48cm Triple Positron Shock Turret
The main gun, Yamato‘s main armament that sank many ships
Yamato has many artillery weapons, but the one that boasts the most firepower after the Wave-Motion Gun is the 48cm three-barrel positron shock turret, commonly known as the “shock cannon.” This weapon, which is Yamato‘s “main gun,” has two turrets on the forward deck and one turret on the aft deck. The first, second, and third main turrets are designated in order from bow to stern.
As the official name suggests, the main gun is a type of positron beam cannon. It has a high level of firepower due to the inexhaustible energy supplied by the Wave-Motion Engine. It is particularly powerful when the beams emitted from its three ports are directed at a single target. The Kalaklum-class battleship that fell to Earth [in 2202 Episode 1] was completely destroyed by a single shot from the undersea dock. The beam can only be fired while the Wave Engine is running, but it also has the ability to fire live Type 3 fusion rounds, so it is capable of responding to a wide range of situations.
The main turret was changed during the first Yamato redevelopment plan. The main change was in the mounting position, with the first main turret moved back slightly. The height of the base of the second main turret is said to be the same as that of the first main turret.
Main turret
The base of the main gun that functions as the “turret” system
The three 48cm triple positron shock turrets, Yamato‘s “main turrets,” provide tremendous firepower, especially for anti-ship attacks. In addition to this, they are also highly versatile, using both positron beams and Type 3 anti-aircraft rounds. The superiority of the main turret was demonstrated in the Garmillas War and, of course, in the Gatlantis War, sinking numerous enemy ships.
The advantages of a series of main turrets are not only in their firepower. The elevation angle reaches up to 45 degrees, and the rangefinders on both sides provided excellent accuracy. Reflecting the lessons of war, additional armor also enhances the perfection of the main turret.
The base of the turret is also important; its swivel mechanism dramatically expands the field of fire. It also channels energy for the positron beam from the Wave-Motion Engine, and feeds the Type 3 rounds. It is indispensable for the operation of the main turret.
The energy for turret rotation is supplied by sources other than the Wave-Motion Engine (auxiliary engines, etc.). When the Wave Engine is stopped and a projectile is fired, energy is still required for turret rotation and vertical movement of the gun barrels.
First main turret
The power and shelling system of the first main turret, which differs from the other main turrets
Among the components that make up the first main turret, there are the main gun ammunition compartment and the energy supply system from the Wave Engine. The power system that rotates the turret is housed in the hull. This is why the interior of the turret ring is so deep when the main turret is removed.
However, the system inside the ship is slightly different for the first, second, and third main turrets. (This was basically the same when the ship was first commissioned in 2199.) The first main turret’s internal unit is shorter in height than that of the second main turret, the same size as that of the third main turret. The difference from the third main turret is that it can be used to feed Type 3 fusion rounds. (The first and second turrets are capable of firing Type 3 rounds, while the third is not.)
The size of the units inside the ship seems to have been determined by the combination of the mounting position and peripheral equipment. The first main turret as a whole is the lowest of the three main turrets. After Yamato‘s re-commissioning in 2202, the first main turret was damaged on the planet Zemulia, after it was effectively used in numerous battles. However, it was further strengthened in the refit to final battle specifications, showing its new appearance.
Inside the main turret
Although there are slight differences in the base and other parts depending on the time period, Yamato‘s three main turrets were built to the same standard. The gun compartments are also basically the same. (All figures shown are as of 2199 A.D., and there were no major changes in the first refit.) In terms of the chain of command, it is a manned section under the jurisdiction of the tactical department, and is under the command of the chief of artillery. The construction numbers are YMT-01 for the first main turret, YMT-02 for the second, and YMT-03 for the third.
Inside the main turret
As mentioned above, the first main turret (and the second main turret) can fire the “Type 3 fusion round,” which is a solid projectile. Yamato‘s main gun normally fires a positron beam, which can only be used while the Wave Engine is running. Therefore, Type 3 rounds can only be used when the Wave Engine is stopped or when a wide dispersion field is required. In the battle of the 11th Planet, Type 3 fusion rounds were fired at Kukulkan-class space destroyers when the Wave Engine had been temporarily disabled.
