Japanese battleship Yamato 1

Japanese battleship Yamato

The Yamato during sea trials off Japan near Bungo Strait, October 20, 1941.

Career (Japanese
Empire)
Ordered: [1]
March 1937

Builder: [2]
Kure DY

Laid down: [2]

4 November 1937

Launched: [2]
8 August 1940

Commissioned: [2]
16 December 1941

Struck: 31 August 1945

Fate: [3]
Sunk 7 April 1945 North of Okinawa

General characteristics
Class and type: Yamato -class battleship
Yamato-class

Displacement: [4]
unknown operator: u',' tonnes (unknown
(unknown operator: u'strong' long tons)
[4]
unknown operator: u',' tonnes (unknown
(unknown operator: u'strong' long tons) (full load)

Length:
256 m () (waterline)
[4]
263 m () (overall)

Beam: [4]
38.9 m ()

Draft: [4]
11 m ()

Installed power: [4]

(unknown operator: u'strong' kW)
150000 shp (unknown

Propulsion: [4]
• 12 Kampon boilers, driving 4 steam turbines
[4]
• Four 3-bladed propellers.

Speed: [4]
(unknown operator: u'strong' km/h; unknown operator: u'strong' mph)
27 knots (unknown

Range: (unknown operator: u'strong' km; unknown operator: u'strong' mi) at 16 knots (unknown
7200 nmi (unknown (unknown
[4]
operator: u'strong' km/h; unknown operator: u'strong' mph)

Complement: [4][5]
2,500 – 2,800
2,800
Japanese battleship Yamato 2

Armament: [4]
9 × 46 cm (18.1 in) (3×3)
(1941) [4]
12 x 155 mm (6.1 in) (4×3)
[4]
(unknown operator: u'strong' in)
12 × 127 mm (unknown
[4]
(unknown operator: u'strong' in) (8×3)
24 × 25 millimetres (unknown
[4]
(unknown operator: u'strong' in) AA (2×2)
4 × 13.2 mm (unknown

Armament: [6]
9 × 46 cm (18.1 in) (3×3)
(1945) [6]
6 × 155 mm (6.1 in) (2×3)
[6]
(unknown operator: u'strong' in)
24 × 127 mm (unknown
[6]
(unknown operator: u'strong' in) Anti-Aircraft (52×3, 6×1)
162 × 25 mm (unknown
[6]
(unknown operator: u'strong' in) AA (2×2)
4 × 13.2 mm (unknown

Armour: [7]
(unknown operator: u'strong' in) on face of main turrets
650 mm (unknown
[7]
(unknown operator: u'strong' in) side armour
410 mm (unknown
[7]
(unknown operator: u'strong' in) central(75%) armoured deck 
200 mm (unknown
[7]
(unknown operator: u'strong' in) outer(25%) armoured deck 
226.5 mm (unknown

Aircraft carried: [7]

7

Aviation facilities: [7]

2 aircraft catapults

Yamato (大  和 ), named after the ancient Japanese Yamato Province, was the lead ship of the Yamato class of 
battleships that served with the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. She and her sister ship,  Musashi, were
the heaviest and most powerfully armed battleships ever constructed, displacing 72,800 tonnes at full load and armed
with nine 46 cm (18.1 inch) main guns. Neither ship survived the war.
Laid down in 1937 and formally
formally commissioned a week after
aft er the Pearl Harbor attack in late 1941, Yamato was
designed to counter the numerically superior
s uperior battleship fleet of the
the United States, Japan's main rival in the Pacific.
Throughout 1942 she served as the flagship of the Japanese Combined Fleet,
Fleet, and in June 1942 Admiral Isoroku
Yamamoto directed the fleet from her bridge during the Battle of Midway, a disastrous defeat for Japan.  Musashi
took over as the Combined Fleet flagship in early 1943, and Yamato spent the rest of the year, and much of 1944,
moving between the major Japanese naval bases of Truk and Kure in response to American threats. Although she
was present at the Battle of the Philippine Sea in June 1944, Yamato played no part in the battle. The only time she
fired her main guns at enemy surface targets was in October 1944, when she was sent to engage American forces
invading the Philippines during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. On the verge of success, the Japanese force turned back,
believing they were engaging an entire US carrier fleet rather than the light escort carrier group that was all that
stood between Yamato and the vulnerable troop transports.
During 1944 the balance of naval power in the Pacific decisively turned against Japan and, by early 1945, the
Japanese fleet was much depleted and critically short of fuel stocks in the home islands, limiting its usefulness. In
April 1945, in a desperate attempt to slow the Allied advance, Yamato was dispatched on a one way voyage to
Okinawa, where it was intended that she should protect the island from invasion and fight until destroyed. The task 
force was spotted south of Kyushu by US submarines and aircraft, and on 7 April 1945 she was sunk by American
carrier-based bombers and torpedo bombers with the loss of most of her crew.

