This article is reproduced, in part and with permission, from the World War II Database; further reproduction prohibited without permission. The URL to the original full article is: WW2DB: Yamato-class Battleship As big naval guns are concerned, none were as fearsome as the Type 94 naval guns built by WW2-era Japan. In fact, these 46-centimeter caliber (18.1-inch) guns were the largest guns mounted on surface ships in naval history. To hide their true size, they were designated "Special Type 40 cm" guns; this attempt was successful in fooling American intelligence. These guns were mounted on the battleships Yamato and Musashi in 3-gun turrets. Each one of the turrets weighed 2,500 tons, which was actually heavier than many destroyers in the WW2 time period. The range of these guns were also stunning, being able to reach a target as far as 40 kilometers (25 miles) away. When they roared, a 15-meter semi-circle perimeter were considered dangerous for crew members, as the muzzle blasts generated intense heat. These Yamato-class battleships were typically stocked with: Explosive shells Armor piercing shells (Type 94) Sanshiki anti-aircraft shells (Type 3) The explosive and armor piercing shells were heavier than their contemporaries, weighing in at 1,460 kilograms each (3,218 pounds). The armor-penetration capabilities of the armor piercing shells were so great that when they were mis-used, as seen with Yamato during the Battle off Samar, they went right through target ships without exploding. With a capable crew, they could fire at the rate of once about every 40 seconds. While explosive and armor piercing shells were common among battleship ammunitions, the sanshiki shells were unique. They were 1360-kilogram (2,998-pound) shells filled with 900 incendiary tubes. They were fired toward toward the general direction of incoming hostile aircraft, and timed fuses triggered them to explode. After the fuses triggered, the cone-shaped space before each exploded shell were filled with steel splinters from the destroyed shell, shrapnel, and 0.5 second later fireballs from the incendiary tubes; the fireballs lasted for 5 seconds and burned at 3,000 degrees Celsius. Sanshiki shells were used by the battleship Yamato during her run at Okinawa, when she was overwhelmed by American carrier aircraft. Battleship Musashi used her explosive shells in an interesting manner when she was attacked by American aircraft during the Battle of Sibuyan Sea. She fired explosive shells from her 46-centimeter primary guns into the water, making huge geysers aimed at knocking down torpedo bombers attacking her. "Running into one of these geysers would be like running into a mountain", recalled TBF Avenger pilot Jack Lawton, "I felt the muzzle blast each time they fired. I could swear the wings were ready to fold every tie these huge shockwaves hit us." For more information and photographs from the World War II Database: WW2DB: Yamato WW2DB: Musashi WW2DB: Yamato-class Battleship This article is reproduced, in part and with permission, from the World War II Database; further reproduction prohibited without permission.
Within this article on analysis is a fascinating, current assessment of the Yamato's guns and so firepower, compared to its most likely USN opponents. Here is a sample passage: From: Winning Left of Battle: The Role of Analysis - Military Strategy Magazine
