Posted on 07/03/2006 8:42:25 AM PDT by GATOR NAVY
A Japanese museum has obtained a rare photo of Japan's World War Two battleship the Yamato shortly before it departed for the East China Sea, where it was sunk by US warplanes.
The aerial photo was taken by a US reconnaissance plane on April 6, 1945, off Tokuyama in Yamaguchi prefecture, western Japan, five hours before the Yamato made its final sortie.
The Yamato Museum in Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture, recently obtained a digital image of this photo, which is stored in the US National Archives in Washington.
The Yamato, the world's largest-ever battleship, sank on its way to Okinawa after being attacked by US naval aircraft on April 7, 1945.
The image shows the Yamato preparing for departure, and six other escort vessels, including the light cruiser Yahagi, which were anchored around the Yamato.
The Yamato was remodeled several times to counter US air attacks. A researcher says the picture is the first photo that clearly shows anti-aircraft guns installed near the Yamato's stern.
The Yamato Museum Director, Kazushige Todaka, says the photo is important since there is a lack of data on the battleship shortly before it sank.
45,000 tons was the literature tonnage of the Iowas. They were built under the "Escalator Clause" of the Washington Treaty and were in actuality around 66,000 tons displacement. In their modernized form they are closer to 70,000 tons. The North Carolina and South Dakota were actually 44,000 tons displacement. It was/is impossible for these ships of their size, protection and firepower to meet the Treaty criteria.
Is that a model of the ship today? That looks like there was a massive internal explosion.
Is that a model of the ship today? That looks like there was a massive internal explosion.
When Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast last year, the shipyard where the New York was under construction took some damage, but the ship herself escaped with only minor damage.
And if you ever watch the History Channel you will probably see the footage of HMS Barham capsized and exploding in the Med to represent this.
Then again, History channel uses the HMS Barham exploding footage to represent every WW2 ship sinking and the kamikaze narrowly missing an Essex-class carrier to represent every air-to-ship battle (to include Midway which predates both Essex's and kamikazes.)
While your at it please read about the seven night actions which took place at Guadalcanal.
-PJ
HAHAHAHAHAHA...I love that...I have been fascinated by naval history from I was around 10. And I have read just about any book on the subject and watched every show on it...and that is SO true!
Then again, History channel uses the HMS Barham exploding footage to represent every WW2 ship sinking and the kamikaze narrowly missing an Essex-class carrier to represent every air-to-ship battle (to include Midway which predates both Essex's and kamikazes.)
Yep, I always laugh when I see that.
Don't forget the U.S.S. Franklin is used to represent almost every burning carrier.
In your opinion, is that true of the Princeton, which was hit by a mine in the Gulf, about the same time the Tripoli was hit sometime in 1991?
Ya don't say. I'll be in Fall River in August I think I'll stop by and see this.
Excellent read. My favorite passage is where the much much larger Japanese force has just turned away. The American commander can't believe it as he had expected to be in the water, at best, by this time. One of his sailors yells out "God D**mit, they're getting away!"
For 159 & 160.
Remember, the only "one hit = one destroyer lost" is meaningfull ONLY for modern destroy/frigate/cruiser missile ships.
WWII destroyers and frigates (DE's) took dozens of shell hits, some two or kamakazi's and could still fight.
But post-WWII, the story is different: They became glass ships manned by steel men.
#175. Thanks for that clarification!!!!:-)
See, here the Princeton was dead: Cracked superstructure, busted shaft, no AAW capability for two hours after ONE mine explosion (under her) and a second a few hundred yards away.
USS Stark was out of action after ONE hit.
In this instance, I think our worst enemy to our combatant ships might lie with our liberal judges. Go to the link below and please see my post #47
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1659824/posts
Best Regards and Happy Fourth,
D2
:-)
Thank you.
And the very same to you and yours!
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