Japanese Torpedo Exploder Type 90 Model 2

[Dronic69]

Good Evening All,

Here is something that you don't see every day.............in fact it is a "challenge" to just find even a photo of one!

The photos came from a collector who recently acquired the exploder mechanism from a deceased estate auction (yes they granted permission to share!)

Technically, the exploder is referred to as a "Bail, impact type, inertia-firing transverse exploder", which is fitted into a pocket on the top centre line of the warhead.

The photos highlight the upper section, consisting of:

1) Arming assembly:
a) The impeller
b) Reducing gear system

2) Firing assembly:
a) An inertia trigger which is essentially a brass cup with an elliptical base, shaped to insure displacement when subjected to the appropriate shock. The trigger is locked before launching by a cylindrical mask which is lifted when the bail is depressed by water travel.
b) A spring-loaded firing pin assemply, centrally located in the lower part of the section and held in the cocked position by two lock detents.

Note: The lower section (not shown) houses the the detonator, sub-booster and booster.


The Type 90 Model 2 was used for aircraft torpedoes whereas a similar Type 90 was used in submarines and surface craft.

Main differences between the Type 90 / Type 90 Model 2 -is that the Type 90:

1) Does not have the stop pin protruding downwards from the bail;
2) The top cover is secured by 8 screws instead of 9;
3) Has an arming range screw on its top cover with settings of 200 & 2000 metres;

I'm curious if anyone has seen one of these /know of one on display in a museum somewhere/anyway?

I believe there is one in the Australian War Memorial (AWM).

Enjoy!
Cheers
Drew

 

[Dronic69]

Here are some diagrams of the Type 90 - very similar to the Type 90 Model 2 except for the differences outlined previously.

The Type 90 model 2 was used on the following Japanese torpedoes:

Type 91 Mod 1
Type 91 Mod 2
Type 91 Mod 3
Type 2 Special


Note: All diagrams and photos extracts are from the 1945 Mine Disposal Handbook Part VI Chapter 2

 

[apfsds]

JUST INCREDIBLE!

You can spend a lifetime researching these and never see a photograph, much less with all of the incredible accompanying information as you just described!

THANK YOU!

The engineering and design of these are just off the charts. Perfection! Truly works of industrial art. I have been collecting inert torpedo artifacts for 20+ years and have never even seen a a photo of these exploders. All I know is that of the over 12 countries I have represented in my collection, the Japanese artifacts are by far the most beautifully designed and built. Thanks for sharing these Estate pictures. Whoever the collector is, they sure know how to work a camera and are really lucky to have scored such an historic specimen.

Jason