Secret and special weapons in Showa Japan

This article refer to Plans for the incorporation and development of special or secret weapons in Imperial Japan during the first part of the Showa era, for the Second sino-japanese war and World War II, that were originally hidden from public knowledge to protect their efficacy.

The United States and Germany are more famous for their development of special weapons, but Japan and Russia to a lesser extent both parch), the Black Dragon Society, the Mitsubishi business conglomerate, and the Nakajima Company. Military units involved were the Kempeitai, First Tachikawa Army Arsenal, Sagami Army Arsenal, and Yokosuka Naval Arsenal.

Japanese army interests in development of secret weapons

With the reinforcement of the defenses of the homeland, a strong desire arose within IGHQ to improve the military situation by the invention of Special or Secret weapons for decisive combat. In order to apply science to military problems, from every aspect, IGHQ therefore appealed to scholars and technical experts for their co-operation.

Among the various assorted types of such weapons intended for decisive battle, the Japanese Army made efforts to put thermal rays to practical use. They tried to perfect bombs which fall due to the attraction of heat sources, in order to sink American troopships, with a 100% certainty of kill. This was expected to retrieve Japan's fortunes in one fell swoop.

In the middle of 1944, experimentation with these projectiles was carried out near Lake Hamana, in co-operation with many scholars and technicians. Difficult problems appeared in succession, however, requiring resolution, and the bombs could not be put to practical use. Another secret weapons was evaluated with similar results.

Since the war situation was coming to a head before the completion of thermal-ray weapons, IGHQ was obliged to rely upon ramming techniques: suicide ships or "special-attack" planes which could be easily produced in large numbers. Weapons for decisive combat thus came to mean suicidal expedients.

Ideas concerning these balloon bombs were derived from balloons which were under study in Manchuria for dropping propaganda leaflets on Soviet Union some time before the Pacific War. It was now planned to use small bombs instead of leaflets, and to have them reach the United States by taking advantage of the strong winds (160 to 320 kilometers per hour) which constantly blow from west to east, at an altitude of 9,000 to 10,500 meters.

The balloons were made in Tokyo by girl students at the Yuraku-za Theater and at the Nichigeki Nippon Theater. The ballons were made by gluing layers of washi paper with konjac (devil's tongue) paste. As a result, "devil's tongue" arum root jelly disappeared from local shops.

For six months after November 1, 1944, the Japanese Army's Special Balloon Regiment daily released balloons (totalling some 9,000), mainly from sites at Otsu in Ibaragi Prefecture. The object was not necessarily to inflict casualties but to make the Americans feel uneasy psychologically about their safety. While many balloons fell into the Pacific, a number of others fell in the Western United States, causing minor fires, and in one case, the death of children who were playing with the bomb payload. The relative, if minor, success of these balloons was not advertised in the press to avoid panic, and to deny the Japanese details of their effectiveness.

Almost everyone scoffed when ranchers and farmers reported seeing bright stationary fireballs in the skies over the western half of the United States in late 1944 and early 1945. It was not until the U.S. captured hydrogen-filled paper balloons with a large wad of magnesium flash powder cemented to the envelope that the U.S. realized these eyewitnesses had been accurately reporting self-destroying, man-made objects.

At Japanese Army schools the students were not very well trained in science and technology. Infantry remained the backbone of the Japanese Army, as in olden days. Spiritual strength was considered to be the primary element in the acquisition of victory.

With the deterioration in the war situation, there was a growing desire within military circles to perfect miraculously effective weapons.

Nevertheless it became abundantly clear that the low scientific level of the nation could not possibly yield elaborate weapons. Thus, during the course of the war, the gap between the Japanese and the American scientific potential for national defense grew ever wider with the passage of time.

Weaknesses in national science were certainly a major factor in Japan's loss of the war, but poorness and neglect of science were not attributable to the Japanese Army alone. It may well have been because the Japanese adopted principles of makeshift expediency ever since the Meiji era.

The Japanese Army's attitude toward technology incurred many kinds of great criticism from private sources at the time, the major points being the following:

*The Japanese Army keeps matters tightly secret

*The Japanese Army has a great predilection for bamboo-spear tactics, and has little understanding of technology.

*Owing to a plethora of research facilities, there is no clear definition of individual responsibility.
*The right technical experts are not assigned to the right posts, since the Japanese Army's own technicians are put in charge of the units; etc.

