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Wartime Careers © 1973 Masataka Chihaya Profile Publications Ltd. Although the predominance of the battleship had been overshadowed, ironically, by the brilliant achievements of its own naval air arm by the time the Yamato was commissioned, the Japanese Navy still placed full confidence in the newly-completed battleship. She joined the 1st Battleship Division (consisting of the Nagato and Mutsu until then) immediately after her commissioning and started vigorous training. On 12 February 1942 she hoisted the Admiral's flag of Admiral lsoroku Yamamoto, Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet, as his flagship. When Admiral Yamamoto launched a wide-ranging attack upon Midway Island in June of the same year, she also participated in the battle as his flagship. As the operation ended in a complete failure, she made port in the Inland Sea with her officers and men broken-hearted at their first serious defeat. Even after the irrevocable defeat at Midway, where the Yamato and other battleships had no chance to fight without an umbrella of aircraft, the status of the Japanese battleship group remained unchanged. It was still the main striking force for a decisive sea battle with the enemy fleet, which the Japanese Navy eagerly wanted to have once and for all. On the other hand, a decision was made to convert the third ship of the Yamato class then being built at the Yokosuka naval yard into a heavy aircraft carrier. When the Musashi joined the 1st Battleship Division immediately following her commissioning in early August 1942, the Japanese Navy's confidence in these new battleships was still high. Their powerful appearance seemed to justify this confidence. When war efforts were directed towards the Solomon Islands sparked by a surprise landing on Guadalcanal Island by the Allied Powers in August 1942, the Yamato went down to Truk Island to support a series of fierce operations to recapture Guadalcanal Island. The Musash/ also joined her there on 22 January 1943. On 11 February of the same year the Musashi became the flagship of Admiral Yamamoto. In the meantime, the battle situation around the Solomon Islands had gone from bad to worse. The Japanese had given up Guadalcanal Island as being lost to the enemy. The Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet was killed by ambushing enemy P-38 aircraft on his inspection trip to the southern tip of Bougainville Island. In addition, the Japanese northern perimeter along the Aleutian Island chain was threatened with the totally unexpected landing on Attu Island by the Allied Powers on 12 May 1943. It was now apparent that the Japanese homeland itself was threatened by enemy attacks for the first time since the Doolittle Raid. The Musashi, now the flagship of the Combined Fleet, the Yamato and other ships hurried back to the homeland to cope with the worsening situation around Japan. On her way back the Musashi carried the ashes of Admiral Yamamoto on board, who had been greatly respected not only by the officers and men of the Japanese Navy but also by most of the Japanese people. By the time they arrived in Tokyo Bay, however, the battle situation in the north had worsened, with the result that the Japanese had to give up the northern front to let it take its own course. Incidentally, Emperor Hirohito paid a visit to the Musashi when she made port in Yokosuka. It was the first and last time he saw the Musashi. 
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3ALL PHOTOS U.S. NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER OR PRIVATE COLLECTION 2 ・Below the wing of type-97 carrier-borne attack planes, the Yamato is seen peacefully at anchor with awnings spread on her fore and sides in TRUK, June 1943. 3 ・ Yamato (left) and Musashi at TRUK, June 1943. Taking advantage of being in a home port, the two battleships were dry docked at Kure, while under-going minor repairs that they badly needed. When the situation around the Solomon Islands had worsened with the renewed offensive of the Allies in mid-1943, the Musashi headed down to Truk again and about two weeks later the Yamato followed her. Although the Allied offensives gained strength and spread to Bougainville. the Gilbert Islands and the Marshall Islands, they had little chance to engage in an actual battle and remained there most of the time. Towards the end of 1943, the Yamato unexpectedly underwent her baptism of fire from an underwater enemy, while she was entering into Truk atoll on her way back from the homeland. A torpedo hit her starboard underwater hull near No 3 main turret. Brackets upon which heavy side armor was fitted were damaged with a result that about 3000 tons of water flooded into No 3 magazine room. She was then ordered to make for the homeland, where she arrived on 16 January 1944. She was dry docked at Kure to undertake necessary repairs and modifications to the bracket structures of side armor, remedying defects revealed by the torpedo hit. At the same time, her side triple turrets of 1 5-5cm guns were removed and three twin 1 2-7cm AA guns were additionally installed on each side, Sixteen triple 25mm AA machine guns were also mounted on her weather deck. The repairs and modifications were completed by the middle of April 1944. In the meantime, the Musashi had found herself in trouble in the south. With the Marshall Islands captured by the Allied Powers, Truk Atoll, the keystone of Japan's strategy in the Pacific was now directly threatened by enemy attacks. On 10 February 1944 the Musashi and other major ships of the Combined Fleet were ordered to retreat