Armament
Bridging the gap between earlier ships and the new generation of Wave-Motion Gun-equipped ships
Yamato, the first ship on Earth to be equipped with a Wave-Motion Engine, had a Wave Engine at the rear of the hull and a Wave Gun at the bow. This established the basic structure of a Wave Gun ship.
In terms of armament, Yamato has a transitional configuration between the Kongo-class space battleship launched in 2171 and Andromeda, a vanguard ship launched in 2202. The ship inherited the Kongo‘s shock cannon, torpedoes, missiles, and anti-spacecraft guns. The armament has been greatly strengthened and increased in line with the larger hull size, and its firepower has been noticeably enhanced.
Yamato‘s shock cannons now have a long barrel, torpedoes and missiles have been further upgraded and enlarged, and other artillery weapons, including multiple anti-aircraft pulse laser turrets, are extremely powerful. Yamato sank a succession of Garmillas ships that the Kongo-class had a difficult time with.
However, it seems that Yamato‘s weapons were judged to be too numerous. The succeeding Andromeda class and dreadnought class ships were reorganized and new armament was adopted. However, Yamato maintained its armament even in the first refit, in which improvements were made based on the lessons of battle. Thus, the ship’s overall combat capability has improved.
Anti-aircraft pulse laser turret
Laser turrets provide anti-aircraft defense with a dense barrage
Located on Yamato‘s deck, especially around the bridge, are a number of anti-aircraft pulse laser turrets. These twin turrets are equipped with small, rapid-firing, directional energy weapons. However, its rapid-firing performance and the number of guns make it possible to deploy a dense barrage.
It should be noted here that the anti-air pulse laser turret is not a weapon whose main purpose is “attack.” Its role is to intercept missiles and enemy craft flying toward Yamato. In other words, it is operated as a close-range defensive weapon. This is the decisive difference from the main turret, which was designed to attack enemy ships.
Yamato is equipped with Wave Barriers and heavy armor, which have tremendous defensive performance. However, the Wave Barrier has restrictions on conditions of use and operating time, and the possibility of penetration through the armor cannot be ignored. It is also difficult to avoid attacks by enemy aircraft units that excel in mobility and maneuverability.
If there is a risk of being hit and avoidance is difficult, the only option left is to intercept and shoot down the enemy aircraft. This is realized in the form of the anti-aircraft pulse laser turret. The effectiveness of the turret seems to have been highly evaluated, and the related equipment was enhanced in the first refit.
Armament Configuration
Yamato has a shape similar to that of an old surface ship, so its armament configuration differs greatly between the deck above and the hull below. Specifically, the upper deck mounts guns such as positron shock turrets, while the hull fires torpedoes and missiles. The torpedo and missile tubes are stored in the hull and only open when in use, so they are not noticeable. The majority of the armament on deck is mounted in the form of turrets. The impression of the ship is very different between the upper and lower sections.
Chimney missile/depth charge launcher
Solid projectile launchers around the bridge structure
Yamato‘s bridge structure is surrounded by a cluster of gun batteries, including sub-turrets and anti-aircraft pulse laser cannons. One of the most unusual weapons is the “chimney missile,” or eight-barrel missile launcher, located directly behind the bridge structure, and the Type 94 depth charge launcher installed at the rear.
Naturally, these two weapons have completely different characteristics. The chimney missile is a ship-to-air missile launcher with a strong defensive aspect. It is positioned near the pulse lasers, but has tracking and guidance capabilities, suitable for anti-ship attack. The Type 94 depth charge launcher is a weapon that fires anti-ship bombs. It is also capable of firing other projectiles as long as they conform to specifications.
The Type 94 launcher is used less frequently than main guns, anti-aircraft pulse laser cannons, and bow torpedo tubes, and is said to be less versatile. However, it is difficult to replace it with other weapons for its intended use, so it was not discontinued in the first refit. In fact, it proved its effectiveness by saving Yamato during a standoff against Andromeda in the asteroid belt, and also in the battle for the 11th planet.