Advanced Infantry weapons

*Rifles:
**Type 5 rifle

*Infantry protection:
**various types of body armor

*Rocket Antitank launchers:
**Type 4 70 mm AT Rocket Launcher
***Caliber : 74 mm
***Length : 1.5 m
***Weight : 8 kg
***Shell Weight : 4.08 kg
***Penetration : 80 mm
***Range : 750 m
**Type 5 45 mm AT recoilless gun launcher
**Type 5 45 mm Recoilless Gun
***Caliber : 45 mm
***Length : 1 m
***Weight : 6.4 kg
***Shell Weight : 2.3 kg
***Muzzle Velocity : 40 m/s
***Penetration : 100 mm
***Range : 30 m

Artillery weapons

*Experimental 41 cm Howitzer
*Type 90 24 cm Railway Gun

*Antiaircraft cannons:
**Type10 120 mm Anti-Aircraft Gun
***Type3 80 mm Anti-Aircraft Gun
***Type 3 12 cm AA Gun
***Type 5 15 cm AA Gun
***Type 4 20 m Twin AA Machine Cannon
***Type 2 20 mm AA Machine Cannon

*Mortars:
**Type 2 120 mm Infantry Mortar

*Rocket Launchers:
**Experimental 70 mm "Ta-Dan" Rocket Launcher
**Type4 Experimental 70 mm Rocket Artillery
**Experimental 90 mm Rocket Artillery Model 1
**Experimental 90 mm Rocket Artillery Model 2
**Experimental 90 mm Rocket Artillery Model 3
**Experimental 90 mm Airborne Rocket Artillery
**Type4 Experimental 200 mm Rocket Artillery
**Type100 Bomb Projection Rocket Launcher
**Type4 Experimental 200 mm shipboard Rocket Artillery
**Experimental 200 mm and 240 mm Common Wooden Rocket Launcher Model 1
**Experimental 200 mm and 240 mm Common Wooden Rocket Launcher Model 3
**Experimental 200 mm and 240 mm Common Wooden Triple Rocket Launcher
**Type4 Experimental 200 mm Wooden Triple Rocket Launcher
**Type4 Experimental 240 mm Rocket Artillery
**Type4 Experimental 400 mm Rocket Artillery
**Type4 Experimental 400 mm Wooden Rocket Artillery
**25 mm Rocket Gun
**80 mm Anti-Tank Rocket Launcher
**100 mm Anti-Tank Rocket Launcher
**120 mm Rocket Launcher
**120 mm Six-Rocket Launcher
**200 mm Rocket Launcher Model 1
**200 mm Rocket Launcher Model 2
**200 mm Rocket Launcher Model 3
**450 mm Heavy Rocket Launcher
**No.6 Ground Use Bomb Projection Rocket Launcher Model 11
**No.6 Ground Use Bomb Projection Rocket Launcher Model 13
**Type 3 Rocket Launcher Model 1
**Type 3 Rocket Launcher Model 2
**Type 3 Rocket Launcher Model 2 Modify 1

*Rocket Launchers (carrier-based):
**75 mm Blast-Off Rocket Launcher
**120 mm Rocket Launcher
**120 mm 28-Rocket Launcher
**120 mm 30-Rocket Launcher
**150 mm Rocket Depth Bomb Launcher

Vessels (Army vessels)

*Landing Craft Carrier "Shinshu Maru"
*Landing Craft Carrier Model Ko, Otsu, Hei
*Tank Landing Ship "SS-Tei"
*Submarine-chaser "Karo-Tei"
*Fast Transport Vessel "Yi-Go"
*Transport Submarine "Maru-Yu"
*Suicide-Attack Motorboat "Maru-Re"

Mass destruction weapons

*Nuclear projects of the Japanese Army and Japanese Navy
*Chemical and biological weapons research of Unit 731, Unit 100, Unit 516 and other similar sections.

Advanced aircraft and missiles

This section analyzes some advanced types of Army and Navy aircraft:

*Bombers:

*Land Based Light/Medium/heavy Bombers:
**Kawasaki Ki-119
**Rikugun Kogiken Plan II Light Bomber
**Rikugun Kogiken Plan III Light Bomber
**Nakajima Ki-82
**Rikugun Kogiken Plan VI Heavy Bomber
**Tachikawa Ki-74 Experimental Long Range Reconnaissance Bomber (Patsy)
**Nakajima Ki-85
**Kawasaki Ki-91
**Tachikawa Ki-77 A-26 Long Range Experimental Aircraft
**Mitsubishi G7M1 "Taizan" Ground Bomber
**Kawanishi Type17 Experimental Ground Bomber (K-100)
**Nakaima G8N "Renzan" (Rita) Heavy Bomber
**Nakajima G10N1 "Fugaku" Super Heavy Bomber
**Kawanishi TB Super Heavy Bomber
**Kugisho P1Y1 "Ginga" Model 11 (Frances)
**Kugisho P1Y3 "Ginga" Model 33

