61cm Quadruple (Oxygen) Torpedo Mount

Introduction

大威力長射程を誇る、秘密兵器「九三式酸素魚雷」。
その必殺の酸素魚雷を四連装した水雷兵装の決定版が、この四連装【酸素魚雷】発射管です。
新型の主力駆逐艦や各巡洋艦などに搭載され、夜戦等で最大の雷装戦力を構成します。

"A famous high-powered, long-range mount, the secret weapon "Type 93 Oxygen Torpedo". The oxygen torpedo was able to bring certain death with its four tubes as well as being the definitive torpedo mount, using the four twin [Oxygen Torpedoes] firing tubes. As the new main equipment for destroyers and cruisers, it played a major role in night warfare and many other compositions."

A torpedo developed by the Japanese. It was nicknamed the "Long Lance" and it lived up to its name. While other torpedoes used steam propulsion for their torpedoes, the Japanese came up with the concept of using pure, compressed oxygen to propel their torpedoes. Advantages of oxygen propulsion were no wake, longer range and typically faster speed than the steam propelled ones. These were used to devastating effect during the sea battles of Guadalcanal. With the combination of both speed and damage, these torpedoes were some of the few naval weapons that allowed small ships like destroyers to heavily damage or even sink a battleship.

Although they achieved an unthinkable range of 40 km with their heavy warheads - almost triple that of the 14km maximum range of the Allied 21 inch Mark 15 torpedoes - using pure, compressed oxygen is so dangerous that some IJN ships were sunk because their oxygen torpedoes exploding. Examples include Chikuma and Choukai which both received mild damage from enemy ships that detonated the oxygen torpedoes in the hold.

Notes

Buildable. Stock equipment of remodelled Nagara-class, Kuma-class, Takao-class, Tone-class, Myoukou-class ships and some remodeled DDs.

See Also

Type 93 Torpedo aka "Long Lance"