Design and construction

During the 1930s the Japanese government adopted an ultranationalist militancy with a view to greatly expand the
[8] [9]
Japanese Empire. Japan withdrew from the League of Nations in 1934, renouncing its treaty obligations. After
withdrawing from the Washington Naval Treaty, which limited the size and power of capital ships, the Imperial
Japanese Navy began their design of the new Yamato class of heavy battleships. The class design was not finalized
[10]
until 1937. When the class was finally laid down, a great effort was made in Japan to ensure that the ships were
built in extreme secrecy to prevent American intelligence officials from learning of their existence and
[6][11]
specifications. As part of the secrecy, the Japanese referred to their armament as 16 inch guns. It was not until
Japanese battleship Yamato 3

the end of the war that her true displacement and the caliber of her weaponry were known. Yamato was the lead ship
[12]
of the class. Planners recognized that Japan would be unable to compete with the output of naval shipyards of the
United States should war break out, so the vessels of the Yamato class were designed to be capable of engaging
[13][14]
multiple enemy battleships at the same time. They displaced over 70,000 tons each, and it was hoped that their
[4]
firepower would offset American naval production capabilities.
Yamato's keel was laid down at the Kure Naval Arsenal, Hiroshima, on 4 November 1937, in a dockyard that had to
[6][15]
be adapted to accommodate her enormous hull. The dock was deepened by one metre, and gantry cranes
[6][16]
capable of lifting up to 350 tonnes were installed. Fearful that the United States would learn of the vessel's
[17]
characteristics, the Japanese erected a canopy over part of the slipway to screen the ship from view. Yamato was
[18]
launched on 8 August 1940, with Captain (later Vice-Admiral) Miyazato Shutoku in command.

Armament
Yamato's main battery consisted of nine 46 cm (18.1 in) 45 Caliber
Type 94 naval guns —the largest caliber of naval artillery ever fitted to
[20]
a warship, although the shells were lighter than the British 18 inch
unknown
naval guns of World War I. Each gun was 21.13 metres ((unknown
operator: u'strong' ft) long, weighed 147.3 tonnes (unknown
(unknown
operator: u'strong' short tons), and was capable of firing high
unknown operator:
explosive or armor piercing shells 42 kilometres ((unknown
[21]
u'strong' mi). Her secondary battery comprised twelve
(unknown operator: u'strong' in) guns mounted in
155-millimetre (unknown Yamato near the end of her fitting out, 20
[19]
four triple turrets (one forward, one aft, two midships), and twelve September 1941

(unknown operator: u'strong' in) guns in six twin

127-millimetre (unknown
mounts (three on each side amidships). These turrets had been taken off the Mogami class cruisers when those
vessels were converted to a main armament of 8 inch guns. In addition, Yamato carried twenty-four 25-millimetre
[20]
(unknown operator: u'strong' in) anti-aircraft guns, primarily mounted amidships. When refitted in 1944 and
[5]
1945 for naval engagements in the South Pacific, the secondary battery configuration was changed to six 155 mm
[22]
guns and twenty four 127 mm guns, and the number of 25 mm anti-aircraft guns was increased to 162.

