Type 95 torpedo facts for kids
The Type 95 torpedo was a powerful underwater weapon used by Japan's navy during World War II. It was specially designed for submarines. Think of it as a super-fast, long-range missile that traveled underwater!
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The Type 95 Torpedo: Japan's Underwater Weapon
The Type 95 torpedo was a very important weapon for the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. It was used by their submarines to attack enemy ships. This torpedo was known for being very fast and having a long range.
What Made It Special?
The Type 95 was built using ideas from another famous Japanese torpedo, the Type 93 torpedo, which was nicknamed the Long Lance. Both were very advanced for their time. The Type 95 had a powerful warhead, which is the part that explodes. Some versions had a 405 kg (893 lb) warhead, while others had an even bigger 550 kg (1,210 lb) one. This was a very large explosive charge for a submarine torpedo!
Speed and Range
The Type 95 torpedo was incredibly fast. It was the fastest torpedo used by any navy during World War II. It could travel at speeds between 49–51 kn (91–94 km/h; 56–59 mph) (knots). At these speeds, it could hit targets up to 9,000 m (9,800 yd) away. If it went a little slower, around 45–47 kn (83–87 km/h; 52–54 mph), its range increased to an amazing 12,000 m (13,000 yd)!
To give you an idea, this was about three times the range of the U.S. Navy's main torpedo, the Mark 14 torpedo, at the same speed. This long range meant Japanese submarines could fire from far away, making it harder for enemies to detect them.
How It Worked
Most torpedoes at the time used compressed air to power their engines. But the Type 95 was different. It used a special engine called a wet-heater that burned kerosene with oxygen. This unique engine made it much faster and gave it a longer range than other torpedoes.
The Type 95 was designed to be fired from a standard 533 mm (21.0 in) torpedo tube while the submarine was underwater. This allowed submarines to launch powerful attacks without being seen.
