Naval Guns of the Yamato-class Battleships

[temujin77]

This article is reproduced, in part and with explicit permission, from the World War II Database; further reproduction prohibited without permission. The URL to the original full article is:

WW2DB: Yamato-class Battleship

As big naval guns are concerned, none were as fearsome as the Type 94 naval guns built by WW2-era Japan. In fact, these 46-centimeter caliber (18.1-inch) guns were the largest guns mounted on surface ships in naval history. To hide their true size, they were designated "Special Type 40 cm" guns; this attempt was successful in fooling American intelligence.

These guns were mounted on the battleships Yamato and Musashi in 3-gun turrets. Each one of the turrets weighed 2,500 tons, which was actually heavier than many destroyers in the WW2 time period. The range of these guns were also stunning, being able to reach a target as far as 40 kilometers (25 miles) away. When they roared, a 15-meter semi-circle perimeter were considered dangerous for crew members, as the muzzle blasts generated intense heat. These Yamato-class battleships were typically stocked with:

Explosive shells
Armor piercing shells (Type 94)
Sanshiki anti-aircraft shells (Type 3)

The explosive and armor piercing shells were heavier than their contemporaries, weighing in at 1,460 kilograms each (3,218 pounds). The armor-penetration capabilities of the armor piercing shells were so great that when they were mis-used, as seen with Yamato during the Battle off Samar, they went right through target ships without exploding. With a capable crew, they could fire at the rate of once about every 40 seconds.

While explosive and armor piercing shells were common among battleship ammunitions, the sanshiki shells were unique. They were 1360-kilogram (2,998-pound) shells filled with 900 incendiary tubes. They were fired toward toward the general direction of incoming hostile aircraft, and timed fuses triggered them to explode. After the fuses triggered, the cone-shaped space before each exploded shell were filled with steel splinters from the destroyed shell, shrapnel, and 0.5 second later fireballs from the incendiary tubes; the fireballs lasted for 5 seconds and burned at 3,000 degrees Celsius. Sanshiki shells were used by the battleship Yamato during her run at Okinawa, when she was overwhelmed by American carrier aircraft.

Battleship Musashi used her explosive shells in an interesting manner when she was attacked by American aircraft during the Battle of Sibuyan Sea. She fired explosive shells from her 46-centimeter primary guns into the water, making huge geysers aimed at knocking down torpedo bombers attacking her. "Running into one of these geysers would be like running into a mountain", recalled TBF Avenger pilot Jack Lawton, "I felt the muzzle blast each time they fired. I could swear the wings were ready to fold every tie these huge shockwaves hit us."

For more information and photographs from the World War II Database, please see the links below.

WW2DB: Yamato
WW2DB: Musashi
WW2DB: Yamato-class Battleship

This article is reproduced, in part and with explicit permission, from the World War II Database; further reproduction prohibited without permission.

[lufttiger]

I might suggest the movie that came out last year called "Yamato" its
very good, and yes you'll have to read it, its in Japaese.

[temujin77]

Originally Posted by lufttiger

I might suggest the movie that came out last year called "Yamato" its
very good, and yes you'll have to read it, its in Japaese.

I saw Otoko tachi no Yamato a couple of months ago. Excellent action, though I wonder if the story could be a little bit more complex. I do highly recommend it as well. A bonus for me was seeing the main actor from the Japanese drama Great Teacher Onizuka playing one of the NCOs. He was good in GTO, and he was good in Yamato as well.

[cyberia]

Originally Posted by temujin77

[size="1"]
Battleship Musashi used her explosive shells in an interesting manner when she was attacked by American aircraft during the Battle of Sibuyan Sea. She fired explosive shells from her 46-centimeter primary guns into the water, making huge geysers aimed at knocking down torpedo bombers attacking her. "Running into one of these geysers would be like running into a mountain", recalled TBF Avenger pilot Jack Lawton, "I felt the muzzle blast each time they fired. I could swear the wings were ready to fold every tie these huge shockwaves hit us."

This is the first I ever heard of that! Thanks Jim!

[temujin77]

I'm Pete, not Jim, but it's no big deal

Yeah, when I read that account from Inferno: The Epic Life and Death Struggle of the USS Franklin in World War II, I was also very amused that the weapon was used so innovatively. It's a book I really recommend, by the way. You can find my review of it on my website.

[cyberia]

Originally Posted by temujin77

I'm Pete, not Jim, but it's no big deal

Yeah, when I read that account from Inferno: The Epic Life and Death Struggle of the USS Franklin in World War II, I was also very amused that the weapon was used so innovatively. It's a book I really recommend, by the way. You can find my review of it on my website.

Jeeze, Pete, sorry. Long night and too much coffee. I will check out that review.

[temujin77]

Originally Posted by cyberia

Jeeze, Pete, sorry. Long night and too much coffee. I will check out that review.

Here's a direct link to the review:
WW2DB: Inferno

I don't know, man, I've been up since 4am and my mind is still pretty clear... although I do wish I had more than one coffee ^^;;

[Pirate-Drakk]

The outstanding question about the Yamato class BBs is WHY?

The Japanese were innovators of the aircraft carrier and they could have made a couple of them with the resources used by the Yamato BBs. Or they could have made a couple big honking flat tops with the same hulls. As large as those guns were, they could only fire a round 25 miles. A carrier based bomber can carry a 3,000 pound bomb 100's of miles (at least in principle). Such was the obsolesence of the Battleship in WWII.

About the only thing the Yamato's were good for was "bragging rights".

[temujin77]

Originally Posted by Pirate-Drakk

The outstanding question about the Yamato class BBs is WHY?

The Japanese were innovators of the aircraft carrier and they could have made a couple of them with the resources used by the Yamato BBs. Or they could have made a couple big honking flat tops with the same hulls. As large as those guns were, they could only fire a round 25 miles. A carrier based bomber can carry a 3,000 pound bomb 100's of miles (at least in principle). Such was the obsolesence of the Battleship in WWII.

About the only thing the Yamato's were good for was "bragging rights".

"Bragging rights" is definitely a factor, though that's slightly simplifying it. Doctrine really has a lot to do with it, and underneath the doctrine, philosophy. Most of the Japanese naval commanders at the time were brought up with Mahanian philosophies, so they've always looked for the decisive naval battle that would win the war. After all, they have history to prove their philosophy right: Just look at the Battle of Tsushima that took place only a generation or two before WW2.

[lufttiger]

Originally Posted by Pirate-Drakk

The outstanding question about the Yamato class BBs is WHY?

The Japanese were innovators of the aircraft carrier and they could have made a couple of them with the resources used by the Yamato BBs. Or they could have made a couple big honking flat tops with the same hulls. As large as those guns were, they could only fire a round 25 miles. A carrier based bomber can carry a 3,000 pound bomb 100's of miles (at least in principle). Such was the obsolesence of the Battleship in WWII.

About the only thing the Yamato's were good for was "bragging rights".

I think when they started on building these, the carriers weren't a proven
battle winner yet. When they did learn this lesson they right away converted
one, the Shinano from a Yamato class BB, the second one never finished before the end of the war.