Plate 020 · Naval Gun · World War II

40 cm/45 Type 94 Naval Gun

"Yamato's Main Battery"

The largest naval guns ever mounted on a warship — three triple turrets on the Yamato class.

40 cm/45 Type 94 Naval Gun — Imperial Japanese Navy, Public Domain — Imperial Japanese Navy, Public Domain · Public DomainView on Wikimedia Commons →

Historical Record

Provenance & Service

Designed in absolute secrecy and officially designated '40 cm' to mislead foreign intelligence, the Type 94 was in fact 460 mm. Nine guns in three triple turrets armed each of the Yamato-class battleships Yamato and Musashi. Each turret weighed 2,774 tonnes — more than a destroyer. Their 1,460 kg shells could reach 42 km.