*Torpedo Bombers:
**Nakajima B6N "Tenzan"
**Aichi B7A "Grace"
**Aichi B7A2 "Ryusei-Kai"

*Dive Bombers:
**Aichi D4Y3 "Suisei"
**Kugisho High Speed Long Range Carrier-Based Bomber

*Seaplanes:
**Kugisho E14Y Type Zero Model 11 Small Seaplane "Glen"
**Kawanishi E15K "Shiun" Model 11 Reconnaissance Seaplane "Norm"
**Aichi E16A1 "Zuiun" Model 11 Reconnaissance Seaplane "Paul"
**Kawanishi N1K1 "George"
**Aichi M6A "Seiran" Special Attack Seaplane

*Flying Boats:
**Kawanishi K-60 Heavy Flying Boat
**Kawanishi K-120 Heavy Flying Boat

*Reconnaissance planes:
**Mitsubishi Ki-46-III Type100 Model 3 Reconnaissance Aircraft (Dinah)
**Mitsubishi Ki-95
**Kobeseiko Te-Go Reconnaissance Aircraft
**Rikugun Kogiken Plan IV Modify Reconnaissance Aircraft
**Nakajima C6N1 "Saiun" Model 11 Reconnaissance Aircraft (Myrt)
**Nakajima C6N2 "Saiun-Kai" Reconnaissance Aircraft
**Kugisho R1Y1 "Seiun" Long Range Reconnaissance Aircraft
**Kugisho R2Y1 "Keiun" Reconnaissance Aircraft

*Interceptors/Fighters:
**Nakajima Ki-87
**Kawasaki Ki-61 Type3 Fighter "Hien" (Tony)
**Nakajima Ki-62
**Kawasaki Ki-64 (Rob)
**Kawasaki Ki-88
**Nakajima Ki-84 Type4 Fighter "Hayate" (Frank)
**Kawasaki Ki-96
**Kawasaki Ki-100-I Type5 Fighter
**Mitsubishi A6M Zero Fighter (Zeke)
**Mitsubishi A7M2 "Reppu" Model 11 (Sam)
**Kawanishi N1K1-J "Shiden" Model 11 (George)
**Kawanishi N1K2-J "Shiden" Model 21 "Shiden-kai" (George)
** "Shiden" Model 25 "Shiden-kai" Type5
**Mitsubishi A7M
**Mitsubishi J2M
**Kawanishi J3K1 Type17 Experimental Interceptor
**Mitsubishi J4M1 "Senden" Pusher Interceptor (Luke)
**Kawanishi J6K1 "Jinpu" Interceptor

*Heavy Fighters/land strike planes:
**Kawasaki Ki-45 Modify-D (Cho) "Toryu" (Nick)
**Mitsubishi Ki-83 Long Range Fighter
**Kawasaki Ki-96
**Rikugun Kogiken Plan I-A Heavy Fighter
**Rikugun Kogiken Plan I-B1 Heavy Fighter
**Tachikawa Ki-94 I
**Tachikawa Ki-94 II
**Mansyu Ki-98
**Kawasaki Ki-102 Hei
**Kawasaki Ki-108
**Mitsubishi Ki-109
**Rikugun Kokukosho Ki-93
**Kawasaki Ki-102a/b
**Kawasaki Ki-102 Otsu (Randy)
**Mitsubishi Ki-46 III KAI
*Jet planes:
**Nakajima "Toka" Suicide Plane Attacker
**Nakajima Kikka Turbojet Interceptor
**Nakajima "kikka" Prototype Turbojet Special Attacker
**Nakajima "kikka-kai" Prototype Turbojet Special Attacker
**Nakajima "kikka" Turbojet Trainer
**Nakajima Ki-201"Karyuu" Turbojet Interceptor/Attacker
**Mitsubishi J8M1 "Shusui" Rocket Interceptor
**Mitsubishi J8M2 "Shusui" Model 21 Rocket Interceptor
**Mitsubishi J8M3 "Shusui" Model 22 Rocket Interceptor
**Mitsubishi Ki-200 "Shusui" Rocket Interceptor
**Rikugun/Kokukosho/Mitsubishi Ki-202 "Shusui-kai" Rocket Interceptor
**Kugisho/Yokosuka MXY7 "Ohka" Model 11 Suicide Attacker plane
**Kugisho/Yokosuka MXY7 "Ohka" Model 21 (Baka) Rocket Suicide Attacker
**Kugisho/Yokosuka MXY7 "Ohka" Model 22 (Baka) Funjet Suicide Attacker
**Kugisho/Yokosuka MXY7 "Ohka" Model 33 (Baka) Turbojet Suicide Attacker
**Kugisho/Yokosuka MXY7 "Ohka" Model 43 Ko (Baka) Turbojet Suicide Attacker
**Kugisho/Yokoskua MXY7 "Ohka" Model 43 Otsu (Baka) Turbojet Suicide Attacker
**Kugisho/Yokosuka "Ohka" Model 53 (Baka) Turbojet Suicide Attacker
**Kugisho/Yokosuka MXY-9 "Shuka" Rocket Interceptor operative train glider with turbojet
**Kugisho/Yokosuka "Tenga" Twin Turbojet Medium Bomber
**Kawanishi K-200 Experimental Heavy Turbojet Flying Boat
**Kawanishi "Baika" Mk. I, II, III (Fieseler Fi-103 R derivation) Pulsejet Suicide Attacker
**Kayaba "Katsuodori" Ramjet Plane Interceptor
**Kyūshū J7W2 "Shinden-kai" Turbojet Plane Interceptor
**Mizuno "Shinryu" Type 1 Suicide Attack Rocket Glider
**Mizuno "Sinryu" Type 2 Rocket Interceptor

