| Type 4 Incendiary Rocket | |
|---|---|
&sq=Facebook&lang=en&file=File:Jap_12_cm_fla_raketenwerfer.jpg) A 28 tubes rocket launcher | |
| Type | anti-aircraft rocket |
| Place of origin | Japan |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1944-1945 |
| Used by | Imperial Japanese Navy |
| Wars | Second World War |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1943 |
| Produced | 1944-1945 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 24 kg (53 lb) |
| Length | 73 cm (29 in) |
| Diameter | 12 cm (4.7 in) |
| Warhead | 24 incendiary charges |
Detonation mechanism | Time fuze |
| Engine | 6 solid propellant rockets |
| Propellant | "Spécial DT6" (solid powder) |
Operational range | 4,800 m (5,200 yd) |
| Maximum speed | 720 km/h (450 mph) |
Launch platform | 12 cm, 28 tubes rocket launcher Aircraft carrier, battleship |
The Roketto Yon-shiki Shō-san-dan (ロケット四式焼霰弾, "type 4 incendiary rocket"), sometimes just RoSa-dan (ロサ弾, "incendiary rocket", abbreviation of the name) 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 "shell" (弾, "dan"), 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]