IJN Mutsu 533mm Torpedo Tubes..

[ShindenKai]

Were all of the Mutsu's eight 533mm Torpedo tubes removed? It originally had 4 t.t. per side, 2 above water-line and 2 below the w.l. I've read that all the above w.l. tubes removed in 1926, but no further mention of the below w.l. tubes... reloads carried? Where were they located on the hull??

Side-note: which IJN vessels had the single-torpedo tube in the bow? Any idea how many reloads were carried?

[fontessa]

Were all of the Mutsu's eight 533mm Torpedo tubes removed? It originally had 4 t.t. per side, 2 above water-line and 2 below the w.l. I've read that all the above w.l. tubes removed in 1926, but no further mention of the below w.l. tubes... reloads carried? Where were they located on the hull??

Side-note: which IJN vessels had the single-torpedo tube in the bow? Any idea how many reloads were carried?

All torpedo tubes were removed with 1926 refurbishment.

Kongo Class: Below w.l. Single x 2 (One side of the bow) and Below w.l. Single x 2 (One side of the stern)
Fso Class, ISe Class: Below w.l. Single x 3 (One side, Detail is unclear)

I don’ｔ think they had reloads.

fontessa

[ijnfleetadmiral]

Torpedo launchers can be seen also on these drawings:

NAGATO (1920): http://shipbucket.com/drawings/4411/file
MUTSU (1921): http://shipbucket.com/drawings/4418/file
NAGATO (1922): http://shipbucket.com/drawings/4412/file
NAGATO (1925): http://shipbucket.com/drawings/4413/file

NAGATO
Torpedo Officers
(EO) - CDR MATSUOKA Takeshi (31) – 1 December 1919 - 25 November 1920
CDR MATSUOKA Takeshi (31) - 25 November 1920 - 1 December 1921
LCDR SATO Rokuhei (32) - 1 December 1921 - 1 December 1922
CDR YOSHIOKA Kiyoshi (33) - 1 December 1922 – 10 November 1923
LCDR TAKASHIMADA Masaki (35) – 10 November 1923 - 1 December 1924
LCDR KOJIMA Kentaro (36) - 1 December 1924 - 1 December 1925
LCDR YANAGIHARA Nobuo (36) - 1 December 1925 – 15 November 1927
LCDR YUGE Suezo (36) - 15 November 1927 - 10 December 1928
LCDR ITO Bennosuke (40) - 10 December 1928 - 1 December 1930
LCDR MORI Tomoichi (42) - 1 December 1930 - 1 December 1931
VACANT - 1 December 1931 - 1 April 1934
Torpedo tubes removed - 1 April 1934

MUTSU
Torpedo Officers
(EO) – LCDR ISHIDA Shoichi (32) – 1 June 1920 – 24 October 1921
LCDR ISHIDA Shoichi (32) – 24 October 1921 – 1 December 1922
LCDR OKUBO Hiroshi (33) - 1 December 1922 - 15 October 1923
LCDR OSHIMA Shiro (36) - 15 October 1923 - 1 December 1924
CDR HARA Seitaro (35) - 1 December 1924 - 1 December 1925
CDR WATANABE Tsuneharu (35) - 1 December 1925 - 1 December 1926
LCDR TAMURA Naofumi (38) - 1 December 1926 - 10 December 1928
LCDR OTSUKA Toshio (38) - 10 December 1928 - 1 December 1930
LCDR YAMAZAKI Sukeichi (39) - 1 December 1930 - 2 November 1931
VACANT - 2 November 1931 - 1 December 1931
LCDR TANAKA Jo (47) - 1 December 1931 - 28 January 1932
VACANT - 28 January 1932 - 15 November 1932
LCDR / CDR TANAKA Yasuro (42) - 15 November 1932 - 1 November 1933
VACANT - 1 November 1933 - 5 September 1934
Torpedo tubes removed - 5 September 1934

[ShindenKai]

Thx for the replies, guys. I am slightly more confused however. Why would they retain torpedo crews up to 1931 & '33 if the tubes had been removed in '26?
The drawing of the Nagato posted by IJNFA seems to have 2 rows of sliding doors for the above waterline tubes vs the small circular hatches of the Mutsu. Could the above w.l. tubes of the Nagato possibly have been slightly adjustable/aimable instead of just fixed in position? Thx again.

[fontessa]

Thx for the replies, guys. I am slightly more confused however. Why would they retain torpedo crews up to 1931 & '33 if the tubes had been removed in '26?
The drawing of the Nagato posted by IJNFA seems to have 2 rows of sliding doors for the above waterline tubes vs the small circular hatches of the Mutsu. Could the above w.l. tubes of the Nagato possibly have been slightly adjustable/aimable instead of just fixed in position? Thx again.

Sorry, "1926" was incorrect, and 1936 is correct.

Only the above w.l. launch tubes of Nagato class were able to turn, although it was limited to 15 degrees forward and 35 degrees backward. And under w.l. launch tubes for all battleship classes could not turn.

I could find only the picture of Nagato below w.l. 61cm torpedo tubes.

長門 水中魚雷発射管.jpg (64.73 KiB) Viewed 1795 times

fontessa

[ijnfleetadmiral]

Also for reference:

NAGATO (1931): http://shipbucket.com/drawings/4414/file
MUTSU (1931): http://shipbucket.com/drawings/4419/file
MUTSU (1934): http://shipbucket.com/drawings/4420/file

[ShindenKai]

Wow, more fantastic info guys. So both ships had the adjustable above w.l. tubes? They were both also equipped with the 61cm “Long Lance” Type 93?!

[fontessa]

Wow, more fantastic info guys. So both ships had the adjustable above w.l. tubes?

Yes.

They were both also equipped with the 61cm “Long Lance” Type 93?!

I said "61cm" based on the title of Hiraga Yuzuru Digital Archive. But it seems to be incorrect, and “53.3cm” seems to be correct as you said. Sorry.

Kongo Class: Below w.l. Single x 2 (One side of the bow) and Below w.l. Single x 2 (One side of the stern)
Fso Class, Ise Class: Below w.l. Single x 3 (One side, Detail is unclear)

I found related drawings in Hiraga Yuzuru Digital Archive.

Fuso Class (Yamashiro)

Kongo Class (Hiei)

fontessa
PS With the request of the University of Tokyo, the name of Kashiwa Library of Tokyo University which holds the Hiraga Yuzuru Digital Archive was specified.

[ShindenKai]

Wow! Absolutely fantastic info again. Thx again!