*Antisubmarine Aircraft:
**Kyūshū Q1W1 "Tokai" (Lorna) Anti-Submarine Aircraft
**Mitsubishi Q2M1 "Taiyō" Anti-Submarine Aircraft
**Kyūshū Q3W1 "Nankai" Anti-Submarine Aircraft

*Radar-equipped Bomber devices for maritime reconnaissance:
**Mitsubishi G3M3 (Model 23) "Nell"

:This bomber for long range capacity, in 1943, was used as a Maritime reconnaissance/Radar aircraft for long range missions and some electronic warfare work in the seas.
**Mitsubishi G4M1 (Model 11/12) "Betty"

:From 1942, the G4M of this model was also used for the same purpose as the G3M bomber debt at your maritime long range capacities.
**Nakajima B5N2/B6N1-2:

:In 1944, some torpedo bombers of mentioned types used with antisubmarine, radar detection (with finding radar equipment) and similar purposes in maritime short or medium range missions from carriers or land bases.

*Medium Bomber, with Control Air-To-Air Missile Device:
**Mitsubishi Ki-67 I KAI Go-IA:

:This experimental modification were for managed Air-To-Air guided missiles evaluations, during 1944–1945.

*Guided missiles:
**Kawasaki Ki-147 I-Go Type1-Ko Air to Surface Radio Guidance Missile
**Mitsubishi Ki-148 I-Go Type1-Otsu Air to Surface Radio Guidance Missile I-Go Type 1-Hei
**"Ke-Go" IR Guidance Air to Surface Missile
**Funryu Type1 Surface to Air Radio Guidance Missile
**Funryu Type2 Surface to Air Radio Guidance Missile
**Funryu Type3 Surface to Air Radio Guidance Missile
**Funryu Type4 Surface to Air Radio Guidance Missile

*Night Fighters:
**Nakajima J1N1 "Gekkoh" (Irving)
**Nakajima J5N1 "Tenrai" Prototype #3
**Aichi S1A1 "Denkoh"
**Kawasaki Ki-45 KAIc Toryu "Nick"
**Kawasaki Ki-102c
**Mitsubishi Ki-109a/b
**Mitsubishi A6M5d-S Reisen
**Nakajima Ki-58
**Nakajima J1N1 C-KAI (S)
**Nakajima J1N1-S Gekko
**Nakajima J1N1-Sa Gekko
**Nakajima C6N1-S Saiun
**Yokosuka D4Y2-S Suisei
**Yokosuka P1Y1-S Biakko
**Yokosuka P1Y2-S Kyokko

*Night Strikers:
**Nakajima Ki-84 I Hayate "Frank"
**Nakajima B6N1/2 Tenzan "Jill"

*Helicopter/AutoGyro:
**Special Experimental Helicopter "Re-Go"
**Kayaba "Ka-Go"
**Kayaba Ka-1

