Type 4 40 cm rocket

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	Weapon: Type 4 40 cm rocket Type: Rocket Artillery Country of Origin: Japan Caliber: 400mm Rocket Action: Single Rocket Launcher

The Type 4 40 cm Rocket was a large-caliber Japanese rocket artillery weapon developed late in World War II as part of Japan's efforts to bolster its defensive capabilities. Designed with a massive 40 cm diameter and an explosive payload of over 500 pounds, the Type 4 could deliver a devastating high-explosive warhead up to a range of 2 kilometers. Due to the limited industrial capacity and the late stage of the war, the Type 4 rocket launcher was constructed to be relatively simple, with a launch platform made of metal frames or earthen ramps.

Production of the Type 4 40 cm Rocket began in 1944, but quantities were limited due to Japan's strained wartime production capabilities and material shortages. Only a small number of these rockets and their launch systems were produced, with estimates suggesting several hundred units. The Type 4 was deployed primarily in static defensive positions on the Japanese home islands, where it was intended to repel an anticipated Allied invasion with powerful, short-range barrages.

Although the Type 4 40 cm Rocket did not see extensive combat due to Japan's surrender in 1945, it gained notoriety for its imposing size and firepower, representing Japan's late-war desperation to strengthen its coastal defenses. The sheer explosive capacity of the Type 4 made it one of the most formidable artillery weapons developed by Japan, and its deployment in defensive positions showcased the nation's strategic shift to homeland protection. While it ultimately had limited battlefield impact, the Type 4 stands as a symbol of Japan's resourceful yet constrained efforts to innovate in rocket artillery during the final phase of World War II.