8-barrel missile launch tower
The eight-barrel missile launch tower, colloquially known as the “chimney launcher” because of its distinctive shape, fires SAM (Surface to Air Missiles) to defend the area directly above Yamato. Since the launcher is exposed on the deck, it has the advantage of not taking up space inside the ship. Its missile is a long-range, high-speed type with a diameter of 60cm and a total length of 5.8 meters. It is shared with the ship’s ventral missile launcher.
Type 94 depth charge launcher
As indicated by the name “Type 94” (formalized in 2194), it was designed before Yamato‘s commissioning. It is a weapon that fires and disperses depth charges (anti-ship bombs) based on Wave Barrier technology. They are designed to destroy enemy ships from the inside by exploding with space-time oscillation, causing a chain reaction of detonation. In the Battle of Gatlantis, it was used to launch the ARGO system’s magnetron probes.
The fourth bridge
Newly constructed in the first refit
Upon the occasion of redeployment in accordance with the “Wave Gun Fleet Concept,” Yamato was modified to reflect the lessons learned during the Garmillas War. Yamato, with these specifications, is called the first refit type. The modifications are diverse, but there are only a few examples of completely new manned sections. The “fourth bridge” installed at the base of the second sub turret is the only known example.
The fourth bridge, as the name suggests, follows after the first bridge in the conning tower, the second bridge located directly below it, and the third bridge located at the bottom of the core elevator. The reason for the fourth bridge is not clear, but it is certain that it was intended to be a backup for the first bridge as well as the second and third bridges.
It faces “backward” directly below the second sub turret, and is thought to have been built in order to unify the command of the equipment group at the rear of the ship (especially the third main turret and the second secondary turret). Together with the rear observation room in the conning tower, it is effective in optical observation of the rear of the ship. It seems to contribute to stern operations using the third main turret, second sub-turret, and aft torpedo tubes.
Structure of the fourth bridge
The fourth bridge is covered by an armored shutter, making it difficult to spot from the outside until the shutter opens. During normal navigation and combat, the shutter is closed (the fourth bridge is retracted). External information is obtained from watchtowers and external cameras. Because of its location directly below the second sub turret and its concealment, it is unlikely to be a target for enemy aircraft. However, the possibility of being involved in an attack on the turret cannot be denied.
Wave-Motion Gun
Extra dimensional diversion weapon, re-equipped in violation of the pledge
The first refit Yamato is equipped with a “Dimensional Wave Implosion Emitter,” also known as a Wave-Motion Gun. The Wave-Motion Gun was supposed to be sealed under a pledge between Starsha, Queen of Iscandar, and Juzo Okita, the first captain of Yamato, who wished to permanently abandon the weapon. It was disabled on the way back from Iscandar in order to mount the “Cosmo Reverse System.”
However, the Earth Federation government has not honored the pledge made to Iscandar, disregarding it as, “Nothing more than a verbal promise made by the captain of a space battleship on his own initiative.” Thus, the “Wave-Motion Gun Fleet Concept” was implemented and Yamato was ordered to return to the battle line. Its Wave-Motion Gun was re-equipped due to Shiro Sanada’s painful decision.
As past examples show, the Wave-Motion Gun has unparalleled destructive power. The theory is that as the extra-dimensional energy deployed in the core of the Wave Engine is radiated externally through the muzzle at the bow, it becomes “another universe” and tears through the three-dimensional universe as it is restored to a state smaller than that of elementary particles. In this process, it becomes a micro black hole due to the extreme difference in size and mass, shining brightly while losing its mass. The enormous amount of energy released destroys any matter in the line of fire.
Wave-Motion Gun muzzle
When re-equipping the Wave-MotionGun, the upper part of the muzzle was changed to a smooth, flat surface. The shutter, located behind the rifling structure, is a stepped vane shutter consisting of 27 blades. The diameter of the shutter is 2.5m.
