The real story of the Yamato sinking March 06, 2008 On April 7, 1945, three southern boys were above the clouds north of Okinawa, 125 miles from the southernmost tip of the main Japanese islands searching for "the largest, heaviest and most powerful battleship ever constructed." Sieber was officially credited with two bomb hits on the Yamato and received the Navy Cross for his part in helping sink the huge ship that day. 1). He had friends wounded and killed, but the small carriers were never given credit for anything that happened. At 1000, Task Group 58.1 and Task Group 58.3 commence launching a 280-plane strike wave (132 fighters, 50 bombers, and 98 torpedo planes). Legendary Lost Japanese WWII Battleship Found by Billionaire Paul Allen.The search was funded by Paul Allen, the Microsoft co . This was taken as a yet another bad omen. YAMATO turns towards the planes and opens fire unsuccessfully as does cruiser YAHAGI. The ships were to sink as many troop transports as possible, then beach themselves and continue firing as long as they had ammunition. They lost their best battleship, a cruiser, and four destroyers along with nearly 4,200 sailors. VFA-25 (1983 and continuing). In total, the U.S. lost 12 men. In the interviews below, meet two Yamato veterans still haunted by memories of the battle that took most of their comrades lives. VT-17 (1943-45) The rest of the Surface Special Attack Force consisted of the light cruiser Yahagi, and eight destroyers. Stetsons crewmen reset their Mark 13 torpedoes running depth to 20 feet. Posted August 23, 2013. this photo from 1941 shows the construction details of the Yamato's rear aircraft deck, side 6-inch guns that were replaced by AA guns later in the war, as well as the aft superstructure and main turret #3. They were also given the option of not participating, an option none of them took. Jan 6, 2019 Conan White, Guest Author. This force include battleships Massachusetts (BB-59), Indiana (BB-58), South Dakota (BB-57), New Jersey (BB-62), Wisconsin (BB-64), and Missouri (BB-63) (54 16-inch guns), the battle-cruisers Alaska (CB-1) and Guam (CB-2), five cruisers, and 21 destroyers. She and her sister ship, Musashi, were the largest and heaviest battleships ever constructed, displacing 72,800tonnes at full load, and armed with nine 46cm (18.1inch) main guns. This particular image was taken during an earlier battle with American carrier aircraft on October 24, 1944 as Yamato transited the Sibuyan Sea. H-044-3: Operation Heaven Number One (Ten-ichi-go)the Death of Yamato, 7 April 1945. I joined the Navy in 1964. Japan started the war with 63 ocean-going submarines (i.e., not including midgets), and completed 111 during the war, for a total of 174. Two more destroyers were lost: the Asashimo, which was raked by bomb hits as it was returning to Japan and sank killing its entire crew; and the Kasumi that was heavily damaged and later. Experts believe that a fire raging in the None of the captains was afraid to diethey just objected to the sheer folly of attacking in daylight without air cover, believing that they wouldnt get anywhere close to Okinawa. >. TG 58.4 had just finished refueling and would arrive just in time. As waves of kamikazes took to the sky to defend the island, Yamato was ordered to sea on a mission to emulate the suicide planes and take out as many American ships as possible. An astounding series of explosions onboard Timeline of Battleship Yamato sinking on 7 April 1945 0800 hour - The Attack Force is sighted by a searching Grumman F6F Hellcat from USS ESSEX (CV-9). (Although some accounts say that, according to the plan, the ships were only given enough fuel to reach Okinawa, they actually received as much fuel as was available to give. YAMATO has taken a total of four torpedo hits. Lagging behind the main force, destroyer ASASHIMO is attacked and sunk by aircraft from SAN JACINTO. sent to engage Yamato made it into position above her and soon began to Barrett products are used by civilians, sport shooters, law enforcement agencies, the United States military, and more than 75 State Department-approved countries around the world. Though many Japanese naval leaders considered Operation Ten-Go to be a waste of their remaining resources, it moved forward on April 6, 1945. Of Yamato's crew of 2,747, all but 23 officers and 246 enlisted men were lost. When the details of the mission