*Gliders:
**Maeda Ku-1-I Type2 Small Airborne Glider
**Kayaba Ku-2 Tailless Glider
**Kayaba Ku-3 Tailless Glider
**Kayaba Ku-4 Tailless Motor Glider
**Kayaba Ku-4 Modify Tailless Rocket Glider
**Maeda Ku-6 Flying Tank
**Kokusai Ku-7 Airborne Glider (Buzzard)
**Kokusai Ku-8-II Airborne Glider (Goose)

*Trainers:
**Mitsubishi A6M2-K/A6M5-K trainers
**Yokoi Ku-13 "Akigusa" Rocket Interceptor practice grid (Experimental "Shusui" Light Glider)
**Kugisho/Yokoi Ki-13 Experimental "Shusui" Heavy Glider
**Kuugisho/Yokosuka "Ohka" K-1 Suicide Attack Trainer
**Kuugisho/Yokosuka "Ohka" K-2 Suicide Attack Trainer (or "Ohka" K-1 Modify "Wakazakura")
**Kyūshū K11W "Shiragiku" Flight Work Trainer
**Kyūshū Q1W1-K Tokai-Ren Trainer version of Q1W1
**Aichi M6A1-K "Seiran Kai" (or "Nanzan") Special Attack Seaplane Trainer
**Aichi H9A1-K
**Mansyu Ki-79a
**Kugisho/Yokosuka MXY-8 "Akigusa" Rocket Interceptor practice glider (Experimental "Shusui" Light Glider)
**Kugisho/Yokosuka MXY-9 Experimental "Shusui" Heavy Glider

*Experimental Aircraft:
**Kawasaki Ki-78 "Ken-3" High Speed Experimental Aircraft
**Kugisho/Yokosuka MXY-1 Aerodynamic Testing Aircraft
**Kugisho/Yokosuka MXY-3
**Kugisho/Yokosuka MXY-4
**Kugisho/Yokosuka MXY-5 Airborne Glider
**Kugisho/Yokosuka MXY-6 Aerodynamic Testing Motor Glider

*Carrier Planes:
**Mitsubishi Ki-97
**Kokusai Ki-105

Advanced armament and engines

*Some advanced Rocket and Turbojet Engines:
**Type 4 1-Go Model 20 Rocket (260 kg)
**Type 4 1-Go Model20 Rocket (800 kg)
**Kugisho Hatsukaze 11 (Tsu-11) Fan Jet Engine (180 kg)
**Kugisho Hatsukaze 11 (Tsu-11) fan jet Engine (200 kg)
**Ishikawajima-Harima Ne20 Turbojet (475 kg)
**Ishikawajima-Harima Ne-30 Turbojet Engine (850 kg)
**Ishikawajima-Harima Ne 20-Kai Turbojet (618 kg)
**Ishikawajima-Harima Ne-130 Turbojet (908 kg)
**Nakajima Ne-230 Turbojet (885 kg)
**Mitsubishi Ne-330 Turbojet (1,320 kg)
**Mitsubishi Tokuro-1 Type 2 Rocket (150 kg)
**Mitsubishi Tokuro-1 Type3 Rocket (240 kg)
**Mitsubishi KR10 (Tokuro-2) Rocket (1,500 kg)
**Mitsubishi Tokuro-3 Rocket (2,000 kg)
**Maru Ka-10 Pulsejet (300 kg)

*New Armaments in aircraft (for Rocket and Jet planes):
**30 mm Type 5 Machine Gun
**13 mm or 20 mm Machine Gun
**30 mm Ho155-II Machine Gun
**20 mm Ho5 Machine Gun
**20 mm Type99 Machine Gun
**Air-to-Air 30 kg or 60 kg no guided rockets
**Air-To-Air 30 kg bombs (against enemy bomber formations)

Advanced tanks and armour equipment and captured armors

This section lists some advanced types of Armours and Tankswhich remained in a developing or prototype state before the finishof the conflict, including some enemy armor that was captured:

