An offensive weapon used against surface shipping and carried aboard "suicide" motor boats. This charge, designated by the Japanese as "Experimental Manufacture Use 120 Kg. Depth Charge", was recovered by Mobile Explosive Investigation Unit Number 1 in the Philippine area. Two of these weapons are carried aboard light, high-speed, plywood-constructed motor boats. The standard depth charge pistol is replaced by a delayed-action pull igniter. The charges are either dropped close aboard or are released when the "suicide" boat chrashes into the target ship. The igniter fires the depth charge shortly after it is released from the motor boat.

The physical characteristics of the charge are as follwos:

Case

Shape – Cylindrical (similar to Type 95, Modification 1 which is 17".7 in diameter and 30".5 long)

Material – Steel.

Charge – Cast explosive (type and weight unknown)

Total Weight – 264 lbs.

External Fittings

Igniter – In tube 17/8" in diameter centrally located in end of charge.

Filling Hole – One, centrally located in opposite end from igniter.

Pad Eyes – Two on each end.

Operation

Two depth charges are placed in racks, one on each side of the boat, and the pull cords from the igniters are attached to the rack. The "suicide" boat then heads for the nearest target and either manually release its charge alongside or crashes into the tar-get, whereby the charges are automatically released through a lever system on the boat. As the charges drop away from the boat the pull cords fire the igniters, which ex-plode the charges after a short delay.

Safety Precautions

There are no known safety precautions on this charge, and it must be considered dangerous if found on a beach.