to Palau from there On 17 and 18 February Truk was subjected to its first enemy attack by carrier-borne aircraft, which inflicted heavy damage on aircraft, shipping and airfields. As the Allies intensified their offensives, the Musashi was again forced to retreat from Palau atoll, where she had been since early February. On 29 March 1944 she left there for safety and in the evening of that day she was also given her baptism of fire by an enemy submarine. Out of three torpedoes fired by the enemy, one hit her port bow, killing seven men and injuring 11 others. Damage to her hull was slight and she made port in Kure on 3 April. While she was undergoing repairs, her AA armament was also strengthened. Her side 15-5cm turrets were removed and three triple 25mm AA guns were mounted there, since twin 12-7cm AA guns were not available at that time. In addition, 21 triple 25mm AA machine guns and 26 single 25mm AA machine guns were newly installed on the weather deck. Repair and modification work was completed by late April. By that time the Allied intention of breaking through the island chain in the Central Pacific had become apparent, and the Japanese Navy planned to meet the enemy challenge with all air and sea forces available. But time was running out. The refitted Yamato was the first unit to go south to join other forces of the Combined Fleet at the Lingga anchorage, south of Singapore, where she arrived on 1 May 1944. Ten days later they left there heading for Tawitawi in the Sulu Archipelago, which was designated as the starting point for the forthcoming showdown with the Allied Powers in the South West Pacific. On 16 May the Musashi joined her sister ship there and they underwent rigorous training in preparation for the forthcoming confrontation. By that time, the Japanese Navy had reorganized its Combined Fleet with the carrier striking force as a nucleus, with the result that the battleship group, including the Yamato and Musashi, was made a supporting force for the carrier group. The Commander-in- Chief of the Combined Fleet hoisted his flag in the light cruiser Oyodo. When the Allied Powers landed on Biak Island in West New Guinea towards the end of May, the Japanese Navy finally decided to use the two 18inch-gun battleships in launching a counter-attack on the enemy invasion force. But this ambitious plan failed to be realized, since they were recalled on their way as the Allied invasion of Saipan Island became imminent. In the battle which took place in the Philippine Sea in mid-June 1944 the Japanese air and sea forces fought fiercely with grim determination, but the battle ended in their complete defeat. Their three carriers were sunk and most of the land-based aircraft destroyed by powerful enemy carrier strikes. The balance between the Japanese Navy and the Allied Powers was now entirely upset. The remnants of the Japanese Navy, including the undamaged Yamato and Musashi, arrived in the homeland towards the end of June. They did not have time to rest, however, as they had to prepare for the next operation of defending the Philippines. Formosa, Okinawa and the Japanese homeland, which were now threatened by an enemy invasion with the fall of Saipan and other islands in the Marianas. Five additional triple 25mm AA machine guns were installed on the Yamato, bringing the total number of triple 25mm AA machine gun units up to 29. On 9 July 1944 both battleships left the homeland and hurried south to Lingga anchorage, where they arrived on 16 July and under went training. Since the Japanese Navy was no longer able to launch an effective carrier-borne air attack and its land-based aircraft as well as the Army air force could hardly launch effective air attacks upon the enemy, its basic strategy called for the surface force, including the Yamato and Musashi to attack an enemy invasion force with their great gun power. When a lookout on Suluan Island at the entrance of Leyte Gulf flashed a report of 'enemy sighted and enemy landing', the surface force staying at Lingga anchorage was immediately alerted. They left there on 18 October and arrived at Brunei two days later. After refueling they left on 22 October to make a daring dash eastward through the Philippines to launch an attack upon the enemy in Leyte Gulf. This desperate attempt, however, turned Out very differently. In the early morning of 23 October when the surface force was passing north east along Palawan Island, the first misfortune struck. Two heavy cruisers were sunk and another heavily damaged in enemy submarine ambushes. 
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3ALL PHOTOS U.S. NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER OR PRIVATE COLLECTION 2 ・Musashi leaving Brunei, Borneo, in 1944, when she departed to take part in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Courtesy of Lieutenant Tobei Shiraishi. 3 ・Battle of Leyte Gulf, October 1944. The Japanese "Center Force" leaves Brunei Bay, Borneo, on 22 October 1944, en route to the Philippines. Ships are, from right to left: battleships Nagato, Musashi and Yamato; heavy cruisers Maya, Chokai, Takao, Atago, Haguro and Myoko. Courtesy of Lieutenant Tobei Shiraishi. The ill fortune continued. While the force was making way through the Sibuyan Sea on the morning of 24 October, it was heavily attacked by a series of attack waves launched from enemy carriers off the island chain of the Philippines. Through a dense barrage of anti-aircraft fire put up by all ships, enemy torpedo planes and dive bombers gallantly attacked in wave after wave against the Japanese warships, with the Musashi apparently their main target. 
