40 cm/45 Type 94

Infobox Weapon
name=40 cm/45 Type 94


caption=The "Yamato" under construction.
origin=Japan
type= naval gun
is_ranged=YES
is_bladed=
is_explosive=
is_artillery=YES
is_vehicle=
is_UK=YES
service=1940-1945
used_by=Imperial Japanese Navy
wars= World War II
designer=
design_date=
manufacturer=
production_date=
number=
variants=
weight=147.3 metric tonnes
length=OA 21.13 m
part_length=
width=
height=
crew=
cartridge= separate charges and shell
caliber=460 mm
action=
rate=2 rounds/min
velocity=780 m/s
range=
max_range=42000 m at 45° elevation
feed=
sights=
breech=
recoil=
carriage=
elevation=+45/-5 degrees. 10°/s
traverse=300°, 2°/s
blade_type=
hilt_type=
sheath_type=
head_type=
haft_type=
diameter=
filling=
filling_weight=
detonation=
yield=
armour=
primary_armament=
secondary_armament=
engine=
engine_power=
pw_ratio=
suspension=
speed=The Japanese 40 cm/45 Type 94 naval guns were the largest calibre guns ever mounted on any warship. They were actually 46 cm (18.1 in) guns, but were designated 40 cm in an effort to hide their true size.

They were mounted as the main armament of the Yamato-class super-battleships that were in service with the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II.The turrets they were mounted in weighed 2,510 tons each, which is about the same tonnage as a average sized destroyer of the era.

The Japanese guns were of a slightly larger caliber than three British 18 inch naval guns built during World War I, although the shells were not as heavy. Britain had later designed the N3 battleship with 18-inch guns but none were built, leaving no Allied naval guns to compare with the Type 94. Unlike other very large guns they could fire special anti-aircraft shells called "Sanshiki" (Beehive).

See also

* List of artillery#Naval guns
* List of World War II artillery

Notes

References

* [http://www.combinedfleet.com/460_45.htm Nihon Kaigun]
* [http://le.fantasque.free.fr/php3/gun.php3?all=&page_size=H PIECES LOURDES : 240 et plus] , le.fantasque.free.fr