40 cm/45 Type 94 naval gun
46 cm/45 Type 94 | |
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A Type 94 Naval Gun being calibrated on Yamato during construction | |
Type | Naval gun |
Place of origin | Empire of Japan |
Service history | |
In service | 1940–1945 |
Used by | Imperial Japanese Navy |
Wars | World War II |
Specifications | |
Weight | 147.3 tonnes |
Length | OA 21.13 m (69 ft 4 in) L/46 |
Diameter | 46 cm (18 in) |
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Shell | Separate charges and shell |
Calibre | 460 mm (18.1 in) |
Elevation | +45/-5 degrees. 10°/s |
Traverse | 300°, 2°/s |
Rate of fire | 1.5 - 2 rounds/min |
Muzzle velocity | 780 m/s (2,600 ft/s) |
Effective firing range | 25 km (16 mi) |
Maximum firing range | 42 km (26 mi) at 45° elevation |
The Japanese "46 cm/45 Type 94 naval gun" (四五口径九四式四〇糎砲 Yonjūgo-kōkei kyūyon-shiki yonjussenchi-hō) was, with a caliber of 46 cm (18.1 in), the biggest naval gun used by battleships in World War II.
Description
The built-up guns were mounted as the main armament of the 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 the very large guns of other navies they could fire special anti-aircraft shells (Sanshiki) referred to as "beehive".
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A Type 1 armour-piercing shell at the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo.
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Drawing showing the internal setup of a Type 91 armour-piercing shell.
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High-explosive Type 0 shell.
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Yamato's 40 cm/45 Type 94 naval gun shells.
See also
- BL 18 inch Mk I naval gun
- 16"/50 Mark 7
- List of naval guns
- List of the largest cannons by caliber
- Yamato-class battleships
References
- 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.fr
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to 46 cm/45 Type 94 naval gun. |