61 cm Type 90 torpedo

61 cm Type 90 torpedo
Triple 61 cm torpedo launchers on the Yūgure
Type	Torpedo
Place of origin	Empire of Japan
Service history
In service	1933 - 1945
Used by	Imperial Japanese Navy
Wars	Second World War
Production history
Designed	1928-1932
Manufacturer	Kure, Yokosuka and Sasebo Naval Arsenals
Specifications
Mass	2.54 tonnes (2.50 long tons; 2.80 short tons)
Length	8.485 m (27 ft 10.1 in)
Diameter	60.9 cm (24.0 in)
Effective firing range	7,000 m (7,700 yd) (at 46 knots)
Maximum firing range	15,000 m (16,000 yd) (at 35 knots)
Warhead	Type 97 (60% TNT, 40% HND)
Warhead weight	400 kg (880 lb)
Engine	2-cylinder double-action
Maximum speed	46 knots (85 km/h)

The Type 90 Pneumatic Torpedo (九〇式空気式魚雷, designated for Imperial Japanese calendar year 2590) was a 61 cm (24 in)-diameter surface-fired torpedo used by the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. It was notably first used in the Hatsuharu-class destroyers and in most cruisers, including the Furutaka, Aoba, Myoko, Takao, and Mogami-class heavy cruisers after refits during the 1930s. It is an evolution of the 8th Year Type torpedo and was superseded by the Type 93 oxygen torpedo, commonly called the Long Lance, as oxygen generating equipment was installed aboard surface ships.

The torpedo was based on a newly developed British 46-knot (85 km/h) 21-inch (53 cm) Whitehead torpedo. This weapon used a new double-action two-cylinder engine rather than the four-cylinder radial engine used by World War I-era British torpedoes. It was significantly faster (8–10 knots (15–19 km/h)), although it had a much shorter range (only 10,000 m (11,000 yd)) than the Japanese 6th and 8th Year torpedoes. Twenty of these were bought with training warheads in 1926 for ¥30,000 each; the British allowed Japanese technicians to observe the manufacturing process and launch trials. Japan bought a manufacturing license in 1928 for ¥150,000.^[1]

The Japanese did not actually manufacture any of these torpedoes, but combined their technology with the results of independent Japanese research to produce the 61 cm Type 90. Testing of the prototypes was prolonged by the need to correct a number of design errors and manufacturing defects, but two prototypes were turned over to the Underwater School in 1931 for practical use. It was informally adopted for use in 1932, but not officially accepted until 15 November 1933. Production initially began at the Kure Naval Arsenal, but the Yokosuka and Sasebo Naval Arsenals began production later.^[2]

The Type 90 had an actual diameter of 60.9 cm (24.0 in), weighed 2.54 tonnes (2.50 long tons; 2.80 short tons) and was 8.485 m (27 ft 10.1 in) long. It was very fast for the period and had an endurance of 7,000 m (7,700 yd) at 46 knots (85 km/h); 10,000 m (11,000 yd) at 42 knots (78 km/h); and 15,000 m (16,000 yd) at 35 knots (65 km/h). It was a wet-heater design and mixed kerosene with compressed air to further expand the air used to power the two-cylinder engine. The engine was cooled by saltwater and the resulting steam was recycled for use by the engine. Its warhead weighed 400 kg (880 lb), its air chamber was pressurized at 220 bars (3,200 psi).^[1][3] It was pneumatically launched from the torpedo tubes, in either a three or four tubes closed launchers configurations.

• Campbell, John (2002). Naval Weapons of World War Two. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-87021-459-4.
• Lengerer, Hans (2007). The Japanese Destroyers of the Hatsuharu Class. Warship 2007. London: Conway. pp. 91–110. ISBN 978-1-84486-041-8.OCLC 77257764

• "Japan Torpedoes Pre-World War II". 15 March 2008. Retrieved 14 July 2009.

• CombinedFleet info on torpedoes
• Taietsu Shigoku info on torpedoes (Japanese)