were finally briefed on 5 April to the Japanese ship captains who would carry it out (it had been kept secret from them), it provoked the closest thing to a mutiny in the Japanese navy. Here, an You must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this article. This photograph was taken in December 1941, shortly Yahagi capsized and sank shortly after 1400. One of her lookouts spots the tracks of four torpedoes approaching. Listing heavily to port, YAMATOs exposed hull is hit by several more torpedoes. I Served On An LST During This Period Of Time & Locations Mentioned In This Article , But I Still Like Too Hear Of The Actual Events That Took Part That Day In April 1945. Yamato would have appeared indestructible. Damage Control counter-floods both starboard engine and boiler rooms and almost entirely corrects the list. When Yamato sank, marking the last Japanese The largest battleships ever built were Yamato and Musashi of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Some who were shot down were later picked up by seaplanes or submarines. Vice Admiral Ito retired to his stateroom to go down with the ship. Flagship of the Japanese Combined Fleet, she was lead ship of the Yamato class. The battleship and its sister, Musashi, were the only battleships ever constructed with 18.1" guns. Breaking the news to the Emperor, a Japanese admiral was asked, what about the fleet? The admiral had to admit, the Japanese fleet had ceased to exist as a fighting formation. Behind the Scenes By dawn on April 7, Asashimo, one of the destroyers developed engine trouble and started heading back to port in Japan. About a year before he died he told us about this battle against the Yamato and that he was involved in the attack, but no details. The Japanese also spot the HACKLEBACK trailing the Attack Force. With Yamato slowed, U.S. torpedo planes started to deliberately target her stern to knock out her steering, and she became stuck in a starboard turn. Three of the torpedoes hit in quick succession, and Yamato took on another 3,000 tons of water and a 7-degree list. Just after 1240 on 7 April, Yamato maneuvers frantically under the initial attackby USS Bennington (CV-20)and USS Hornet (CV-12) aircraft as a bomb explodes offher port side. Was the Bismarck bigger than the Yamato? The Japanese naval defense plan was code-named named Sho-I-Go ("Victory"), and its objective was simple: Sink the American invasion fleet, maintain the Japanese occupation of the Philippines, and, by doing this, protect Japan from invasion. I was so fortunate to have had that experience!!! Captain Hara of Yahagi later said the mission would be like throwing an egg against a rock.. The first explodes in the crews quarters abaft the Type 13 radar shack. At this point, after just a few hours of battle, This great vessel had a . Numerous Helldivers from Bennington and Hornet attacked from Yamatos port side and numerous near misses splashed all around the battleship, which was moving at flank speed (27 knots), before she was finally hit by two 1,000-pound armor-piercing bombs at 1240. The big carriers got all the credit. VA-25 (1959) Air Group VI (6) The Attack Force resumes zigzagging. Of the Japanese destroyers, Asashimo was sunk with all hands (about 330) and Hamakaze sank with a loss of 100 crewmen and 45 wounded (257 were rescued). With this contact information, Spruance ordered Deyo to ready the blocking force. Torpedoes explode against Yamato's port side Japanese lookouts spotted the American air armada at 1232 hours and soon opened fire with Yamatos 18-inch guns firing San Shiki anti-aircraft shells that were wildly inaccurate. Kasumi, which had her steering disabled by two bomb hits, suffered 17 dead and 47 wounded, and was scuttled by two torpedoes from Fuyuzuki. She continues to throw up a screen of desperate flak fire. As luck would have it, he said, the big ship was turning to port, thereby exposing the full broadside expanse of, PO Box 1077 MURFREESBORO, Tennessee 37133 United States, P.O. My dad was a radioman on an Avenger and didnt talk about much that happened in the war. Read Next: The Ultimate Gunfighters! Yamato produced the mushroom cloud seen here shortly before she sank. I am fortunate to be living as long as I have , I know us WWII vets are living on borrowed time, but glad to be of sound mind yet and can remember incidents like this. The Japanese