Aerial image of battleship Yamato discovered

NHK Online ^ | 03 Jul 06 | Unkn

[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.

[GATOR NAVY]

would have made a nice reef, only problem is where she went down, supposedly the bottom of the Marianna's Trench.

Actuall she is in the East China Sea about halfway between Kyushu and Okinawa. The wreck is in about 300 meters of water. Here's some pics

Yamato Wreck as Discovered

[edzo4]

there are two Battleships you can visit in MA the USS Massachusetts is in Fall River, and I think the USS Salem is in Quincy

[COEXERJ145]

The U.S.S. Salem is a heavy cruiser (CA) and not a battleship.

[Rummyfan]

The Mighy Mo is anchored at Pearl Harbor, right next to the Arizona Memorial. Had the opportunity to visit in 2003.

[Calvin Locke]

From what I remember, the Japanese figured out the largest ship that could go through the Panama Canal, then spec'd
ships to be able to [theoretically] outclass them.

However, during the battle of Leyte Gulf, a little destroyer escort chased the Yamato out of the battle for about
10 minutes with a salvo of 3 torps.

Germany had a love for big railway guns. I think I saw that the amount of steel used in just one could
have outfitted a tank battalion.

I think Japan seriously misjudged the amount of naval air power that the US was able to deploy against the
Japanese fleet. After all, once their carriers were no longer a threat, what ships did they think was
going to be high on the target list?

[BigCinBigD]

The Battleship Texas is moored as a war memorial in San Jancinto Texas. The newest Virginia class nuclear sub, the U.S.S. Texas SSN-775 will be commissioned 19 September in Galveston Texas.

[Defender2]

The U.S.S. Alabama is berthed in Mobile Bay, Alabama, The U.S.S. North Carolina is berthed in a bay on the North Carolina Coast, The U.S.S. Texas is berthed near Houston.

[COEXERJ145]

I've got to get back to Pearl Harbor one of these days. I've seen the Arizona but the Missouri wasn't there at the time.

[COEXERJ145]

U.S.S. North Carolina

U.S.S. Alabama

U.S.S. Massachusetts

[Defender2]

#45. I believe that was the U.S.S. Samuel B. Robertsthat chased theYamato away temprarily with that salvo of torpedoes.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Nice! Great link.

[edzo4]

yes they are so you can visit the symobolic begining and the end of the US's involvement in WWII in the pacific
the begining being the arizona memorial and the bombing of pearl harbor and the end being the USS missouri where the japanese signed the surrender

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

The Yamato was 65,027 tons displacement, with 460 mm (18.1") guns. It would have out gunned the Missouri 58,000 tons, 16" guns. The difference in caliber meant that the Yamato could have "stood off " from the Missouri and lobed shells with devastating effect.

The Missouri had radar assisted gun laying (mainly for ranging, the largest source of error in WW-II naval artillery), if she could have closed to 16" range in bad weather or at night, she could have probably bested the Yamato.

In the event, it was moot, as the Yamato was sunk by U.S. naval aircraft as soon as she put to sea. Some historians feel that she was on suicide mission; for the Yamato to have survived the war would have been a severe embarrassment for the Imperial Navy.

[Frank_Discussion]

If I ever get that way, I'd love to board them.

[Defender2]

#41. That's right, She(Yamato) was lost on her suicidal run to Okinawa, took alot of aerial torpedoes dropped by TBF Avengers from the U.S. Carriers.

[Egon]

The top one is the Yamato redesigned for 2199.

[sionnsar]

I'd really like to see the Iowa become a Museum Ship.

Me too!

[Larry Lucido]

What is the closest thing the Navy has to a battleship now? A destroyer?

[Frank_Discussion]

I'm loking forward to it. As for the museum, I've had the privelige of working with the restoration crew a few times. I'd recommend that to anyone who like to get their hands dirty once in a while. It's quite an experience.

[COEXERJ145]

The Yamato was 65,027 tons displacement, with 460 mm (18.1") guns. It would have out gunned the Missouri 58,000 tons, 16" guns. The difference in caliber meant that the Yamato could have "stood off " from the Missouri and lobed shells with devastating effect.

The Iowa class weighted around 45,000 tons but in an emergency could be loaded up to 58,000 tons. At long range, the penetration power of the 16" and 18" shells was almost identical. Only at close range did the Yamato have the advantage. Since the Iowas could use its fire control radar to stay at long range and were 6+ knots faster, the odds would not favor the Yamato.