Service

Trials and initial operations

During October or November 1941 Yamato
underwent sea trials, reaching her maximum possible
speed of 27.4 knots (unknown
(unknown operator:
u'strong' km/h; unknown operator:
[][23]
u'strong' mph). As war loomed, priority was
given to accelerating military construction. On 16
December —
 —months ahead of schedule —the
battleship was formally commissioned at Kure. The
ceremony was more austere than usual; the Japanese
were still intent on concealing the ship's
[] Yamato during sea trials, October 1941.
characteristics. The same day, under Captain (later
Vice-Admiral) Gihachi Takayanagi, she joined
[24]
fellow battleships Nagato and Mutsu in the 1st Battleship Division.
Japanese battleship Yamato 4

[][]
On 12 February 1942, Yamato became the flagship of Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto's Combined Fleet. The
Japanese admiral was planning a decisive engagement with the United States Navy at Midway Island, so after
participating in war games Yamato departed Hiroshima Bay on 27 May for duty with Yamamoto's main battleship
[][25]
group. US codebreakers were aware of
of Yamamoto's intentions and the Battle of Midway proved disastrous for
[]
Japan's carrier force, with four fleet carriers and 332 aircraft destroyed. Yamamoto exercised overall command
[25]
from Yamato's bridge, but his battleplan had widely dispersed his forces to lure the Americans into a trap, and the
[]
battleship group was too far away to take part in the engagement. On 5 June, Yamamoto ordered the remaining
ships to return to Japan, so Yamato withdrew with the main battleship force to Hashirajima before making her way
[][24]
back to Kure.
[26][27]
Yamato left Kure for Truk on 17 August 1942. After 11 days at sea, she was sighted by the American
submarine USS Flying Fish, which fired four torpedoes. No hits were scored and Yamato arrived safely at Truk later
[][26][28]
that day. She remained here throughout the Guadalcanal Campaign because of a lack of 460 mm ammunition
[5][]
suitable for shore bombardment, uncharted seas around Guadalcanal, and her high fuel consumption. Before the
[26]
year's end, Captain (later Rear Admiral) Chiaki Matsuda was assigned to command Yamato.
[]
On 11 February 1943, Yamato was replaced
replaced by her sister ship  Musashi as flagship of the Combined Fleet. Dubbed
[26]
"Hotel Yamato" by the Japanese cruiser and destroyer crews stationed in the South Pacific, the battleship
battleship spent
[][29]
only a single day away from Truk between her arrival in August 1942 and her departure on 8 May 1943. On that
[][29]
day, she set sail for Yokosuka and from there for Kure, arriving on 14 May. She spent nine days in drydock for
[26]
inspection and general repairs, and after sailing to Japan's western Inland Sea she was again
ag ain drydocked
drydocked in late
July for significant refitting and upgrades. These included improvements to her secondary turret armor and rudder
[26]
controls, and the removal of her 155 mm wing turrets in favor of greater anti-aircraft protection in the form of 
[]
25 mm guns and two surface search radar systems. On 16 August, Yamato began her return to Truk where she
[26]
 joined a large task force formed in response
response to American raids on the Tarawa and Makin atolls. She sortied in late
September with  Nagato, three carriers, and smaller warships to intercept US Task Force 15 and again a month later
with six battleships, three carriers, and eleven cruisers. Intelligence had reported that the United States Naval Base at
[]
Pearl Harbor was nearly empty of ships, which the Japanese interpreted to mean that an American naval force
[]
would strike at Wake Island. But there were no radar contacts for six days, and the fleet returned to Truk, arriving
[]
on 26 October.
Yamato escorted Transport Operation BO-1 from Truk to Yokosuka
[29]
during 12 – 17
17 December. Subsequently, because of their extensive
storage capacity and thick armour protection, Yamato and  Musashi
[30]
were pressed into service as transport vessels. On 25 December,
while ferrying troops and equipment —
 —which were wanted as
reinforcements for the garrisons at Kavieng and the Admiralty
Islands —from Yokosuka to Truk, Yamato and her task group were
intercepted by the American submarine Skate about 180 miles
[][31]
(unknown operator: u'strong' km) out at sea. Skate fired a
Yamato and Musashi
and Musashi anchored in the waters off 
spread of four torpedoes at Yamato; one struck the battleship's
of the Truk Islands in 1943 []
starboard side towards the stern. ( unknown
A hole 5 metres (unknown
operator: u'strong' ft) below the top of her anti-torpedo bulge and
unknown operator: u'strong' ft) across was ripped open in the hull, and a joint
measuring some 25 metres ((unknown
[19]
between the upper and lower armoured belts failed, causing the rear turret's upper magazine to flood. Yamato took 
[19][31]
on about 3,000 tons of water, but reached Truk later that day. Repair ship  Akashi effected temporary repairs on
[26] [31]
the battleship, and Yamato departed on 10 January for Kure.

