A 21" torpedo powered by a four-cylinder reciprocating steam engine, this weapon was designed to be launched from cruisers, destroyers and submarines. It leaves a visible wake and is believed to be obsolete.

The general characteristics of the torpedo are as follow:

Length Overall – 22'5".

Length of Warhead – 3'1".

Length of Airflask – 12'9".

Length of Afterbody – 6'7". (Including Tail)

Diameter – 21".

Total Weight – 3200 lbs.

Charge – 451 lbs. Shimose.

Tail Fins – 4.

Range/Speed – 7650 yards at 37 knots.

10900 yards at 32 knots.

16400 yards at 25 knots.

Depth Setting – 6'6 to 52'8.

Exploder – Type 91, Model 2, nose, impact.

Operation

As the torpedo travels through the water, an impeller on the nose of the exploder ro-tates, arming the exploder. Impact with the target shears two pins in the exploder and drives the firing pin onto the detonator, firing the charge. Three bent-levers are atta-ched to the nose of the exploder to insure its operation in case the torpedo should strike the target at an oblique angle, rather than "head-on".

Safety Precautions

Should this torpedo be found on the beach or in shallow water, it must be considered dangerous. Movement of one of the bent-levers or the impeller might initiate detonation. Likewise, movement of the torpedo might cause the engine to turn over a few revolu-tions, driving it forward on the beach. Should the bent-levers or impeller strike anything, the torpedo would probably detonate.

Figure 30 – Type 6th year torpedo with warhead removed.