*Type 98 Ke-Ni Light Tank
*Type 97 Medium Tank "Chi-Ha"
*Type 97-improved Medium Tank "Shinhoto Chi-Ha"
*Type 1 Medium Tank "Chi-He"
*Type 2 Light Tank "Ke-To"
*Type 3 Amphibious Tank "Ka-Chi"
*Type 3 Medium Tank "Chi-Nu"
*Type 4 Medium Tank "Chi-To"
*Type 4 Light Tank "Ke-Nu"
*Type 5 Medium Tank "Chi-Ri"
*Type 1 75 mm SPH "Ho-Ni I"
*Type 1 105 mm SPH "Ho-Ni II"
*Type 2 Gun Tank "Ho-I"
*Type 3 Gun Tank "Ho-Ni III"
*Type 4 150 mm SPH "Ho-Ro"
*Short Barrel 120 mm Gun Tank
*75 mm SP AT Gun "Na-To"
*Type 1 Half-Track "Ho-Ha"
*Type 4 30 cm SP Heavy Mortar Carrier "Ha-To"
*105 mm SP Gun Tank "Ho-Ri"
*Type 5 47 mm SP Gun "Ho-Ru"
*Super-Heavy Tank "O-I"
*Type 1 Ti-Ho Medium Tank
*Type 2 Medium Tank
*Type 2 No-Ni Tank Destroyer
*Type 2 Hoi Infantry Support Tank
*Type 3 Ke-Ri Light Tank
*Type 4 120 mm Ho-To SPG
*Type 5 Mortar Launcher "Tok"
*75 mm SPG "Kusae"
*Experimental Medium Tank Chi-Ni
*Experimental Medium Tank Chi-Ho
*Experimental Ultra Heavy Tank
*Experimental Jiro-Sha Self Propelled Gun (SPG)
*Experimental Type 2 Ho-Ri Tank Destroyer
*Experimental Type 2 105 mm Ka-To Tank Destroyer
*Experimental Type 2 75 mm Ku-Se SPG
*Experimental Light Armored ATG Carrier So-To
*Experimental Type 5 47 mm Ho-Ru SPATG
*Maeda Ku-6 Flying Tank
*Experimental Flying Tank Ku-Ro
*Experimental 75 mm Tank Destroyer Na-To
*Experimental Light Tank Ke-Ho
*Experimental 105 mm Tank Destroyer
*Experimental Type 5 155 mm Ho-Chi SPG
*Experimental 120 mm SPG
*Experimental Type 98 SPAAG project
*Experimental Tank - Number 1
*Experimental Type 91 Heavy Tank
*Type 98 AA Halftrack "Ko-Hi"
*Type 98 APC "Soda"
*Type 1 Armored Personnel Carrier "Ho-Ki"
*M3 Stuart
*American M3, British Bren, Dutch Marmon Herrington
*American M3 Halftrack
*Type 95 Heavy Tank
*Type 97 Chi-Ni
*Type 97 Shi-Ki Command Tank
*Type 1 Chi-He Medium Tank
*Type 1 Artillery Observation Vehicle
*Type 4 Ke-Hy Light Tank
*Type 4 155 mm Ho-Ro SPG

*Special vehicles:
**Armored Engineer Vehicle "SS"
**Armored Lumberjack "Ho-K"
**Type 95 Crane Vehicle "Ri-Ki"
**Armored Recovery Vehicle "Se-Ri"
**Swamp Vehicle "FB"
**Command Tank "Shi-Ki"
**Type 100 Observation Vehicle "Te-Re"
**Type 97 Mini Engineer Vehicle "Yi-Go"
**High-Voltage Dynamo Vehicle "Ka-Ha"
**Type 97 Pole Planter and Type 97 Cable Lay
**Type 91 Armored Railroad Car "So-Mo"
**Type 95 Armored Railroad Car "So-Ki"

*Chemical/Biological Warfare vehicle:
**Type 94 Disinfecting Vehicle and Type 94 Gas Scattering Vehicle

pecial Weapons technology of local design

*Remote control special vehicle "I-Go"

:"I-Go" are the remote control unmanned miniature special vehicles (like the German "Goliath"). This weapon breaks open a passage in an obstacle. And this is controlled, or is destroyed a pillbox, and it does other charge work. I-Go carries an explosive, a smoke pot, and other working tools. Remote control was possible in distances of 1000 m and more.

*Unmanned Miniature Special Vehicle "Ya-I"
**Name : Small Work Vehicle Ko
**Length : 100 mm
**Width : 70 mm
**Height : 50 mm
**Engine : Electric Motor (2hp) X 2
**Max Speed : 18Km/h
**Range : 0.8Km
**Armament : 35 kg explosive charge

*Remote control special working cable car with 90 mm Mortar cannon "Ite-Go"

*Remote control boat "Isu-Go"

:This weapon destroys an obstacle on the water and develops a smoke screen by remote control at the time of the crossing big river operations.

*Rocket cannon "Ro-Go"

:The cannon ball to propel by the gunpowder rocket or the liquid fuel rocket.

*Engine stop gas device "Ha-Go"

:This project was canceled.

