56578
During reading of some Japanese Wikipedia articles (e.g.
[北上](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%8C%97%E4%B8%8A_\(%E8%BB%BD%E5%B7%A1%E6%B4%8B%E8%89%A6\)
"北上 \(軽巡洋艦\)"),
[重雷装艦](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%87%8D%E9%9B%B7%E8%A3%85%E8%89%A6)) I
encountered the compound 雷装｛らいそう｝, which I have been unable to find a definite
explanation of.

In their descriptive texts you will find a lot of mentions of 魚雷｛ぎょらい｝.
However, it seems that they (北上 and related ships) are a different type of
torpedo cruiser, since a torpedo cruiser generally gets called
水雷巡洋艦｛すいらいじゅんようかん｝. The Wikipedia text on 重雷装艦｛じゅうらいそうかん｝ seems to indicate
these were remodelled torpedo cruisers into light torpedo cruisers. Did I
understand that correctly?

But that still leaves the question open: is 雷装 a synonym for 魚雷, maybe in a
similar style how 魚雷 took over from 魚形水雷｛ぎょけいすいらい｝?

Any additional hints or explanations about etymology very much appreciated.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-11T09:41:42.697
56576
2018-02-11T12:40:15.107
2018-02-11T09:47:31.667
685
685
question
meaning words kanji etymology history
Is 雷装 a synonym for 魚雷?
No, it's not a synonym.

雷装 is short for 魚雷装備 or 雷撃装備, torpedo-attached/rigged/equipped/mounted.
According to Wikipedia, Kitakami was originally built as a 軽巡洋艦, light crusing
ship (not torpedo cruiser). In August-September 1942, they converted it into
重雷装艦, heavy torpedo-attached ship (removed 3 main guns, rigged with 40 torpedo
launcher).

  * 地雷 : land mine
  * 水雷 : underwater bomb
  * 機雷 : short for 機械水雷, machine underwater bomb, naval mine
  * 魚雷 : short for 魚形水雷, fish-shaped underwater bomb, torpedo
  * 雷撃 : 攻撃 by using 魚雷 , torpedo attack
  * 装備 : equipment, (act of) equipping or equipped
  * 装備する : to equip, to rig, to mount
  * 雷装 : short for 魚雷装備 or 雷撃装備, torpedo-equipping or torpedo-equipped
  * 爆弾 : bomb
  * 爆撃 : aerial bombing
  * 爆装 : short for 爆撃装備, aerial-bomb-equipping or aerial-bomb-equipped
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-11T12:40:15.107
56578
2018-02-11T12:40:15.107
3506
56576
answer