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]

Ther's a link to a video (in Japanese) in the sidebar on the right side of the page.

Very intersting news considering the small amount of photos available of Yamato.

[GATOR NAVY]

For your ping list.

[CJ Wolf]

that is big. How does it compare to our current battleships?

[BigCinBigD]

It makes a lovely reef.

[null and void]

Ours are on top of the water?

[camle]

what current battleships?

[Tijeras_Slim]

I believe that all our battleships are of WWII vintage.

[Gator101]

The Yamato, and her sister Musashi, were the largest battleships ever made.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Your link is to the wrong article. Is there anywhere that a bigger picture can be obtained?

[COEXERJ145]

We no longer have any active duty battleships and haven't for almost 15 years.

But if you're referring to the Iowa class, the Yamato class weighed in around 70,000 tons and mounted 9, 18-inch gins. The Iowa weighed in around 45,000 tons with 9 16-inch guns.

That said, in a one-on-one dual, I would put my money on the an Iowa except at point blank range.

[quikdrw]

There are no current battle-ships.


The IOWA class was dsigned and built to have two of them beat the snot out of the BISMARCK. The YAMATO was bigger still, with larger guns.

[edzo4]

we have no current battleships...

last one built was the USS Missouri

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Missouri_(BB-63)

[CJ Wolf]

Well Color me stupid. I had no idea we haven't had any Battleships for a while. I guess the last time I saw one was around 20 years ago.

[Gator101]

If only Halsey had left his fast battleships back to guard San Bernardino Strait in 1944 this "what if" may have been answered...the world wonders.

[squirt]

That's good.

[TheDon]

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.

US military aerial recon photos? :^)

[nuke rocketeer]

Try this link..... http://www.combinedfleet.com/baddest.htm

This guy has really analyzed the performance of the various battleships built.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Got it. The link is to the home page and the article link is on the sidebar. More coffee.

[bmwcyle]

What Spartacus has a Piper Cub?

[SmithL]

There are no current Battleships. Here are a couple of shots of the USS Iowa being taken through the Carquinez Straights, enroute to joining the Mothball fleet.

-

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

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Maybe some lone pilot flew over and got a picture. Or could the pic be taken by a Japanese spy? We may never know.

[edzo4]

have you seen any pics of the new USS NEW YORK, it was built with steel from the WTC

[bray]

The Yamato's Maiden Voyage had a short Honeymoon straight to Davy Jones' Locker! Nice shootin boys!

Pray for W and Our Amazing Navy

[DTogo]

More proof that size doesn't always matter! ;)

Japan * ping * (kono risuto ni hairitai ka detai wo shirasete kudasai : let me know if you want on or off this list)

[CJ Wolf]

The bottom one is the yamato of 1945. The top one is the Yamato redesigned for 2199.

[COEXERJ145]

It would have been interesting. That's for sure. I think the USN would have won the battle but it wouldn't have been an almost bloodless victory like the earlier battle of Surigao Strait.

Since it didn't happen, it meant that Surigao Strait was the last time in history when battleship faced battleship.

[COEXERJ145]

U.S.S. Iowa

U.S.S. Missouri

U.S.S. Wisconsin

U.S.S. New Jersey

[Defender2]

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

[GATOR NAVY]

If you scroll down the sidebar on the right at the link you'll get a list of the available articles. The video has bigger images. I don't know how to do screen captures.

[edzo4]

sweet starblazers, I have been waiting for those things on dvd for ever...

[Rummyfan]

What if Superman was a Nazi?

Ever see that flick with Kirk Douglas where the USS Nimitz is transported back in time to December 6th 1941?

[COEXERJ145]

The New York is under construction but this is the first vessel of the class, the U.S.S. San Antonio.

[The_Media_never_lie]

Great thread!

[GATOR NAVY]

Here's the direct link to the video. And it's in English. The first one I watched was on my wife's computer in Japanese.

http://www.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/asx/32_200k.asx

[SmithL]

That was fun. Thanks for the link.

[Frank_Discussion]

Couldja look up the Texas? I'm on dialup, it'd take me forever to find and post it.

[COEXERJ145]

Already have it. :-)

[GATOR NAVY]

US military aerial recon photos?

Yes. In Requiem for Battleship Yamato the author makes mention of overflights before the sortie.

[Frank_Discussion]

Aww, that's mah girl! Thanks!

[COEXERJ145]

You're quite welcome. :-)

[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.