binocular history society tucson, 2013 richard...

Imperial Japanese Navy Torpedo Director

Binoculars

Binocular History Society

Tucson, 2013

Richard Lane

Taisho-Era (1915-1926)

Showa-Era (1926-1945)

Overview

Photo: © R. Lane

Taisho-Era Directors

5-15 variable power telescopes based

on British Royal Navy Torpedo

Directors (1909/1911)

4th-Year Torpedo Director (1915)

8th-Year Torpedo Director (1919)

14th-Year Torpedo Director (1925)

(non-optical-used in small craft)

Japanese Torpedo Fire Control – US Naval

Technical Mission to Japan – 18 Feb 46

Location of Target: Nippon

Optical Company

The bulk of the information in this

report was obtained from notes

prepared by Mr. Fuketa, designing

engineer for Nippon Optical

Company, which was the

manufacturing agent for most of

this equipment.

Showa-Era Directors

12cm Binocular

Used in Conjunction with

Rangefinders and Computers

Separate from Torpedo Tubes

Developed for Night Use

Showa-Era

Type 89 – 12cm Periscope Binoculars

Type 90 – 6cm Binoculars

Type 91 – 8cm & 12cm Binoculars

Type 92 – 15cm Binoculars

Type 97 – 12cm Binoculars

Type 0 – 15cm Binoculars

Type 1 – 18cm Binoculars

Photo: © R. Lane

Type 89 Director (Takao Bridge)

12cm

15x 4º

Type 91 Director (Cruisers and Destroyers)

8cm

15x 4º

12cm

15x 4º

Photos: © R. Lane

Type 91 Director – 8cm Binoculars

Photos: © R. Lane

Type 91 Director – 8cm Binoculars cont.

15 Power

4º

5.3 mm

Exit Pupil

Photo: © R. Lane

Type 91 Director – 8cm Binoculars cont.

Photo: © R. Lane

Type 91 Director – 8cm Binoculars cont.

Photo: © R. Lane

Type 91 Director – 8cm Binoculars cont.

Radium Quick

Sight

Photo: © R. Lane

Type 91 Director – 8cm Binoculars cont.

Red IR filter

Photo: © R. Lane

Type 91 Director – 8cm Binoculars cont.

Inspection

Stamps –

Objective

Housing

Photo: © R. Lane

8cm Binoculars – Data Plate

Photo: © R. Lane

8cm Binoculars – Data Plate Translation

January 1935

Type 91 Torpedo Director Model 2

Serial Number 43

Nippon Kogaku k.k.

Photo: © R. Lane

Type 91 Director – 12cm Binoculars

12cm Binocular

Photo: © R. Lane

Type 91 Director – 12cm Binoculars

12cm Binocular

15 Power

4º

8mm Exit

Pupil

Photo: © R. Lane

Type 91 Director

12cm Binocular

12cm Binocular

12cm Binoculars – Data Plate

Photo: © R. Lane

12cm Binoculars – Data Plate Translation

12cm Binocular Telescope

For Torpedo Director

Serial Number 158

Nippon Kogaku k.k.

Jan 1933

Torpedo

Right (Starboard) Photo: © R. Lane

Type 0 Director (Cruisers and Destroyers)

Photos: © R. Lane

Type 0 Director – 15cm Binoculars

Photo: © R. Lane

Type 0 Director – 15cm Binoculars

8mm Exit

Pupil

18.8 Power

3º

Photo: © R. Lane

Type 0 Director

Type 0 Director

15cm Binoculars – Data Plate

Photo: © R. Lane

15cm Binocular Telescope

For Type 0 Director

Serial Number 399

Weight 29 Kilograms Nov 1944 Nippon Kogaku k.k.

Torpedo

15cm Binoculars – Data Plate Translation

Photo: © R. Lane

15cm Binoculars – Destroyer Yukikaze

Type 0 - 15cm Binoculars – Destroyer Hasu

Photo: Courtesy

David Wright

Type 0 - 15cm Binoculars – Destroyer Hasu

1

2

3

Photo: Courtesy

David Wright

Type 0 - 15cm Binoculars – Destroyer Hasu

Night – Quick Sight

Reticle Attachment

Photo: Courtesy

David Wright

18cm Binoculars (Lookout)

© Joseph E. Low

Type 1 Director – 18cm Binoculars (Cruisers)

18cm Binocular

22.5/30 Power

2.6º/2.0º

22.5 Power

8mm Exit Pupil

Sources

18cm Binocular Drawing, © Joseph E. Low

Destroyer Hasu Photo, David Wright

Japanese Torpedo Fire Control, US Naval

Technical Mission to Japan, 18 Feb 46

Japanese Destroyers, Grand Prix Shuppan, 1995

History of Japanese Destroyers, Ships of the

World, 1992

Japanese Cruisers, Grand Prix Shuppan, 1993

Ships of the World, Volume 253

Nippon Kogaku, 75th Year History

Questions?

Photo: © R. Lane