The Type 89 torpedo (development name G-RX2) is a
Japanese
Japanese may refer to:
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* Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan
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submarine
A submarine (or sub) is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability. The term is also sometimes used historically or colloquially to refer to remotely op ...
-launched homing
torpedo
A modern torpedo is an underwater ranged weapon launched above or below the water surface, self-propelled towards a target, and with an explosive warhead designed to detonate either on contact with or in proximity to the target. Historically, su ...
produced by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. It replaced the unguided
Type 72 torpedo
Type may refer to:
Science and technology Computing
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* Data type, collection of values used for computations.
* File type
* TYPE (DOS command), a command to display contents of a file.
* Ty ...
. Development was done by the Technical Research and Development Institute, a department of the
Ministry of Defense
{{unsourced, date=February 2021
A ministry of defence or defense (see spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is an often-used name for the part of a government responsible for matters of defence, found in states ...
, and began in 1970, with the design completed by 1984. Developed from the
Type 80 torpedo
Type may refer to:
Science and technology Computing
* Typing, producing text via a keyboard, typewriter, etc.
* Data type, collection of values used for computations.
* File type
* TYPE (DOS command), a command to display contents of a file.
* Typ ...
, it is similar in its capabilities to the United States
Mark 48 ADCAP torpedo. After being formally approved in 1989 and named "Type 89", it entered service and is currently carried aboard the ''
Oyashio'', and ''
Sōryū'' class submarines. It was also carried by the ''
Yuushio'' and ''
Harushio'' class submarine before they were retired from active service in 2006 and 2017 respectively.
It is a wire-guided torpedo that features both active and passive homing modes. Compared to Mk-48 (ADCAP) torpedo, it is slightly longer (6.25 m to 5.79 m) and heavier (1,760 kg to 1,676 kg), but has a smaller warhead (267 kg to 295 kg). However, it can be used at a greater depth (900 m ''vs.'' 800 m for the Mk-48).
The successor to the Type 89 torpedo was developed under the development name "G-RX6" and officially named
Type 18 torpedo
Type may refer to:
Science and technology Computing
* Typing, producing text via a keyboard, typewriter, etc.
* Data type, collection of values used for computations.
* File type
* TYPE (DOS command), a command to display contents of a file.
* T ...
(
ja) in 2018. The
Taigei-class submarine
The ''Taigei''-class submarines (''29SS'') is a new class of attack submarines after 2022, developed for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. It is the successor to the .
The ''Taigei'' class is equipped with a large amount of lithium-ion bat ...
is equipped with a number of Type 18 torpedoes.
Specifications
* Length: 6,250 mm (20.51 ft)
* Weight: 1,760 kg (3,900 lb)
* Diameter: 533 mm (21 in)
* Warhead: 267 kg (590 lb)
* Speed: maximum possibly
* Range: at , at .
* Operating depth: 900 m
References
* ''Jane's Underwater Warfare Systems 2006-2007''.
{{Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Torpedoes of Japan
Post–Cold War weapons of Japan
Type 89
Military equipment introduced in the 1980s