warship Only two ships carried them the Imperial Japanese Navy s World War II battleships Yamato and Musashi They were designated as a much smaller 40 cm 15 75 in gun in an effort to hide their true size 46 cm 45 Type 94A Type 94 Naval Gun being calibrated on Yamato during constructionTypeNaval gunPlace of originJapanService historyIn service1940 1945Used byImperial Japanese NavyWarsWorld War IIProduction historyDesignerC Hada 1 ManufacturerKure Naval Arsenal 1 No built 27SpecificationsMass147 3 tonnesBarrel length21 13 m 69 ft 4 in 46 calibersDiameter46 cm 18 1 in ShellAP Type 91 1 460 kg 3 218 7 lb HE Type 0 1 360 kg 2 998 3 lb AA Type 3 1 360 kg 2 998 3 lb Calibre46 cm 18 1 in BreechWelin breech blockRecoilHydraulic recoil mechanismCarriageYamato class battleshipElevation 45 5 degrees 10 sTraverse300 2 sRate of fire1 5 2 rounds minMuzzle velocity780 m s 2 600 ft s Effective firing range25 km 16 mi Maximum firing range42 km 26 mi at 45 elevationThe gun was designed in accordance with the prevailing Japanese naval strategy of Kantai Kessen the Decisive Battle Doctrine which presupposed Japan would win a war by fighting and winning a single decisive naval action Essential to that victory was being able to out gun and out fight its adversary No other ship built could match the firepower and broadside weight of a Yamato class battleship In spite of this there were no battleship to battleship engagements involving either completed vessel of the Yamato class and an enemy warship Both were sunk by aerial attack Contents 1 Description 2 Construction 3 Range and flight time 4 Impact angle and velocity 5 See also 6 References 7 Bibliography 8 External links 9 External linksDescription EditThe 46 cm 18 1 in 46 cm 45 Type 94 naval rifle was a wire wound gun Mounted in three 3 gun turrets nine per ship they served as the main armament of the two Yamato class battleships that were in service with the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II When the turrets and the guns were mounted each weighed 2 510 tons which is about the same tonnage as an average sized destroyer of the era The Japanese guns were of a slightly larger bore than the three British 18 inch naval guns built during World War I although the shells were not as heavy Britain had later designed the N3 class battleship with 18 inch guns but none were built leaving no Allied naval guns to compare with the Type 94 Unlike most of the very large guns of other navies they could fire special anti aircraft shells Sanshiki referred to as beehive Construction EditSome 27 guns were built for the three battleships of the Yamato class Only 18 were ever shipped nine each aboard the Yamato and Musashi the third vessel of the class the Shinano was converted into an aircraft carrier and sunk before it entered combat The complex Type 94 barrels were constructed in three autofrettaged stages A half length tube was fitted over the first tube and shrunk onto it The assembly was then wire wound and two additional tubes shrunk over the entire length of the gun tubes A final inner tube was then inserted down the gun and expanded into place This inner tube was then rifled to finish the gun As designed this gun could not cost effectively be relined but instead had to have the entire gun tube replaced due to wear 2 Unlike previous designs the turrets were found to have nothing in common with previous British Vickers designs used in other Japanese battleships when examined by a US naval technical team Each gun was independently sleeved allowing for separate elevation The shell hoists and powder rams were found to be ingenious though unduly heavy designs that allowed a relatively rapid rate of reload 2 180 shells 60 rounds per gun were stored in the turret s rotating structure The shells were stored vertically and an innovative system of geared mechanical conveyors was employed to move the extremely large and heavy shells from the shell rooms The mechanical advantage required to move the heavy shells meant these conveyors operated extremely slowly but the 180 shells stored in each turret were considered sufficient for a surface engagement 3 Range and flight time EditWith Type 91 AP shell Elevation 4 Range Time of flight10 18 410 yards 16 830 m 26 05 sec20 30 530 yards 27 920 m 49 21 sec30 39 180 yards 35 830 m 70 27 sec40 44 510 yards 40 700 m 89 42 sec45 45 960 yards 42 030 m 98 6 secImpact angle and velocity EditWith Type 91 AP shell Elevation 4 Range Impact angle Velocity2 4 5 470 yards 5 000 m 3 3 2 264 feet per second 690 m s 5 4 10 940 yards 10 000 m 7 2 2 034 feet per second 620 m s 8 6 16 400 yards 15 000 m 11 5 1 844 feet per second 562 m s 12 6 21 870 yards 20 000 m 16 5 1 709 feet per second 521 m s 17 2 27 340 yards 25 000 m 23 1 608 feet per second 490 m s 23 2 32 810 yards 30 000 m 31 4 1 558 feet per second 475 m s A Type 1 armour piercing shell at the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo Drawing showing internal structure of Type 91 armour piercing shell High explosive Type 0 shell Yamato s 46 cm 45 Type 94 naval gun shells See also EditBL 18 inch Mk I naval gun 18 48 caliber Mark 1 gun 16 50 caliber Mark 7 gun List of naval guns List of the largest cannons by caliberReferences Edit a b 1 U S NAVAL TECHNICAL MISSION TO JAPAN Target O 45 N Japanese 18 gun mount a b 40 cm 45 15 7 Type 94 NavWeaps Archived from the original on 2016 11 15 Retrieved 2018 04 23 Garzke William Dulin Robert 1985 Battleships axis and neutral battleships in World War II Annapolis Naval Institute Press p 90 ISBN 0870211013 a b Campbell Naval Weapons of WWII p 180 Bibliography EditCampbell John 1985 Naval Weapons of World War Two Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 0 87021 459 4 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to 40 cm 45 Type 94 naval gun Scottish History Mons Meg reportedly mounted at sea 18 1 45 caliber Nihon Kaigun Japan 46cm 45 15 9 Type 94 Actual Size 46cm 18 1 Navweaps com PIECES LOURDES 240 et plus le fantasque free frExternal links Edit Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 46 cm 45 Type 94 naval gun amp oldid 1128916690, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
