Type 93.

This is coolbert:

In those previous blog entries where I have mentioned the Japanese World War Two [WW2] era torpedo, the Type 93 ["Long Lance"], I have described the Type 93 as a weapon with potential war-winning performance and potentiality.

A naval weapon, a torpedo, fired from SURFACE vessels, especially during night-time engagements, able to negate an American numerical superiority in warships, allowing for Japanese victory!!

I doubt few experts would deny that the Long Lance was indeed a formidable weapon, to which American naval planners needed to pay proper caution and heed! But the evidence seems to suggest that the Type 93 WAS NOT a war-winning weapon.

[until actually encountering the Type 93 in battle, American and other allied naval planners did not even know of the existence of this torpedo!]

Here from an interesting web site, an analysis of the Type 93 and combat effectiveness of same:

"Were the Best Good Enough?"

"The Performance of Japanese Surface Forces in Torpedo Attack versus the expectations of the Decisive Battle Strategy." - - By Joseph Czarnecki.

Contrary to generally accepted opinion, massive barrages of Type 93 did NOT always provide the desired outcome during the various surface naval battles as fought in the Pacific theatre. The massive use of Type 93 torpedoes during a decisive battle with American naval forces would have been an important factor, but not necessarily conclusive in itself!

"Torpedo attack was the cornerstone of the night attack, and a critical element of the day attack intended to rectify Japan’s initial 3:5 and worsening deficit in numbers."

[American naval forces by TREATY were assured of a numerical advantage in capital ships vis-a-vis the Japanese prior to 7 December 1941! An advantage that would only worsen to the disadvantage of the Japanese during a time of PROTRACTED WARFARE!]

Long Lance - - formidable - - but NOT war-winning!

I stand corrected?

coolbert.