Constant Provocation! Japan Releases Photos of Submarine Launching Torpedoes Sinking Target Ship
On July 10, Japanese media released images showing the trajectory and explosion of torpedoes fired by a submarine during recent multinational exercises, hitting and sinking a landing ship target.
The exercise, "Talisman Shield 2026," was hosted by the United States and took place from June 22 to July 1. It is a biennial military drill conducted by the U.S. in the Western Pacific region, encompassing areas including Japan and Guam. Since 2024, this exercise has evolved into a multilateral joint operation, marking the second time the Japan Self-Defense Forces have participated.
The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force has not disclosed which submarine sank the target vessel. However, the U.S. Navy revealed that Japan's most advanced submarine class, the "Oyashio-class," took part in the exercise. Built at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' Kobe Shipyard, the submarine entered service in March 2024. Its primary armaments include six torpedo launch tubes located at the bow, capable of firing the latest Type 18 torpedoes and Harpoon anti-ship missiles.
The photos show the target ship struck at the stern, causing a massive water column to erupt.
Meanwhile,
Modern torpedoes typically do not directly hit enemy ships; instead, they explode beneath the hull, where the shockwave splits the ship’s keel in two, leading to sinking.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1870279798009867/
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