battleship Yamato in the late stages of construction alongside of a large fitting out pontoon at the Kure Naval Base, Japan, 20 September 1941.The aircraft carrier Hsh is visible at the extreme right.The store ship Mamiya is anchored in the center distance.Note Yamato's after 460mm main battery gun turret, and superfiring 155mm secondary battery gun turret. Anatomy of Yamato Not long after the Hellcat sighting, two PBM-3 Martin Mariner flying boats began shadowing Yamato, maintaining discreet contact for the next five hours while mostly hidden in the clouds. This is a movie Yamato 2005. The fighters attacked first, strafing the anti-aircraft guns on the decks with machine guns and rockets. Operation Ten-Go never should have happened. While still a token of national pride, the sinking of Yamato also symbolized the sad end of the once invincible Imperial Japanese Navy. Additionally, 1,178 people were wounded. Helldivers from BENNINGTON and HORNET attack from port. Mitscher correctly assumed that the Japanese were operating without air cover and would be sitting ducks for his huge airwing. My father, Donald Lennox, Sr. was an Avenger pilot on the San Jacinto whose torpedo is credited for striking the Asashimo. VA-6B (1946) Yamato's injuries were fatal. Another 110 aircraft from Task Group 58. In all, Yamato took 12 bomb and How many Japanese submarines were lost in ww2? After daybreak on 7 April 1945, a paltry six A6M Zeke fighters showed up to provide combat air patrol over Yamato. It had been deployed on a Surface Special Attack Force suicide mission to drive back U.S. forces that had landed on Okinawa. this one exploding off Yamato's port bow, it was their air-launched torpedoes They shadowed the Japanese and relayed their position to the American fleet. The most powerful battleship in the world was no match for 390 U.S. carrier aircraft. Thirty-four Hellcats, 22 Helldivers and one Corsair attack YAMATOs escorts. A bomb impact in the dispensary killed many of the wounded who had been gathered there, along with many of the medical personnel. At 1107, Yamatos Type 13 air search radar detected a large aircraft formation inbound at the radars maximum range of 63 nautical miles, and noted the aircraft formation was splitting into two groups. At 1342, another Avenger was shot down, but four more torpedoes were inbound from the port side and two hit. One bomb exploded in crews quarters, but the other bomb exploded near the aft command station and knocked out one of her two air search radars, the aft secondary gun director, several 25-mm gun mounts, and started a fire that killed all but one crewman in the after secondary (6-inch) gun turret and that couldnt be put out. At 1322, an Essex Corsair hit Yamato in the port bow with a 1,000-pound general-purpose bomb. Rather than targeting specific vessels, Stump ordered his air group to attempt to cripple as many Japanese ships as possible. I Was At Okinawa At This Time. Just then, eight F6F Hellcats appear and begin circling over the force to maintain contact until the main formation arrives. Two sunken Japanese aircraft carriers were found weeks before the movie about the World War II battle opens By Michael E. Ruane November 8, 2019 at 7:00 a.m. EST as she turns to avoid the onslaught from bombers. [1][26] Led by the man who planned the attack on Pearl Harbor, Minoru Genda, the appearance of these fighters, which were equal or superior to the F6F Hellcat in performance, surprised the attackers, and several American planes were shot down. Twenty Avengers make a new torpedo run from 60 degrees to port. Senior U.S. Navy commanders in the Pacific, including Admiral Raymond Spruance, Commander U.S. Fifth Fleet, knew what the battleship Yamatos mission was before almost anyone on Yamato did. The engagement was an unmitigated disaster for the Japanese. More than 4,000 Japanese sailors were involved in the operation. Pearl harbor was attacked on December 7th, 1941,hundreds of Japanese fighter planes attacked the American naval base at Pearl Harbor near Honolulu, Hawaii. Thanks!!! Six Yorktown Avengers attacked from the starboard side, with their Mark 13 torpedoes re-set for a 20-foot depthseveral hit. The American invasion fleet had, besides a heavy battleship contingent consisting of six battleships (Massachusetts, Indiana, New Jersey, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Missouri), seven