Q&A ยท 3:09:31-3:10:22

What weapons Britain would choose for Japanese destroyers

British designers might embrace the Long Lance but would reject the Type 96 in favor of familiar 20- and 40-millimeter weapons.

Question

Would British-built Japanese destroyers abandon the Type 96 anti-aircraft gun and Type 93 torpedo?

Short answer

Britain would likely reject the Type 96 but could readily value and retain the Long Lance torpedo.

Notes

The panel separates two famous Japanese weapons rather than treating all indigenous equipment alike. The Type 93 oxygen torpedo offered enough range and striking power that British designers could plausibly adopt it if they had access. The 25 mm Type 96 anti-aircraft gun is much less attractive beside British 20 mm weapons and the 40 mm pom-pom. At most it might replace the weak quadruple Vickers machine gun. A foreign-built design can combine imported hull practice with selective retention of genuinely advantageous local weapons.