[26]
On 16 January 1944, Yamato arrived at Kure for repairs and was drydocked until 3 February 1944. During this
time, armour plate sloped at 45° was fitted in the area of the torpedo damage; it had been proposed that 5000 long
Japanese battleship Yamato 5

(unknown operator: u'strong' t) of steel be used to bolster the ship's defense against flooding from torpedo
tons (unknown
hits outside the armoured citadel, but this was rejected out of hand because the additional weight would have
[19]
increased Yamato's displacement and draft by too great a margin. While Yamato was drydocked, Captain Nobuei
[26]
Morishita —former captain of the battleship  Haruna —assumed command. On 25 February, both Yamato and
 Musashi were reassigned from the 1st Battleship Division to the Second Fleet. Yamato was again drydocked for
[26]
further upgrades to all her radar and anti-aircraft systems from 25 February to 18 March 1944.
An additional six 127 mm twin gun mounts
were added, taking the place of the original
155 mm wing turrets, and an additional
thirty six 25 mm guns in triple mountings
were installed, increasing the total number
of 127 mm and 25 mm anti-aircraft guns to
[22]
24 and 162, respectively. Her radar suite
was also upgraded to include infrared
identification systems and aircraft search
[26]
and gunnery control radars. She left the Line drawing of Yamato
of Yamato as she appeared in 1944 – 1945
1945 (specific configuration
drydock on 18 March and went through from April 7, 1945)
[31]
several trials beginning on 11 April.
Yamato left Kure on 21 April and embarked soldiers and materiel the following day at Okinoshima for a mission to
[19]
Manila, reaching the Philippines on 28 April. She then moved on to Malaysia to join Vice-Admiral Jisaburo
[26] [26]
Ozawa's Mobile Fleet at Lingga; this force arrived at Tawi Tawi on 14 May.

Battle of the Philippine Sea

In early June, Yamato and  Musashi were again requisitioned as troop transports, this time to reinforce the garrison
[30][32]
and naval defenses of the island of Biak as part of Operation Kon. The mission was cancelled when word
[30]
reached Ozawa's headquarters of American carrier attacks on the Mariana Islands. Instead the Imperial Japanese
Navy reorganized, concentrating the majority of its remaining fighting strength in the hope of achieving a decisive
success against the Americans. By this time though, the entire Japanese navy was inferior in numbers and experience
[32]
to the U.S. Pacific Fleet. From 19 June to 23 June 1944, Yamato escorted forces of Ozawa's Mobile Fleet during
[32][33]
the Battle of the Philippine Sea, dubbed by American pilots "The Great Marianas Turkey Shoot". The
[32]
Japanese lost three aircraft carriers and 426 aircraft; Yamato's only significant contribution was mistakenly
[26]
opening fire on returning Japanese aircraft.
Following the battle Yamato withdrew with the Mobile Fleet to the Hashirajima staging area near Kure to refuel and
rearm. With  Musashi she left the fleet on 24 June for the short journey to Kure, where she received five more triple
[32]
25 mm anti-aircraft mounts. The opportunity was taken to put in place "emergency buoyancy keeping
procedures." These resulted in the removal of almost every flammable item from the battleship, including linoleum,
bedding, and mattresses. In place of the latter, men slept on planks which could be used to repair damage.
Flammable paints received a new silicon based overcoat, and additional portable pumps and fire fighting apparatus
[32]
were installed. Leaving Japan on 8 July, Yamato —accompanied by the battleships  Musashi,  Kongo,  Nagato, and
eleven cruisers and destroyers —sailed south. Yamato and Musashi headed for the Lingga Islands, arriving on 16 – 17
17
July. By this stage of the war Japan's tanker fleet had been much reduced by marauding American submarines, so
[32]
major fleet units were stationed in the East Indies to be near the source of their fuel supply. The battleships
[32]
remained at the islands for the next three months.
Japanese battleship Yamato 6

