List of Japanese World War II explosives
Encyclopedia
This is a complete list of Japanese
explosives used during the Second World War it is sorted by application
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
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 Potassium chlorate Potassium chlorate is a compound containing potassium, chlorine and oxygen atoms, with the molecular formula KClO3. In its pure form, it is a white crystalline substance. It is the most common chlorate in industrial use... 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 Tetryl 2,4,6-Trinitrophenylmethylnitramine commonly referred to as tetryl is a sensitive explosive compound used to make detonators and explosive booster charges.... |
Sub-booster | Both | Meiayaku | Pressed. | |
RDX RDX RDX, an initialism for Research Department Explosive, is an explosive nitroamine widely used in military and industrial applications. It was developed as an explosive which was more powerful than TNT, and it saw wide use in WWII. RDX is also known as cyclonite, hexogen , and T4... |
Sub-booster | Army | Shouyaku | Pressed. Often used with wax | |
70% Trinitroanisol 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 Picric acid Picric acid is the chemical compound formally called 2,4,6-trinitrophenol . This yellow crystalline solid is one of the most acidic phenols. Like other highly nitrated compounds such as TNT, picric acid is an explosive... |
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 Ammonium perchlorate Ammonium perchlorate is an inorganic compound with the formula NH4ClO4. It is the salt of perchloric acid and ammonia. It is a powerful oxidizer, which is why its main use is in solid propellants... 16% Silicon carbide Silicon carbide Silicon carbide , also known as carborundum, is a compound of silicon and carbon with chemical formula SiC. It occurs in nature as the extremely rare mineral moissanite. Silicon carbide powder has been mass-produced since 1893 for use as an abrasive... 12% wood pulp 6% oil |
Main charge | mines, depth charges | Navy | Type 88 | Loose grey powder. Friction sensitive. |
Trinitroanisol | Main charge | bombs | Navy | Type 91 | Cast |
60% Trinitroanisol 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% Trinitroanisol 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 |