The USS North Carolina (BB-55) My all-time favorite warship. As an elementary school student in North Carolina, I donated nickels and dimes to save this ship back in the early sixties.

Friday, February 3, 2023

What Made the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor So Devastating?-- Part 1

From January 30, 2023, History Net by ParaagShukla.

Some of the bombs and torpedoes were custom-designed.

For their surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese utilized a mix of torpedoes and bombs --  some specially customized for the job.

By December 1941, the Japanese had  refined their "Type 91, Modification 2" torpedo to be extremely reliable.  But, Pearl Harbor's shallow 45-foot deep waters posed a problem: when dropped. a torpedo would typically plunge at least 90 feet before rising to attack depth.

After extensive testing, the Japanese atached wooden tail fins and slipped wooden  sheaths over the torpedoe's side anti-roll tabs.  Both additions -- which increased  surface area, added bouyancy, and broke away upon impact with the water -- proved decisive.

--GreGen


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