Japanese built guns:  14"/45 (35.6 cm) 41st Year Type (Model 1908)
Japanese built guns:  36 cm/45 (14") 41st Year Type (Model 1908)

1) Rifling shown as for Model Type II and III barrels.  Model Type III₂ and III₄ barrels had the same chamber volume, but had a 0.04 in (0.10 cm) shorter chamber and 1.22 in (3.1 cm) less rifling length.

2) US Naval Technical Mission to Japan report O-54(N) states that guns meant to be loaded at high elevations had "ridges around the compression slope, to aid in gripping the projectile rotating bands and prevent the projectile from slipping back after seating."

1925
   APC Type 5 - N/A, but probably 1,400 lbs. (635 kg)

1928
   APC No. 6 / Type 88 - 1,400 lbs. (635 kg)

World War II
   APC Type 91 - 1,485 lbs. (673.5 kg)
   Common Type 0 HE - 1,378 lbs. (625 kg)
   Common Type 3 IS - 1,371 lbs. (622 kg)

Others - N/A

Others - N/A

Others - N/A

1) Common Type 3 HE shells of the World War I period were developed from shells imported from Britain and were adopted on 26 May 1915.  These should not be confused with the Common Type 3 Incendiary Shrapnel (IS) rounds used during World War II.  The original Type 3 had a shimose filler and had a tendency to detonate on impact, similar to British shells of the era.  It is probable that APC and CPC shells were also imported from Britain at this time but I have been unable to confirm that hypothesis.

2) IS is my abbreviation for the incendiary shrapnel round (sankaidan) intended for AA use.

3) The APC Type 3 was adopted in 1917.  Following World War I, the Japanese obtained some German AP shells and also obtained some British Hadfield AP shells in 1924.  Examination of these examples and the results of their own extensive firing trials resulted in the APC Type 5 which was adopted on 15 June 1925.  This was superseded by the APC No. 6 which was adopted on 17 November 1928.  APC No. 6 was essentially similar to the Type 5 in terms of armor penetration but was better protected from premature detonation and had enhanced underwater performance.  APC No. 6 was redesignated as the Type 88 on 6 April 1931.  On that same date, the improved APC Type 91 was adopted.

4) Type 91 shells were all 6 / [infinity] crh with boat tail and two copper driving bands.  The diameter of the bourrelet was 13.970 in (35.484 cm).  AP Cap, cap head and windshield together weighed 229 lbs. (104 kg).

5) The propellant charge was in four bags.

6) Dye was introduced in 1941 and Type 91 shells containing it were designated as Type 1.  The Kongô class were issued the following dye colors for their Type 1 APC shells:
    Kongô:  Red
    Haruna:  Black
    Kirishima:  Blue
    Hiei:  None

Ise and Fuso Classes:  About 688 tons (699 mt)

1) Gun elevation was first increased in the 1920s by enlarging the gun port openings.  A later increase in the 1930s was achieved by deepening the gun wells and lowering the revolving structure deeper into the ships.  The Ise and Hyuga lacked sufficient depth in the aftmost two turrets to allow this last change, so only the four forward and amidships turrets were modified for greater elevations.  It should be noted that even the original +25 degree elevation was greater than that of contemporary British designs which were generally limited to +15 or +20 degree elevations.

2) Q turret on the Kongô class was in a more favorable position than those on earlier British battlecruisers, increasing its firing arc to about 60 degrees before the beam and 90 degrees abaft it on either side, although it could not fire directly aft at elevations below about 10 degrees.

3) These mountings used Kenyon Doors to transfer projectiles onto the turret stalks.  Auxiliary electric power was provided, magazines were above the shell rooms in the original British design, although later ships and the modernized Kongôs had this arrangement reversed.  Compressed air runout was added in the 1920s rebuilds.

4) The gun axes were 90 in (229 cm) apart.

5) The weight differences was mainly the result of thicker armor on the battleship turrets.

6) During gunnery practice on 5 May 1942, the left gun breech of Turret #5 on Hyuga suffered a catastrophic failure which killed fifty-one officers and crewmen.  Repaired at Kure over the next few weeks, Turret #5 was removed from the ship and replaced with a circular armor plate atop the barbette.  Four triple 25 mm gun mounts were placed on top of the plate.  Later during 1943, the turrets and barbettes in positions #5 and #6 on Ise and Hyuga were removed when these ships were converted into hybrid seaplane carriers.  See the Naval Technical Board essay The Japanese Ise and Hyuga Hybrid Battleship-Carriers for additional information.

7) The US Naval Technical Mission to Japan report O-47(N)-1 states that "Japanese major caliber turrets (14 and 16-inch) are all of old design and were copied from the British-built turrets for the BB Kongô.  In general arrangement and in most details, they are similar to the British 15-inch turrets, but some improvements have been made by the Japanese . . .[including] Better flash tightness in gunhouses and working chambers.  All battleships were fitted with longitudinal flashtight bulkheads between the guns, and between the gun loading hoists in the working chambers."