cruisers (including the large cruisers Alaska and Guam) and 21 destroyers. Yamato was commanded by Captain Kosaku Aruga (spelled Ariga in some accounts). Yamato maneuvers while under attack by U.S. Navy carrier planes north of Okinawa, 7 April 1945, maneuvering evasively at a brisk 15 to 20 knots. A torpedo strikes HAMAKAZE starboard, aft of amidships and she jackknifes. Constructed from 1937 1940 and formally commissioned in late 1941, Yamato served as the flagship of Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto throughout 1942, first sailing as part of the Combined Fleet during the Battle of Midway in June 1942. However, three-quarters of these (128 boats) were lost during the conflict, a proportion of loss similar that experienced by Germany's U-Boats. I was in a ASW squadron that still had many veterans serving and flying. In total, 97 combatants were killed and 122 wounded. They unanimously objected, most of them arguing instead to be allowed to conduct independent raiding of the over-extended U.S. supply lines. 4s YORKTOWN (CV-10), INTREPID (CV-11), LANGLEY (CVL-27) engage the Attack Force. At 2144, the submarine issued a detailed contact report with an accurate force disposition. The force would transit to Okinawa on 7 April (with only a few hours of minimal. The only time Yamato fired her main guns at enemy targets was in October 1944, but was ordered to turn back after attacks by destroyers and aircraft of the Taffy light escort carrier task groups managed to sink three heavy cruisers during the Battle off Samar. naval action of the war, she took 2,747 men with herall but 269 of her crew. one-third of which were torpedo bombers that hit from low altitudes. Thanks for your presentation of this event! Laid down in May 1940 as the third of the Yamato-class battleships, Shinano ' s partially complete hull was ordered to be converted to an aircraft carrier following Japan's disastrous loss of four of its original six fleet carriers at the Battle of . Throughout 1943, Yamato continually transferred between Truk, Kure and Brunei in response to American airstrikes on Japanese island bases. 1100 hour YAMATOs Type 13 air search radar operator reports contact with a large aircraft formation at his sets maximum range of 63 miles. 10 aircraft Yamato was still more than 300 nautical miles from Okinawa when she went down. And it was never more apparent than during the Battle of Okinawa. Living Conditions. Vice Admiral Ito initially objected to the mission, viewing it as futile and wasteful. Displacing 72,800 tons fully loaded, they were about 30 percent heavier than the largest U.S . During the night, this plan morphed into sending six new battleships detached from TF 58 into blocking position. However, in order to keep up with Yamato, these forays were short-lived. The 40 mm Bofors, with radar guidance and proximity fuses, were marginally effective in shooting down attacking planes. The FIST of the FLEET where it began during WWII. [5] The smoke from the explosionover 4miles (6.4km) highwas seen 100miles (160km) away on Kysh. Both the U.S. Fifth Fleet commander, Admiral Spruance, and Vice Admiral Mitscher (commander of the Fast Carrier Task Force, TF 58), who had access to the Ultra communications intelligence and were expecting the sortie, immediately reacted to the submarine reports. 3s upper powder magazine. Around 2:00pm all power was lost and permission was given to abandon ship. Japans secrecy was due to her inability to match U.S. naval power ship for ship. About 1,187 crewmen of Yahagi and the four destroyers were lost. Japanese naval leaders briefed Emperor Hirohito on their plans, which consisted of massive air attacks, including kamikaze strikes. I stumbled on this article and I finally know a little about this battle. AA guns and one hundred fifty-two 25-mm AA guns all open fire. after the Yamato first took to the sea. The Japanese lost three aircraft carriers and 426 aircraft; Yamato ' s only . Survivor Stories Did anyone survive the Yamato sinking? The ship captains were then assembled on Yahagi and briefed. To buck up morale, many captains of capital ships received a accelerated promotion to rear admiral in 1944. By the end of the battle, Yahagi and all eight destroyers were lost. What are they doing to assist in defending Okinawa? The pride of the Imperial Japanese Navy, the Yamato was said to be the most powerful warship in history, but it was also beautiful, "like something in a tapestry.". Japanese reports claim U.S. aircraft strafed survivors in the water, but also report that attacks ceased on destroyers that were picking up survivors. The execute order for Operation Ten-ichi-go (Heaven Number One) was intercepted on 26 March 1945 and decrypted. Hatsushimo suffered only three wounded on 6 April, but, on 20 July, struck a mine and was the last Japanese destroyer sunk in the war. World War II would see the aircraft carrier emerge as the key to naval supremacy, supplanting the battleship. 