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Oliver Statler - Japanese Inn-New York, Random House (1961)

The Japanese initially did not invest heavily in mine development prior to World War II, seeing mines as defensive weapons. During the war, they relied almost entirely on Hertz horn acoustic mines using acid or switches to trigger explosions. They used various explosives including picric acid and compositions of TNT, ammonium perchlorate, and nitrocellulose. Post-war, Japan adopted mine designs similar to American types and has developed moored, bottom influence, and acoustic mines.

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Muhammad Surya Rahman
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138 views4 pages

Oliver Statler - Japanese Inn-New York, Random House (1961)

The Japanese initially did not invest heavily in mine development prior to World War II, seeing mines as defensive weapons. During the war, they relied almost entirely on Hertz horn acoustic mines using acid or switches to trigger explosions. They used various explosives including picric acid and compositions of TNT, ammonium perchlorate, and nitrocellulose. Post-war, Japan adopted mine designs similar to American types and has developed moored, bottom influence, and acoustic mines.

Uploaded by

Muhammad Surya Rahman
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Japanese Mines

Japanese
Mines
Updated 21 April 2006

Information
.
World War II

Similar to other underwater weapons, the Japanese did not spend much energy on
mines prior to World War II. This was mainly because mines were considered to be
"defensive" weapons and so were not of value to an "offensive" minded Navy.

Almost all Japanese mines were of Hertz Horn construction. No magnetic (influence)
mines were developed although a number of British A Mark I - IV mines captured at
Singapore were laid off Balikapan in 1945. A shore-controlled mine with an acoustic
detector was developed late in 1944 and 144 were laid across the entrance to Tokyo
Bay.

Triggering or Fuzes

As mentioned above, the Japanese used Hertz Horns almost exclusively. Each horn
contained acid. Contact with the horn broke open the acid container which energized a
battery and exploded the mine. During the war a variation was developed that replaced
the acid horns with switches that activated when a ship hit the horn. By definition,
horned mines were short ranged weapons and fields needed to be densely packed to
be effective against shipping.

Explosives

The Japanese used a variety of explosives in their mines.

Shimose: Picric Acid

Type 88: 66% ammonium perchlorate, 16% ferro-silicon, 12% wood pulp, 6% oil. It was
believed that silicon carbide assisted in the uniform propagation of a detonation wave
through loosely packed powder.

Type 97: 60% TNT, 40% hexanitrodiphenylamine (HND).

Type 98: 70% trinitroanisole, 30% HND.

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Japanese Mines

Type 1: 81% ammonium picrate, 16% aluminum, 2% wood pulp, 1% oil.

Effectiveness during World War II

Unknown. I would appreciate any information in this regards.

Post-World War II

Japan currently uses mines either identical to, or externally similar to, USA types. They
are designated in a K series during their development cycle, after which they receive
type numbers.
.

Moored Contact Mines of World War II


.
Shimose 5 Mod 1
Weight of 1,146 lbs. (520 kg) with a charge of 183 lbs. (83 kg). Used 4 Hertz Horns.
Mark 6 Model 1
Weight of 2,549 lbs. (1,156 kg) with a shimose charge of 474 lbs. (215 kg). Used 4
Hertz Horns.
Mark 6 Model 2 and Mod 1
Weight of 2,381 lbs. (1,080 kg) with a shimose charge of 441 lbs. (200 kg). Used 4
Hertz Horns.
Mark 6 Model 3
Weight of 1,984 lbs. (900 kg) with a shimose charge of 441 lbs. (200 kg). Used 6 Hertz
Horns.
Type 88 Mod 1
Weight of 2,116 lbs. (960 kg) with a shimose charge of 397 lbs. (180 kg). Used 4 Hertz
Horns.
Type 93 Model 1
Weight of 1,543 lbs. (700 kg) with a Type 88 charge of 220 lbs. (100 kg). Used 4 Hertz
Horns.
Type 93 Model 2
Weight of 1,543 lbs. (700 kg) with a Type 88 charge of 220 lbs. (100 kg). Used 7 Hertz
Horns.

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Japanese Mines

Type 93 Model 3
Weight of 1,543 lbs. (700 kg) with a Type 88 charge of 220 lbs. (100 kg). Used 9 Hertz
Horns.
Type 93 Model 4
Weight of 1,565 lbs. (710 kg) with a Type 1 charge of 243 lbs. (110 kg). Used 4 Hertz
Horns.
Type 4
Weight N/A with a Type 88 or Type 1 charge of 88 lbs. (40 kg). Used 3 Hertz Horns.
Type 5
Weight N/A with a Type 1 charge of 88 lbs. (40 kg). Used 3 Hertz Horns.
"Small Beach"
Weight N/A with a Type 88 or Type 1 charge of 88 lbs. (40 kg). Used 4 Hertz Horns.
Aircraft Type 3 Mark 1 Model 1
Weight 1,411 lbs. (640 kg) with a Type 97 charge of 176 lbs. (80 kg). Used 4 Hertz
Horns. Deployed using a parachute.
.

Other Mines of World War II


.
Aircraft Type 3 Mark 2 Model 1
Drifting mine. Weight 298 lbs. (135 kg) with a Type 97 charge of 110 lbs. (50 kg). Used
3 switch horns. Deployed using a parachute.
Type 96 Mod 1
Weight 238 lbs. (108 kg) with a Type 88 charge of 121 lbs. (55 kg). Attached to anti-
submarine nets. Fired when the tension on the net exceeded a set value.
Type 92
Weight 2,866 lbs. (1,300 kg) with a Type 88 charge of 1,102 lbs. (500 kg). A shore-
controlled acoustic mine.
Type 92 Model 1
Identical to the Type 92 but without acoustic detector.
.

Post-World War II Mines


.
K-15/Type 56
A moored antenna mine, similar to the USA Mark 6.

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Japanese Mines

K-21, K-22, K-23 and K-24/Type 70


Bottom magnetic (influence) mines similar to the USA Mark 36.
K-33
Moored contact mine, similar to World War II types.
Type 55
Moored contact mine, weight 1,565 lbs. (710 kg), TNT charge of 220 lbs. (100 kg), uses
7 Hertz Horns.
.

Data from
"Naval Weapons of World War Two" by John Campbell
"US Naval Weapons" and "The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapon Systems
1991/92" both by Norman Friedman

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