Battle of Leyte Gulf 

Between 22 October and 25 October 1944, as part of Admiral Takeo
Kurita's Centre Force (also known as Force A or First Striking Force),
Yamato took part in one of the largest naval engagements in
[34]
history —the Battle of Leyte Gulf. In response to the American
invasion of the Philippines, Operation Shō-Gō called for a number of 
Japanese groups to converge on the island of Leyte, where American
troops were landing. On 18 October, Yamato was given a coating of 
black camouflage in preparation for her nighttime transit of the San
Bernardino Strait; the main ingredient was soot taken from her
[26]
Yamato on 24 October 1944 during the Battle of  smokestack. While en route to Leyte the force was attacked in
the Sibuyan Sea; she has just been hit by a bomb. Palawan Passage on 23 October by the submarines USS  Darter  and
 Dace, which sank two Takao class heavy cruisers including Kurita's
[35] [26]
flagship, Atago, and damaged a third. Kurita survived the loss of  Atago
 Atago and transferred his flag to Yamato. The
following day the Battle of the Sibuyan Sea hurt the Centre Force badly with the loss of three more heavy cruisers,
eliminating a substantial part of the fleet's anti-aircraft defence. During the course of the day, American carrier
aircraft sortied a total of 259 times. Aircraft from the USS Essex struck Yamato with two armour piercing bombs and
unknown operator:
scored one near miss; Yamato suffered moderate damage and took on about 3370 tonnes ((unknown
[36] [37]
u'strong' long tons) of water.  Musashi sank after being hit with 17 torpedoes and 19 bombs.

Unknown to the Japanese admiral, the main American defensive force with Admiral William Halsey, Jr. departed
Leyte on the evening of 24 October. Convinced that Kurita's Centre Force had been turned back, Halsey took his
powerful 3rd Fleet in pursuit
pursuit of the Japanese
Japanese Northern Force,
Force, a decoy group
group composed
composed of one fleet aircraft carrier
[35]
( Zuikaku), three light carriers, two  Ise class hybrid battleship carriers, and their escorts. The deception was a
success, drawing away five fleet carriers and five light carriers with more than 600 aircraft among them, six fast
battleships, eight cruisers, and over 40 destroyers. During the hours of darkness Kurita's force navigated the San
Bernardino Strait and shortly after dawn, in the Battle off Samar,
Samar, attacked an American formation that had remained
in the area to provide close support for the invading troops. Known as "Taffy 3", this small group comprised six
[38]
escort carriers, three destroyers, and four destroyer escorts. In the initial stages of this battle, Yamato engaged
[38][39][40]
enemy surface targets for the only time in her career, hitting
hitting several American ships. After Yamato
confirmed primary battery hits on the escort carrier USS Gambier Bay, a spread of torpedoes heading for Yamato
were spotted; the battleship was forced to steer away from the fighting to avoid them and was unable to rejoin the
[35]
battle. Although armed only with
with torpedoes and 5 inch guns and under attack by large calibre cannons, the light
[41]
American surface combatants, supported by
by FM2 Wildcats and TBM Avengers from Taff y 3's escort carriers,
[35]
attacked so ferociously that Kurita believed his ships were engaging a full American task force of fleet carriers. A
mistaken report that he was facing six fleet carriers, three cruisers,
cru isers, and two destroyers led Kurita to order his task 
force to turn and disengage. Yamato emerged from the battle without serious damage; only three near misses from
bombs and seventeen casualties from strafing were suffered during the battle itself, while carrier strikes during the
retreat caused light damage to the ship and injured or killed twenty one crewmen. Three more heavy cruisers and one
light cruiser were subsequently lost. The Centre Force sank one American escort carrier (CVE), two destroyers, and
[35]
a destroyer escort. A second CVE was lost by kamikaze attack after the surface engagement.
[42]
Following the engagement Yamato and the remnants of Kurita's
Kurita's force returned to Brunei. On 15 November 1944,
[26]
the 1st Battleship Division was disbanded and Yamato became the flagship of the Second Fleet. On 21 November,
[43]
while transiting the East China Sea in a withdrawal to Kure Naval Base, Yamato's battle group was attacked by
[44]
the submarine USS Sealion. The battleship  Kongo and destroyer Urakaze were lost. Yamato was immediately
drydocked for repairs and anti-aircraft upgrades on reaching Kure, where several of the battleship's older anti-aircraft
[26]
guns were replaced. On 25 November, Captain Aruga Kōsaku was named Yamato's commander.
Japanese battleship Yamato 7