*Radio Jammer "Ho-Go"

*Electric cannon "To-Go"

:It is the research of a gun which gives a shell a high initial velocity and blow it off in the long distance with the electromagnetic power. Project was canceled.

*Ultrashort waves application research "Chi-Go"

*High Voltage Weapon "Ka-Go"

*High voltage obstacle destruction device "Kaha-Go"

*High voltage wire obstacles "Kake-Go"

*High voltage net launching rocket "Kate-Go"

:This is a rocket weapon which is connected to a piano wire, is launched, expands over the enemy's head, and applies a high voltage to the piano wire. The voltage was from 2,500 to 5,000 V. But, the launching distance is short. The development of the net was also difficult. The project was canceled.

*Infrared rays detection device "Ne-Go"

:This is the research of detecting the infrared rays which are generated from the engine. Aircraft were sensed by 7000 m, and they could be complemented by 3000 m. The project was canceled by the development of radar.

*The mine detection sonar for the landing operations "Ra-Go"

*Radio control device "Mu-Go"

*The radio control boat whicha sonar and a depth bomb were carried on "Musu-Go"

*The plan of making artificial thunderclouds gather "U-Go"

:Use a powdered dust explosion for the occurrence of the thunderclouds. The project was canceled.

*Noctovision equipment "No-Go"

*Death ray "Ku-Go"

:Use the high power microwaves created in the magnetron.

*Infrared rays Homing Bomb "Ke-Go"

*Balloon bomb "Fu-Go"
**Balloon Diameter : about 10 m
**Bomb loaded : 150 kg Bomb X 1,
**Incendiary bomb X 2:The Japanese army built balloon bombs to attack the American mainland. A little more than 9,000 of these balloons were launched, while estimates place about 1,000 making it to the U.S. Only six confirmed deaths are attributed to these bombs, a woman and five children near Lakeview, Oregon, which exploded as they attempted to move it.

*Optical communication device "Ko-Go"

*Rope launching rocket "Te-Go"

*Blind ray "Ki-Go"

*Electronic propaganda device "Se-Go"

*Sonar device "Su-Go"

*Experimental Armour for Mobile MG-gunner
**Length : 1330 mm
**Width : 890 mm
**Height : 640 mm
**Weight : 153 kg (Heavy Type), 122 kg (Light Type)
**Crew : 1
**Armament : Type96 Light Machine Gun X 1

*Nuclear projects "Mishina" & "F-Go"

*The Suicide Attack Frogman "Fukuryuu"

*Sen-Toku Giant Undersea carrier Submarine I-400 Class
*Sen Ho Type Submarine I-351 Class
*Sen Taka Type Submarine I-201 Class
*Type A2 Type Submarine I-12 Class
*Type A1 Submarine I-9 Class
*Type AM Submarine I-13 Class
*Type B1 Submarine I-15 Class
*Type B2 Submarine I-40 Class
*Type B3 Submarine I-54 Class
*Type D2 Submarine I-373 Class
*Type D1 Submarine I-361 Class
*Type KRS Submarine I-21 Class
*Type C2 Submarine I-46 Class

*Giant Superbattleship project of the new "Yamato" Class.

*Plans for developed short and long range Missiles:

:Is over some projects why developed to missile level certain prototypes of Fieseler Fi-103 and suppose any example of V-2, for convert at this in guided missile with nuclear, chemical or biological warhead. Are one alternative weapon for envoyed nuclear artifact against the United States, but these projects did not advance past the theory or planning stages before the finish of the war.

Electronic Radar Warfare

*Japanese Army Electronic Warfare System
**Ground-Based Radar
***Ta-Chi 1 Ground-Based Target Tracking Radar Model 1
***Ta-Chi 2 Ground-Based Target Tracking Radar Model 2
***Ta-Chi 3 Ground-Based Target Tracking Radar Model 3
***Ta-Chi 4 Ground-Based Target Tracking Radar Model 4
***TypeA Bi-static Doppler Interface Detector (High Frequency Warning Device "Ko")
***Ta-Chi 6 TypeB Fixed Early Warning Device (Fixed Early Warning Device "Otsu")
***Ta-Chi 7 TypeB Mobile Early Warning Device (Mobile Early Warning Device "Otsu")
***Ta-Chi 13 Aircraft Guidance System
***Ta-Chi 18 TypeB Potable Early Warning Device (Portable Early Warning Device "Otsu")
***Ta-Chi 20 Fixed Early Warning Device Receiver (for Ta-Chi 6)
***Ta-Chi 24 Mobil Anti-Aircraft Radar (Japanese Würzburg)
***Ta-Chi 28 Aircraft Guidance Device
***Ta-Chi 31 Ground-Based Target Tracking Radar Model 4 Modify-Airborne Radar
***Ta-Ki 1 Model 1 Airborne Surveillance Radar
***Ta-Ki 1 Model 2 Airborne Surveillance Radar
***Ta-Ki 1 Model 3 Airborne Surveillance Radar
***Ta-Ki 11 ECM Device
***Ta-Ki 15 Aircraft Guidance Device Receiver (for Tachi 13)
**Shipborne Radar
***Ta-Se 1 Anti-Surface Radar
***Ta-Se 2 Anti-Surface Radar