Wave-Motion Gun
A weapon that is both “forbidden” and a “trump card”
At the time of Yamato‘s refit, the Andromeda class and dreadnought class, which were already in service, were equipped with the Diffusion Wave-Motion Gun, a new generation of Wave-Motion Gun. It can fire in both diffuse and focused modes. Although its operational flexibility is high, Yamato‘s version is designed to be used exclusively in the focusing mode, though minor modifications were installed during the refit.
Thus, the “forbidden” Wave-Motion Gun was re-equipped, breaking Juzo Okita’s pledge with Iscandar. On the 11th planet, it stopped the “Legionnaire Cannon,” and later it led to the “Transit Wave-Motion Gun,” the “trump card” against the White Comet.
Wave-Motion Gun/Wave-Motion Engine
Wave Engine and Wave Gun in separate sections
The shape of the bow and stern makes it appear that the integrated system of the Wave-Motion Gun and the Wave-Motion Engine penetrates through the hull of Yamato. In reality, however, they are separate devices, connected by conduction pipes. This is illustrated in the conceptual diagram on the right, where the Wave Gun side is the “Cannon Section” and the Wave Engine side is the “Hot Section.”
Under normal conditions, the first to third full-wave rectification circuits are not connected, and the Wave Gun cannot be fired. Considering the power of Wave-Motion Guns, it is only natural that they are controlled more strictly than conventional weapons. Therefore, many other safety devices are set up in addition to the full-wave rectification circuit.
The Wave Engine, on the other hand, is in operation except when the ship is stopped, just after launching, or in a special foreign space. It enables the operation of not only the main propulsion system but also equipment such as shock cannons and wave barriers. In the figure, the auxiliary engine is directly connected to the wave core, but it also functions by itself. It is effectively used in situations where the Wave Engine cannot be used, or for initial acceleration.
Wave-Motion Gun
The “Cannon Section,” where the Wave-Motion Gun is located, is small compared to the “Hot Section” of the Wave-Motion Engine. It consists of the plunger bolt, pressure chamber, first to third full-wave rectifier circuits, Wave Gun muzzle, first and second locking fixtures, and muzzle closing valves. The transmission pipe from the Wave Engine is connected to the pressure chamber, and the plunger bolt is a separate structure.
Wave-Motion Engine
The term “Wave Engine” has a broad meaning, In a narrow sense, it refers only to the propulsion system at the stern, but in a broader sense, it encompasses the forward end of the engine room to the end of the main propulsion system. In the diagram on the previous page, it stretches from the co-fuel prime mover (built into the wave core) to the main nozzle. The first to third preliminary rectifier circuits (energy condensers) are included in the “Hot Section.”
Wave-Motion Gun
The bow gun room, which can be called the Wave-Motion Gun itself
The Wave-Motion Gun is located in the bow. The Wave Engine, its power source, is located at the stern. (Also, the Wave Gun room is orange, the same color as the Wave Engine.) It is often assumed that the Wave-Motion Gun system occupies the entire length of Yamato from the bow to the stern. In fact, this is not the case. The connection between them is bypassed by two wave energy transmission tubes that pass directly under the first deck. (This is natural, since otherwise it would be difficult to place other compartments and equipment).
The Wave Gun room is a manned section located directly behind the muzzle. The Wave Energy transfer tube reaches the pressure chamber, and the plunger bolt comes into contact with the pressure chamber when the Wave-Motion Gun is fired. Together with the muzzle, this system can be called the Wave Gun itself.
Another feature of the Wave Gun room is that it is equipped with a physical safety device for the gun. In particular, the pressure chamber and the plunger bolt cannot come into contact unless the final safety (a cross-shaped “piston”) in the pressure chamber is released. This is an almost foolproof safety device.
Bow Wave Gun Room
The Wave Gun room consists of a “pressure chamber,” which is the chamber of the wave gun, and an “entry bolt,” which corresponds to the firing pin. As can be seen from the fact that consoles are placed on both sides, this is a manned section. The entrance and exit are located below the plunger bolt, but a different route is used to access the muzzle.
