[ARC5] Japanese Radios and Our Torps

[Robert Eleazer]

I read in one book - written by Barrett Tillman, who should know something about it - that Japanese aircraft engines, or at least those used in the Zeros, did not have shielded ignition systems.  I have operated modern solid state battery powered VHF equipment in a 1929 vintage Waco with an unshielded ignition and I can only imagine what an HF radio running off the aircraft power must have been like.   Just listening to the noise must have been enough to make you want to toss the radio overboard. 

The book "Silent Victory" by Clay Blair describes the failure of US torpedoes.  Before WWII they were all made at a government factory in Rhode Island that was regarded by the congressmen from that state as a personal possession.  Any attempt to improve things at the RI factory or develop a second source of production was strongly opposed by the RI delegation.  Another factory finally was opened in Alexandria, VA, but the USN eventually gave up on the govt factory's faltering attempts to copy captured German electric torps and had Westinghouse take over the job.  Electric torps were slower and shorter ranged than others but did not leave a tell tall stream of bubbles pointing at the sub.  

And I don't think we ever came close to the performance of the H2O2 powered Long Lance during the whole war.  Similarly, US experts said that a 20MM version of our .great 50 cal machine gun was impossible, but forgot to tell the Japanese who in their ignorance went ahead and did it. 

I guess that the Signal Corps at Ft. Monmouth, NJ did some original design, such as the BC-312 (and the BC-348?), but I guess that the design of virtually all the US military radio equipment was entirely left to industry?

By the way, sometimes go compare the reports issued by NACA well before WWII to those that came out during WWII.  It is clear that NACA went from being a true world leader in aeronautics to lagging far behind the industry.  Another reason not to have a Govt radio design lab.

Wayne
WB5WSV