Japanese
40 cm/45 (18.1") Type 94
46 cm/45 (18.1") Type 94
Pictures

Updated 28 May 2008

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Battleship Yamato at Sibuyan Sea 24 October 1944
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph # 80-G-325953


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IJN Yamato on trials 30 October 1941
This well-known photograph was seized by Occupation Authorities in Japan following the end of World War II
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph # 80-G-704702


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46 cm (18.1") Target Projectiles now in Hawaii at the Headquarters of the Commander in Chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet

Notes on these shells:
The driving bands on these projectiles have been removed and replaced with a thin metal cover which has been painted a copper color.  Nathan Okun believes that these are actually Type 91 APC projectiles which have been modified for target practice.  Special thanks to Mike Connelley who took several close-up pictures of these shells for Nathan to analyze.

Inscription on the Plaque at this site:

.
These six foot 3,200 pound projectiles were the ammunition for the largest guns ever to go to sea.  Aboard the Japanese Imperial Navy battleships Yamato and Musashi, these projectiles could be hurled more than 25 miles at 40 second intervals by 18 inch guns.  The 68,000 ton Yamato, the largest battleship in the world, was completed December 1941.  Her sister ship, Musashi, was completed eight months later.  Neither ship reached five years of age, both saw action and were sunk during World War 2, thus ending the brief era of the 18 inch gun.  These projectiles are unarmed target shells.  They were originally discovered at the Yokusuka Navy base and placed on display at the US Naval Ordnance Facility, Yokusuka in 1962.  These, and two similar projectiles on display in Hiroshima prefecture, Japan, are believed to be the only ones in existence today.  They were brought to Hawaii in April of 1971.


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Projectile Display at Yûshûkan Museum at the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, Japan
From left to right:
46 cm (18.1") Type 1 APC, two 12" (30.5 cm) projectiles for the battleship Mikasa and a 46 cm (18.1") HE
Picture courtesy of Taku Saito and from Museum Trip


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Diagram of typical Type 91 Projectile
Sketch from "US Naval Technical Mission to Japan report O-19:  Japanese Projectiles General Types"