8th Year Type torpedo
{{Infobox weapon
| name = 8th Year Type torpedo
| image = Mutsuki-1.jpg
| caption = The {{sclass|Mutsuki|destroyer|4}} were the first ships equipping this torpedo
| origin = Empire of Japan
| type = Torpedo
| is_ranged = yes
| is_explosive = yes
| is_missile = yes
| is_UK = yes
| service = 1920
| used_by = Imperial Japanese Navy
| wars = Second World War
| designer =
| design_date = 1919
| manufacturer = Kure, Yokosuka and Sasebo Naval Arsenals
| variants =
| weight = {{convert|2215|kg|lb|abbr=on}} (N° 1)
{{convert|2362|kg|lb|abbr=on}} (N° 2)
| length = {{convert|8.485|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| diameter = {{convert|60.9|cm|in|abbr=on}}
| range = {{convert|10000|m|yd|abbr=on}} (at 38 knots)
| max_range = {{convert|20000|m|yd|abbr=on}} (at 28 knots)
| filling = Shimose (picric acid)
| filling_weight = {{convert|300|kg|lb|abbr=on}} (N° 1)
{{convert|346|kg|lb|abbr=on}} (N° 2)
| detonation =
| yield =
| fuel_capacity =
| engine = 4-cylinder Schwarzkopff radial engine
| speed = {{convert|43|kn|km/h}}
}}
The {{nihongo|"8th Year Type"|十二年式}} was a {{convert|61|cm|in|abbr=on}}-diameter torpedo of the Imperial Japanese Navy, launched from surface ships. It was later used as the template to develop the more advanced Type 90 torpedo. It was further derivatived in two variations, "Number 1" and "Number 2", having respectively a lighter and larger warheads.{{cite web| url = http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WTJAP_PreWWII.php| title = Torpedoes of Japan| access-date = 2024-06-24}}
History and development
The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) initially used {{convert|53.3|cm|in|abbr=on}}-diameter torpedoes like most other navies during this period, making the 8th Year Type the first-ever {{convert|61|cm|in|abbr=on}}-diameter torpedo put in service (exactly {{convert|609|mm|in|abbr=on}}). It was initially deployed for the {{sclass|Mutsuki|destroyer}}s and was also adopted for the newer {{sclass|Fubuki|destroyer|1}}s as well as several cruisers for their refits such as the {{sclass|Nagara|cruiser|4}},{{cite web| url = http://www.combinedfleet.com/torps.htm| title = Japanese Torpedoes| access-date = 2024-06-24}} {{convert|61|cm|in|abbr=on}}-diameter torpedoes being the only standards for future ships until the end of World War II.
{{sclass|Hatsuharu|destroyer|1}} and heavy cruiser remodels were also fitted with {{convert|61|cm|in|abbr=on}}-diameter torpedo launcher, but all ships equipped with those launchers were now using the newly developed Type 90 torpedo, which was also progressively replacing all 8th Year Type torpedoes in IJN service, now obsolete.
The torpedo used a four-cylinder Schwarzkopff radial engine, with a wet-heater using kerosene and compressed air. They were launched from the torpedo tubes, in either a three or four tubed-closed launcher configurations. This system was notably improved with the following Type 90 torpedo, replacing the propulsion and improving the launching mechanism.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{cite web| url = http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WTJAP_PreWWII.php| title = Torpedoes of Japan| access-date = 2024-06-24}}
- {{cite web| url = http://www.combinedfleet.com/torps.htm| title = Japanese Torpedoes| access-date = 2024-06-24}}
- [https://taietsu-shigoku.com/sansogyorai/ Taietsu Shigoku info on torpedoes (Japanese)]
{{WWIIJapaneseNavalWeapons}}
{{Imperial Japanese Navy}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:8th Year Type Torpedo}}
Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1920s