List of Japanese World War II explosives
This is a complete list of Japanese explosives used during the Second World War it is sorted by application
Explosive | Type | Application | Navy or Army | Japanese designation | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mercury fulminate Potassium chlorate Antimony trisulfide | Primer cap composition | Army | Bakufun | Mk I and Mk III powders are ammunition primers, Mk II is a fuze primer | |
Potassium chlorate Antimony trisulfide | Primer cap composition | Both | - | Most common mixture for fuze primers | |
Mercury fulminate | Initiator in fuzes and blasting caps | Both | Raikoo (Thunder Mercury) | ||
Lead azide | Initiator in fuzes and blasting caps | Both | Chikka Namari | Most common initiator | |
Tetryl | Sub-booster | Both | Meiayaku | Pressed. | |
RDX | Sub-booster | Army | Shouyaku | Pressed. Often used with wax | |
70% Trinitroanisole 30% HND | Main charge, auxiliary booster | bombs, sea mines, depth charges | Navy | H2 kongo or Type 98 | Pressed. |
TNT | Main charge | Projectiles, hand grenades rarely in bombs | Army | Chakatusuyaku (tea colored explosive) | Usually cast in paper wrapped blocks |
Picric acid | Main charge and main booster charge | bombs, projectiles, sea mines, land mines | Both | Ooshokuyaku (Yellow color explosive) or Shimose | Most commonly used booster. Pressed |
66% Ammonium perchlorate 16% Silicon carbide 12% wood pulp 6% oil | Main charge | mines, depth charges | Navy | Type 88 | Loose grey powder. Friction sensitive. |
Trinitroanisole | Main charge | bombs | Navy | Type 91 | Cast |
60% Trinitroanisole 40% RDX | Main charge | torpedo warheads | Navy | Type 94 | |
60% TNT 40% HND | Main charge | torpedo warheads, depth charges | Navy | Seigate or Type 97 | Cast blocks |
70% Trinitroanisole 30% HND | Main charge | bombs, sea mines, depth charges | Navy | Type 98 | Poured into case and cast |
81% Ammonium picrate 16% aluminium powder 2% wood pulp 1% oil | Main charge | depth charges | Navy | Type 1 | Loose powder |
60% TNT 24% HND 16%aluminium powder | Main charge | torpedo warheads | Navy | Otsu-B | |
25% TNT 75% picric acid | Main charge | bombs | Army | Chaooyaku | Used rarely. TNT lowers the melting point making it suitable for casting |
50% Picric acid 50% Dinitronaphthalene | Main charge | projectiles | Army | Oonayaku | Used rarely. Dinitronapthalene aids casting. |
90% Picric acid 10% Wax | Main charge | projectiles | Army | Ooshivaku | Used in the nose of armour piercing projectiles. Insensitive. |
70% TNT 30% Dinitronaphthalene | Main charge | projectiles | Army | Chanayaku | Cast |
70% to 50% TNT 30% to 50% RDX | Main charge | bombs, projectiles, landmines and bangalore torpedoes | Army | Nigo tanooyaku (Mk2) | Cast |
75% Ammonium nitrate 25% RDX | Main charge | bombs | Army | Anga yaku | Cast in case. Hygroscopic |
References
- TM 9-1985-4 Japanese Explosive Ordnance (Bombs, Bomb fuzes, Land mines, Grenades, Firing Devices and Sabotage Devices). Departments of the Army and Air Force. March 1953.