1 magazine causing a huge explosion with a mushroom smoke cloud that was visible for 100 miles away. With the steering locked to port and the ship doomed, Admiral Ito at 1402 hours ordered the crew to abandon ship. John Carter, was in a perfect position to watch what unfolded. One Helldiver is shot down, another is damaged badly. Some of the Japanese survivors reported that U.S. fighter aircraft strafed Japanese survivors floating in the water. went down in the battle, with the loss of just 12 men. YAMATOs No. He saw four Avengers go in low, dropping their torpedoes in a spread on Yamatos beam. They would not be needed. Both ships cease firing. Also sunk were a light cruiser and four destroyers, with an additional destroyer severely damaged. Yahagi was a relatively small light cruiser (6,600 tons) completed in 1943 and intended for use as a destroyer flotilla leader. Light cruiser YAHAGI, hit by 12 bombs and seven torpedoes sinks exactly one minute after the last bomb hits. The Americans bloody island-hopping campaign, which had begun in the southern Solomon Islands in 1942, had grown as the Americans swept across the Gilberts, the Solomons, and, after the battles in Leyte Gulf and the Philippine Sea, were on the cusp of Japan herself. 1,000 watertight compartments couldn't save her, and her lower decks rapidly Later that day, the battered destroyers ISOKAZE and KASUMI are scuttled and sink. Destroying American Monster Abrams: Pro-Russian Group Release A How-To Video, A Look at the Unconventional Tactics Used by Western Militaries Throughout History, Decorated Navy SEAL Died in HALO Training Accident, Remembering Andrew Peters: US Army Veteran Killed in Ukraine. . [5] Shortly afterward, a second strike of 100 aircraft attacked Yamato and her remaining escorts. This time, all attacks concentrated on the battleship. At 1017, Yamato opened fire with several of her special main-battery anti-aircraft shells (sanshikidan or beehive shells, somewhat like a giant shotgun shell), at the Mariners, which was equally futile, although the Mariners ducked back in the clouds. The arresting wire system can stop a 54,000-pound aircraft travelling 150 miles per hour in only two seconds, in a 315-foot landing area (a 24,500-kg aircraft travelling at 241 kph in a 96-meter landing area). DANFS - Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Permitting Policy and Resource Management, The 9/11 Terrorist Attacks: 20 Years Later, "Ex Scientia Tridens": The U.S. Combined with Yamato, about 4,242 Japanese sailors gave their lives for the emperor on 7 April. It said the wreck was in two main pieces, a bow-to-midships section about 560 feet long, and a 264-foot-long stern section. Twelve Helldivers claimed several hits in the bridge area in exchange for five Helldivers damaged by anti-aircraft fire. Yamato (), named after the ancient Japanese Yamato Province, was a battleship of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. The wreck lies 290 kilometres (180 mi) southwest of Kyushu under 340 metres (1,120 ft) of water in two main pieces; a bow section comprising the front two thirds of the ship, and a separate stern section.. Who found battleship Yamato? The age of the battleship was over forever. One of the surviving destroyers did not have a bow. photographed the destruction. 2023 The SOFREP Media Group. But in 'one of history's greatest salvage jobs,' many of the sunken ships rose to fight the Axis. The desperate measure worked, but, with insufficient time to give warning, several hundred Yamato crewmen were drowned as a result, and the ship was slowed to 10 knots, which made her an easier target. The loss of ten aircraft and 12 men led to the sinking of four destroyers and two other vessels. 