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4ALL PHOTOS U.S. NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER OR PRIVATE COLLECTION 2 ・Battle of the Sibuyan Sea, 24 October 1944. Japanese battleship Yamato (lower center) and other ships maneuver while under attack by U.S. Navy carrier-based aircraft in the Sibuyan Sea. The shadow of one plane is visible on a cloud in lower right center. 3 ・ Battle of the Sibuyan Sea, 24 October 1944. Japanese battleship Yamato in action with U.S. carrier planes, as she transited the Sibuyan Sea. 4 ・ Battle of the Sibuyan Sea, 24 October 1944. Japanese battleship Yamato is hit by a bomb near her forward 460mm gun turret, during attacks by U.S. carrier planes as she transited the Sibuyan Sea. This hit did not produce serious damage. By early afternoon when the second wave of the enemy attackers was over, her forepart was flooded up to her third deck and she listed heavily to port. Her speed had to be reduced to 22 knots. She had been hit by a total of seven bombs, nine torpedoes and more than 15 near misses. Even so, her vital armor-protected part still remained intact and her list was recovered to almost even keel by use of the damage control system. It was only after the third round of the enemy attack on that day, in which another 10 bomb hits and 11 torpedo hits were scored, that she lost most of her maneuverability due to her worsened bow trim. Her bow was so deeply awash that her speed had to be reduced to only six knots. Yet she still could recover her list by four degrees. Towards the evening, about four and a half hours after the third attack ended, the situation suddenly became worse. Her list to port increased, and the giant battleship finally went down with the loss of 1039 officers and men out of her crew of 2400. 
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4ALL PHOTOS U.S. NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER OR PRIVATE COLLECTION 2 ・Battle of the Sibuyan Sea, 24 October 1944. Japanese battleship Musashi under intense attack by Task Force 38 aircraft in the Sibuyan Sea. A destroyer is also receiving attacks beyond the battleship. 3 ・Battle of the Sibuyan Sea, 24 October 1944. Japanese battleship Musashi is hit, during attacks by Task Force 38 aircraft in the Sibuyan Sea. 4 ・Battle of the Sibuyan Sea, 24 October 1944. The Japanese battleship Musashi down at the bow after being hit by U.S. Navy carrier plane attacks in the Sibuyan Sea. Courtesy of Lieutenant Tobei Shiraishi. Although the Musashi was sunk, the surface force nevertheless made its way east and broke through San Bernardino Strait to the east of the island chain in the early morning of 25 October. Not only did it not encounter the enemy, but at dawn it found itself unexpectedly within firing range of enemy carrier groups. Though the Japanese Navy identified them as enemy fleet carrier groups, they were actually only escort carrier groups. 
1ALL PHOTOS U.S. NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER OR PRIVATE COLLECTION The Battle of Samar Gulf then took place, in which the Japanese attacked the enemy fleet. The Yamato's 18inch-guns opened fire on enemy ships, for the first time. She fired a total of 104 rounds of 18inch shells. One escort carrier and one destroyer were sunk by the Japanese attack. Japanese ships also received serious damage, but the Yamato's was very slight. Despite desperate fighting, however, the Japanese Navy not only failed to prevent the enemy from capturing Leyte Island, but suffered irretrievable damage. Most of the remaining Japanese forces, including the Yamato, returned to Brunei Bay in Borneo. Since Brunei Bay was no longer a safe anchorage for the Japanese fleet because of intensified air raids by the Allies, the Japanese ships decided to return to the homeland in separate groups. The Yamato left there escorted by destroyers on 1 6 November 1944 and reached the Inland Sea on 23 November. 
1ALL PHOTOS U.S. NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER OR PRIVATE COLLECTION By then the homeland itself was faced with the increased threat of enemy invasion, and everything was mobilized to strengthen its defense. Ironically, however, the Yamato, into whose construction the Japanese Navy put so much effort, could do hardly anything to defend the homeland. She herself was still a powerful unit, but the Japanese Fleet was no longer a balanced force capable of fleet operations. However. Her AA armament was further strengthened by mounting 3S additional 25mm AA machine guns on her weather deck (23 singles and 12 triples). When the Allied landing on Okinawa touched off desperate counter attacks by the Japanese air forces in early April 1 945, the Yamato was suddenly assigned a very unusual and grim mission. Since the air forces were throwing in everything they had, even employing suicidal attack methods in the Okinawa theatre, the surface force was to use its strength, regardless of the outcome. The Yamato and the remaining ships were to make a daring dash towards Okinawa to destroy the enemy. In the afternoon of 6 April 1945, the Yamato made a sortie from the western part of the Inland Sea under escort of the light cruiser Yahagi and eight destroyers including Yukikaze. They were all that the once-powerful Japanese Navy could mobilize at that stage of the war. While they were steaming south of Kyushu the following day, they were attacked by a series of attack waves from enemy carriers. Without fighter cover, they were helpless under the heaviest air attacks. 
