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Local Yokel -> RE: Just had to show this (1/23/2009 12:33:08 AM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Terminus
quote:
ORIGINAL: Local Yokel
The picture seems to depict the Type 91 Mod 2 torpedo, as carried by the Kanoya aircraft. Interesting that the weapon being dropped appears to carry a fin extension similar to that required in the shallow waters of Pearl Harbor. Anyone know whether the torpedoes used in the Force Z attack were, in fact, so fitted?
Why would they be?
Good question. I can think of no good reason for the extensions to be fitted, but one is so prominent in the picture that I wondered whether the artist was privy to information that they had been attached for this attack.
It crossed my mind that the crews might have been anxious to make sure the weapons recovered to running depth quickly because they intended to press closely before release. According to the account I have read, at least one 1st shotai pilot closed to a range of 500 yards from PoW before making his drop, in order to make quite sure of a hit. I take that with a pinch of salt, because I understand the Type 91 had to run 600 metres in order to arm correctly. However, a concern that the weapon might run beneath the target if not fitted with the extension, could, I suppose have led to them being fitted.
Then again, the extensions were such a last minute development that they scarcely had enough available for the Hawaii operation, let alone for the Indo-China based land attack units. Maybe the artist just got this wrong.
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