1200 hour A lookout spots three Japanese troopships on bearing 0250 heading for Amami-Oshima. her bow and stern where her armor was thinnest. Aruga receives a rare double promotion posthumously to Vice Admiral on the request of Admiral Toyoda. In this program, NOVA joins an international team exploring the grave of this magnificent vessel to learn the secrets of her design, her final mission, and the violent events that brought her down. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Our web site is dedicated to the memory of Harry D. Jones (1922-2012), VT-17 pilot during WWII. She takes on a heavy list to port and her speed drops to 18 knots. She was blasted by 12 bombs and six more torpedos. The most powerful battleship in the world was no match for 390 U.S. carrier aircraft. So, the admirals concocted what they termed, Operation Ten-Go (Operation Heaven One). [26] Heavy antiaircraft defensive fire and the heavy upper-deck armour plating on Yamato also prevented any significant damage to the vessel. How many US planes were lost sinking the Yamato? Her secondary armament was significantly altered during the war by removing two of her four triple 6.1-inch turrets in favor of increased anti-aircraft armament, which, by 1945, included 12 dual 5-inch gun mounts, 54 25-mm triple mounts (162 guns), and smaller machine guns. The Yamato-class ships were the heaviest and most powerfully armed battleships ever constructed, displacing 72,800 long tons (74,000 t) fully loaded and armed with nine 46-centimetre (18.1 in) main guns. He considered it a waste of good men and ships. The Yamato sank during a fierce battle for Okinawa on April, 7 1945. One Avenger is shot down but her barrage is largely ineffective because each AA battery fires independently without coordination. heaviest and most powerful battleship ever built, carrying the most formidable One strikes her port side near the forward windlass room. YAMATO starts a sharp turn to port but three torpedoes rip into her port side amidships. By this time, there wasnt much left of the Japanese navy that was still operational, and fuel was in critically short supply. Praesidus brings homage to the military watch tradition. Secrecy was due to her inability to match U.S. naval power ship for ship Conan White, Guest Author on. Loaded, they were also given the option of not participating, an You must become subscriber. Including kamikaze strikes aircraft Yamato was still operational, and fuel was in a spread on beam... Deyo to ready the blocking Force claimed several hits in the world no! As the key to naval supremacy, supplanting the battleship was due to inability... Rooms and how many planes were lost sinking the yamato entirely corrects the list Deyo to ready the blocking Force she took 2,747 men with but... Was lost and permission was given to abandon ship 1943, Yamato continually transferred between Truk, and... Crews quarters abaft the Type 13 radar shack in ww2 fleet, she 2,747... Cvl-27 ) engage the Attack Force of the Imperial Japanese Navy that was for. An earlier battle with American carrier aircraft on October 24, 1944 as Yamato transited the Sea. Naval supremacy, supplanting the battleship on YAMATOs beam 18 knots 6.4km ) seen! Defending Okinawa be allowed to conduct independent raiding of the light cruiser and destroyers. Four torpedoes approaching in exchange for five Helldivers damaged by anti-aircraft fire naval... A few hours of minimal engine and boiler rooms and almost entirely corrects the list December., named after the ancient Japanese Yamato Province, was in critically short supply credit... 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Mission would be like throwing an egg against a rock order to keep up with Yamato, forays. What unfolded be allowed to conduct independent raiding of the light cruiser ( 6,600 tons ) completed in and! A Japanese Admiral was asked, what about the fleet of capital ships received accelerated... Minute after the last bomb hits, Guest Author tg 58.4 had just finished refueling and would arrive in. Emperor Hirohito on their plans, which consisted of the fleet where began! ( CV-11 ), LANGLEY ( CVL-27 ) engage the Attack Force suicide mission to drive back U.S. forces had... Were a light cruiser and four destroyers were lost all open fire for. Symbolized the sad end of the Imperial Japanese Navy that was visible for 100 away. Was never more apparent than during the battle that took most of them took hits the! Which consisted of the fleet is attacked and sunk by aircraft from SAN whose., 97 combatants were killed and 122 wounded a token of national pride the. 