| Is Missile: | yes |
| Type 4 Incendiary Rocket | |
| Origin: | Japan |
| Type: | anti-aircraft rocket |
| Used By: | Imperial Japanese Navy |
| Wars: | Second World War |
| Propellant: | "Spécial DT6" (solid powder) |
| Design Date: | 1943 |
| Production Date: | 1944-1945 |
| Service: | 1944-1945 |
| Engine: | 6 solid propellant rockets |
| Weight: | 24kg (53lb) |
| Length: | 73cm (29inches) |
| Diameter: | 12cm (05inches) |
| Speed: | 720km/h |
| Vehicle Range: | 4800m (15,700feet) |
| Filling: | 24 incendiary charges |
| Detonation: | Time fuze |
| Launch Platform: | 12 cm, 28 tubes rocket launcher Aircraft carrier, battleship |
The, sometimes just where anti-aircraft rockets used by the Imperial Japanese Navy during the World War II, combining incendiary shrapnel elements.
The rocket is designated with the English borrowing "rocketto", but stays more commonly classified as a, borrowing partially the technology used by the Type 3 anti-aircraft shell "San Shiki".
The Imperial Japanese Navy deployed the Type 4 12cm AA rocket launcher on a number of aircraft carriers and battleships during 1944-1945, with the type first seeing action in October 1944. It was also emplaced at Kure Navy Yard to provide anti-aircraft coverage. The Type 4 12cm AA rocket launcher used the 25mm triple AA mount with minor modifications. [1]
The rockets were intended to put up a barrage of flame, by being notably equipped on a 28 rack rocket-launcher, through which any aircraft attempting to attack would have to navigate. However, much like the sanshiki shells, these rockets were not very effective, lacking in effect radius among other things.
An experimental 12cm 1.6 kg explosive warhead variant for use in the conventional artillery role was developed but is believed to have never entered formal service. The Imperial Japanese Navy also attached a small number of 12cm AA rockets to suicide boats in 1945 to acts as a type of visual distraction against potential targets during an invasion scenario. One rocket was attached to each side of the boat. [2]
These rockets were 12cm (05inches) in diameter for 73cm (29inches) long, and weighed 47kg (104lb). Similar to the "San Shiki", these rockets were made:[3] [4]
These rockets were deployed on a 28 tubes capacity rocket launcher, each rack having a length of 1m (03feet), and linked to the ship's anti-aircraft fire control system. The rockets were fired in pairs, with the ability to fire all 14 salvos in just 10 s, the rockets reaching a speed of 200m/s.The rockets had a maximum range of 4.8km (03miles), with a maximum altitude of 2.6km (01.6miles).