Transit Wave-Motion Gun
A “super” Wave-Motion Gun using an anti-wave lattice
Yamato‘s Wave-Motion Gun has such tremendous destructive power that it can be described as an anti-planetary weapon. Therefore, it is also a difficult weapon to use. The Earth Federation government, still desiring the Wave-Motion gun for the defense of Earth, decided to break the pledge between Juzo Okita, the first captain of Yamato, and Starsha, the queen of Iscandar, and to draft a “Wave-Motion Gun Fleet Concept.” They proceeded with the development and production of Wave-Motion Gun-equipped ships such as the Andromeda-class and Dreadnought-class.
When the Battle of Gatlantis broke out in 2202, the Wave Gun Fleet showed great power against the Gatlantis fleet. However, Gatlantis’ base of operations, the Comet Empire, was completely impenetrable. The Earth Federation Forces space fleet suffered serious damage from the counterattack.
Immediately after this, Yamato‘s Transit Wave-Motion Gun became the trump card against the Comet Empire. The Transit Wave-Motion Gun, invented by Shiro Sanada, was able to release energy many times over by using the anti-wave lattice, which was inseparable from the wave core, as a booster.
Transit Wave-Motion Gun Equipment
The Transit Wave-Motion Gun does not exist as a weapon with such a name. It is an anti-wave lattice mixed with the Wave Engine to become a booster. The Transit Wave-Motion Gun could be used only once by “entangling” the Wave-Motion Gun with this booster. Naturally, the control system was the same as that of the Wave Gun, fired from the Tactical Commander’s Combat Command Seat on the first bridge.
Wave Core and Anti-Wave Lattice
The anti-wave lattice was designed by Klaus Keyman, who was aboard Yamato as an observer. Under normal circumstances, the anti-wave lattice is harmless, but it could stop and even destroy the Wave Engine when activated by a remote-control device. Once installed, the anti-wave lattice could no longer be removed from the wave core. The reason the first firing of the Transit Wave-Motion Gun failed was because the anti-wave lattice was activated by the remote control device.
Transit Wave-Motion Gun
Problems and Solutions
Klaus Keyman’s anti-wave lattice mixed with Yamato‘s Wave Engine was used in reverse, enhancing the emission energy of the Wave-Motion Gun by many orders of magnitude. The Transit Wave-Motion Gun was to be a trump card against the Comet Empire City, which even the Wave-Motion Gun fleet could not match, but there was a problem.
It could only be fired once because the anti-wave lattice would “burn out” when used. The Wave-Motion Gun itself would be damaged, but the most serious problem was that Yamato would suffer major damage (at worst, being destroyed) from the energy radiation that accompanied the firing.
Even the Transit Wave-Motion Gun could not neutralize the center of the Comet Empire City (the “Ark of Destruction”), so the loss of Yamato‘s ability to continue fighting had to be avoided. The damage to Yamato‘s main body caused by energy radiation seemed unavoidable, but the Neu Deusula provided by Abelt Dessler, the former leader of Garmillas, solved this problem and protected Yamato.
Firing sequence (1)
The anti-wave lattice changes the flow of wave energy in a different direction, a system in which energy extraction could be adjusted from zero to tens of thousands of times. The lattice incorporated in Yamato‘s Wave Engine created the appearance of a light sphere. This was a beacon that visualized the flow of waves, not the anti-wave lattice itself. The reason the first firing was forcibly stopped was because energy extraction was reduced to zero by the anti-wave lattice.
Firing sequence (2)
The reason Yamato was not severely damaged by the Transit Wave-Motion Gun, which had enormous energy radiation, was due to the Neu Deusula being positioned in front of the ship. Neu Deusula served as a barrier between Yamato and the Transit Wave-Motion Gun’s light sphere. It is also pointed out that the Neu Deusula‘s unique bow and stern power grid formation may have functioned as a dimensional barrier.