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4ALL PHOTOS U.S. NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER OR PRIVATE COLLECTION 2 ・"Ten-Go" Operation, April 1945. Japanese battleship Yamato (top) and a destroyer in action with U.S. Navy carrier planes north of Okinawa on 7 April 1945. Yamato appears to be down at the bow and moving slowly after being hit by multiple air attacks. The destroyer is either Fuyuzuki or Suzutsuki, and appears to have fired her after 10cm guns at the instant this photo was taken. 3 ・ "Ten-Go" Operation, April 1945. Japanese battleship Yamato listing to port and afire at the after end of her superstructure, but still underway, while under attack by U.S. Navy carrier planes north of Okinawa, 7 April 1945. The original photo caption reads: "A torpedo plane's view of battleship Yamato. This is how Japan's mightiest warship appeared as six lone U.S. Navy torpedo planes raced in to destroy her. She is still making 10 to 15 knots, though fires continue to burn amidships." Photographed from a USS Yorktown (CV-10) plane. Collection of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, USN. 4 ・ "Ten-Go" Operation, April 1945. Japanese battleship Yamato listing to port and down at the bow, during attacks by U.S. Navy carrier planes north of Okinawa, 7 April 1945. One of her escorting destroyers is at left. The original photo caption reads: "Japanese battleship Yamato lists to port (at right) just prior to VT-9 (USS Yorktown) torpedo attack, 7 Apr. 1945. She is making 10 to 15 knots. A Japanese destroyer cruises ahead." Photographed from a USS Yorktown (CV-10) plane. Collection of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, USN. 
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7ALL PHOTOS U.S. NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER OR PRIVATE COLLECTION 6 ・"Ten-Go" Operation, April 1945. Japanese battleship Yamato evading airial bomb attacks from US fighter planes. 7 ・"Ten-Go" Operation, April 1945. Half covered in smoke, the crippled Yamato continues to fight off relentless attacks by American war planes. One of which is caught in the right of the picture. The ship trailing with a white wake, is one of Yamato's escort cruisers. 
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11ALL PHOTOS U.S. NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER OR PRIVATE COLLECTION 9 ・"Ten-Go" Operation, April 1945. Japanese battleship Yamato blows up after receiving massive bomb and torpedo damage from U.S. Navy carrier planes, north of Okinawa on 7 April 1945. Three Japanese destroyers are nearby. 10 ・"Ten-Go" Operation, April 1945. Japanese battleship Yamato blows up after receiving massive bomb and torpedo damage from U.S. Navy carrier planes, north of Okinawa on 7 April 1945. Three Japanese destroyers are nearby. 11 ・"Ten-Go" Operation, April 1945. Smoke rises to the clouds shortly after the Japanese battleship Yamato capsized, exploded and sank after receiving many bomb and torpedo hits from U.S. Navy carrier planes north of Okinawa, 7 April 1945. Escorting destroyers are visible to the left of the smoke. Photographed from a USS Yorktown (CV-10) plane. Collection of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, USN. The sinking of the Yamato and the Musashi by enemy carrier-borne planes alone certainly did not prove that they were unusually vulnerable. They eventually sank only after they had displayed their immense resistance to the limit as planned. Though they had some defects, they proved to be the toughest men-of-war ever built by the Japanese Navy. Mention should be made of the fate of the Shinano. which was the third ship of the Yamato class and was eventually converted into a fleet carrier. Her fate was more tragic than her two elder sisters. After being converted into a carrier, she was launched at the building dock of Yokosuka naval yard on 8 October 1944 and temporarily completed on 19 November of the same year. She had been designed and built as a heavy armored deck carrier with her flight deck capable of withstanding a 500kg dive bomb. On the evening of 28 November 1944 she left her birthplace bound for Kure where she was to be completed. In the early hours of 29 November when she was steaming south of Japan proper, she was hit by four torpedoes out of six fired from an enemy submarine. Since her watertight compart-ments were not entirely complete, flooding increased as time went on in spite of desperate efforts on the part of her crew members. In about seven and a half hours after she was hit, the Shinano finally disappeared into the sea, thus ending perhaps the shortest life of any man-of-war in the world. 
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2ALL PHOTOS U.S. NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER OR PRIVATE COLLECTION 2 ・Shinano (Japanese Aircraft Carrier, 1944) |
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