*Imperial Japanese Navy Electronic Warfare System
**Land-Based Radar
***Type 2 Mark 1 Model 1 Early Warning Radar ("11-Go" Early Warning Radar)
***Type 2 Mark 1 Model 1 Modify 1 Early Warning Radar ("11-Go" Model 1 Early Warning Radar)
***Type 2 Mark 1 Model 1 Modify 2 Early Warning Radar ("11-Go" Model 2 Early Warning Radar)
***Type 2 Mark 1 Model 1 Modify 3 Early Warning Radar ("11-Go" Model 3 Early Warning Radar)
***Type 2 Mark 1 Model 2 Mobil Early Warning Radar ("12-Go" Mobil Early Warning Radar)
***Type 2 Mark 1 Model 2 Modify 2 Mobil Early Warning Radar ("12-Go" Modify 2 Mobil Early Warning Radar)
***Type 2 Mark 1 Model 2 Modify 3 Mobil Early Warning Radar ("12-Go" Modify 3 Mobil Early Warning Radar)
***Type 3 Mark 1 Model 1 Early Warning Radar ("11-Go" Modify Early Warning Radar)
***Type 3 Mark 1 Model 3 Small Size Early Warning Radar ("13-Go" Small Size Early Warning Radar)
***Type 3 Mark 1 Model 4 Long-Range Air Search Radar ("14-Go" Long-Range Air Search Radar)
***Type 2 Mark 4 Model 1 Anti-aircraft Fire-Control Radar (Japanese SCR-268) (S3 Anti-aircraft Fire-Control Radar)
***Type 2 Mark 4 Model 2 Anti-aircraft Fire-Control Radar (Japanese SCR-268) (S24 Anti-aircraft Fire-Control Radar)
**Airborne Radar
***Type 3 Air Mark6 Model 4 Airborne Ship-Search Radar (H6 Airborne Ship-Search Radar) (N6 Airborne Ship-Search Radar)
***Type 5 Model 1 Radio Location Night Vision Device
**Shipborne Radar
***Type 2 Mark 2 Model 1 Air Search Radar ("21-Go" Air Search Radar)
***Type 2 Mark 2 Model 2 Modify 3 Anti-Surface, Fire-assisting Radar for Submarine ("21-Go" Modify 3 Anti-Surface, Fire-assisting Radar)
***Type 2 Mark 2 Model 2 Modify 4 Anti-Surface, Fire-assisting Radar for Ship ("21-Go" Modify 4 Anti-Surface, Fire-assisting Radar)
***Type 2 Mark 3 Model 1 Anti-Surface Fire-Control Radar ("31-Go" Anti-Surface Fire-Control Radar)
***Type 2 Mark 3 Model 2 Anti-Surface Fire-Control Radar ("32-Go" Anti-Surface Fire-Control Radar)
***Type 2 Mark 3 Model 3 Anti-Surface Fire-Control Radar ("33-Go" Anti-Surface Fire-Control Radar)

ources

* [http://www3.plala.or.jp/takihome/ Imperial Japanese Army Page] : about general Japanese armament, vehicles and armours in WW2
* [http://www.tankhistory.com/ www.tankhistory.com] : about Japanese Armor and some tanks
* [http://www.j-aircraft.org/xplanes/ Hikoki:1946] : about advanced Japanese aircraft
* [http://uk.geocities.com/sadakichi09/ The Imperial Japanese Secret Weapons Museum] : about Japanese armaments, vehicles, aircraft, electronic warfare and some local special Japanese weapon technology
* [http://www.j-aircraft.com/captured/ Captured J-Aircraft Homepage] : some captured aircraft or aircraft in evaluations
* [http://www.combinedfleet.com/kaigun.htm Imperial Japanese Navy Page] : about some special types of Japanese submarines
* [http://www.j-aircraft.com/ J-aircraft.com Main Page] : general resources on Japanese aircraft