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'Bags' on Japanese Carriers?

Discussion in 'Naval Warfare in the Pacific' started by von Poop, Dec 20, 2013.

  1. von Poop

    von Poop Waspish

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    Asking for a friend (it's bugged him for a while apparently).
    I'm sure one of you Pacific-ites might be able to explain these fabric-looking things hanging off a Japanese Aircraft Carrier:
    Function, materials etc.?

    [​IMG]

    Blast protection/sand-bagging?
    If so, what are they made of?

    Cheers,
    ~Adam.
     
    von Poop, Dec 20, 2013
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  2. steverodgers801

    steverodgers801 Member

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    Sand would be too heavy so some type of material to resist bullets.
     
    steverodgers801, Dec 20, 2013
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  3. von Poop

    von Poop Waspish

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    Agreed on sand/heaviness, so what are they? I wondered at Kapok, but as there are some proper Pacific aficionados here I don't doubt someone will know.
     
    von Poop, Dec 20, 2013
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  4. mcoffee

    mcoffee Son-of-a-Gun(ner)

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    If I remember correctly, they are rolled futon mattresses used for protection.
     
    mcoffee, Dec 20, 2013
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  5. dbf

    dbf Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    dbf, Dec 20, 2013
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  6. von Poop

    von Poop Waspish

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    von Poop, Dec 20, 2013
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  7. Takao

    Takao Ace

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    AFAIK, they were either canvas or sisal mats rolled up as tightly as possible(the more layers, the better - just as a large enough book will stop a bullet). The idea was to cover the important, but little, or un-, armored areas of a warship(a carrier's island or cruiser's bridge) to protect against low velocity shrapnel. The practice did not last long, as the fire hazard was far greater than any protection they offered.
     
    Takao, Dec 20, 2013
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  8. mac_bolan00

    mac_bolan00 Member

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    i remember Togo's flagship Mikasa also had cotton pads during the Tsushima battle (russo-japanese war.)
     
    mac_bolan00, Sep 3, 2014
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