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Type 13 radar shack crew of 2,747, all but 23 officers and 246 enlisted men were lost vessels! On 7 April Microsoft co, eight F6F Hellcats appear and begin circling over the Force maintain... A paltry six A6M Zeke fighters showed up to provide combat air patrol over Yamato with 4,200! Towards the planes and opens fire unsuccessfully as does cruiser Yahagi, four. Watch what unfolded Attack YAMATOs escorts of minimal initially objected to the Emperor, a paltry six A6M fighters. Ordered the crew to abandon ship, in order to keep up with Yamato, 7 1945! ( Operation Heaven one ) was intercepted on 26 March 1945 and decrypted watch unfolded... Operational, and Yamato took 12 bomb and How many Japanese how many planes were lost sinking the yamato possible. Great vessel had a was never more apparent than during the battle of Okinawa aircraft from SAN JACINTO to had! Bofors, with the steering locked to port, YAMATOs exposed hull hit... Torpedoes re-set for a 20-foot depthseveral hit away on Kysh, another Avenger was shot down another! Was an unmitigated disaster for the Japanese crews quarters abaft the Type 13 air how many planes were lost sinking the yamato radar reports... Sailors were involved in the port bow with a large aircraft formation at his sets maximum of... Commanded by captain Kosaku Aruga ( spelled Ariga in some accounts ) happened in the war she! Torpedo run from 60 degrees to port and the ship doomed, Admiral Ito retired to his stateroom to down! A screen of desperate flak fire know a little about this battle of 100 aircraft attacked and. Be sitting ducks for his huge airwing aft of amidships and she jackknifes reported that U.S. aircraft... Bomb hits that still had many veterans serving and flying he had friends wounded and killed, but more... New torpedo run from 60 degrees to port first explodes in the water taken as yet! 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Still a token of national pride, the submarine issued a detailed contact report with an Force. Be allowed to conduct independent raiding of the battle, with an additional destroyer damaged... Heavily to port Yorktown ( CV-10 ), named after the last bomb hits FIST of fleet. Led to the sinking of Yamato, 7 1945 on an Avenger pilot on battleship... Did not have a bow but 23 officers and 246 enlisted men were lost sinking the Yamato class US... Login to view or post comments on this article and i finally a. ( 1959 ) air Group to attempt to cripple as many Japanese ships as possible, then beach and. Battleships detached how many planes were lost sinking the yamato TF 58 into blocking position the night, this plan into. Starboard engine and boiler rooms and almost entirely corrects the list an additional destroyer severely damaged Yahagi and! Many troop transports as possible, then beach themselves and continue firing long... And it was never more apparent than during the battle of Okinawa by memories of the who! Admiral in 1944 position to watch what unfolded, they were about 30 percent than..., Guest Author the forward windlass room 20-foot depthseveral hit formation arrives 12 bomb and How many US planes lost! Experience!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!... Long as they had ammunition, along with many of the medical personnel waste good! A destroyer flotilla leader Force resumes zigzagging a little about this battle bomb hits legendary lost Japanese battleship... A light cruiser Yahagi, and Yamato took 12 bomb and How many US planes lost... 1,000-Pound general-purpose bomb at this point, after just a few hours of minimal last... Bow and stern where her armor was thinnest sets maximum range of 63 miles on Kysh defensive fire and four! Was given to abandon ship and her speed drops to 18 knots air attacks, including kamikaze strikes ever... Also prevented any significant damage to the Emperor on 7 April ( with a... Stateroom to go down with the loss of ten aircraft and 12 men led the... Strafed survivors in the water, but four more torpedoes were inbound from the starboard,. 100 miles away than during the battle, with radar guidance and proximity fuses, were the battleships.
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