Operation Ten-Go
On 1 January 1945, Yamato,  Haruna and  Nagato were transferred to
the newly reactivated 1st Battleship Division. Yamato left drydock two
[26]
days later for Japan's Inland Sea. This reassignment was brief; the
1st Battleship Division was deactivated once again on 10 February and
[45]
Yamato was allotted to the 1st Carrier Division. On 19 March,
American carrier aircraft from  Enterprise, Yorktown and  Intrepid 
[45][46]
raided Kure. Although 16 warships were hit, Yamato sustained
only minor damage from a number of near misses and from one bomb
[39]
that struck her bridge. The intervention of a squadron of Kawanishi
N1K1 "Shiden" fighters (named "George" by the Allies) flown by Yamato under attack off Kure on 19 March 1945.

veteran Japanese fighter instructors prevented the raid from doing too
[46][47]
much damage to the base and assembled ships, while Yamato's
ability to maneuver —
 —albeit slowly
 —in the Nasami Channel benefited

[39]
her.

As the final step before their planned invasion of the Japanese

[48]
mainland, Allied forces invaded Okinawa on 1 April. The Imperial
Japanese Navy's response was to organise a mission codenamed
Operation Ten-Go that would see the commitment of much of Japan's
remaining surface strength. Yamato and nine escorts (the cruiser
Yamato's senior officers just before Ten-Go
Yahagi and eight destroyers) would sail to Okinawa and, in concert
with kamikaze and Okinawa based army units, attack the Allied forces
assembled on and around Okinawa. Yamato would then be beached to act as an unsinkable gun emplacement and
[49][50]
continue to fight until destroyed. In preparation for the mission, Yamato had taken on a full stock of 
[26]
ammunition on 29 March. According to the Japanese plan, the ships were supposed to take aboard only enough
fuel for a one way voyage to Okinawa, but additional fuel amounting to 60 percent of capacity was issued on the
authority of local base commanders. Designated the "Surface Special Attack Force", the ships left Tokuyama at
[49][50]
15:20 on 6 April.

Unfortunately for the Japanese, the Allies had intercepted and decoded their radio transmissions, learning the
particulars of Operation Ten-Go. Further confirmation of Japanese intentions came around 20:00 when the Surface
Special Attack Force, navigating the Bungo Strait, was spotted by the American submarines Threadfin and
[5][50]
 Hackleback . Both reported Yamato's position to the main American carrier strike force, but neither could attack 
(unknown operator: u'strong' mph; unknown operator:
because of the speed of the Japanese ships —22 knots (unknown
[50]
u'strong' km/h) —
 —and their extreme zigzagging.

The Allied forces around Okinawa began to brace for an assault. Admiral Raymond Spruance ordered six battleships
already engaged in shore bombardment in the sector to prepare for surface action against Yamato. These orders were
countermanded in favor of strikes from Admiral Marc Mitscher's aircraft carriers, but as a contingency the
battleships together with seven cruisers and twenty one destroyers were sent to interdict the Japanese force before it
[50][51]
could reach the vulnerable transports and landing craft.
Japanese battleship Yamato 8

Yamato's crew were at general quarters and ready for anti-aircraft

action by dawn on 7 April. The first Allied aircraft made contact with
the Surface Special Attack Force at 08:23; two flying boats arrived
soon thereafter, and for the next five hours, Yamato fired Common
Type 3 or  Beehive (3 Shiki tsûjôdan) shells at the Allied seaplanes, but
could not prevent them from shadowing the force. Yamato obtained her
first radar contact with aircraft at 10:00; an hour later American F6F
Hellcat fighters appeared overhead to deal with any Japanese aircraft
[52][53]
that might appear. None did.
Yamato steering to avoid bombs and aerial At about 12:30, 280 bomber and torpedo bomber aircraft arrived over
torpedoes during Operation Ten-Go
the Japanese force.  Asashimo, which had earlier fallen out of formation
due to engine trouble, was caught and sunk by a detachment of aircraft
from the USS San Jacinto. The Surface Special Attack Force increased speed to 24 knots ( unknown operator:
u'strong' mph; unknown operator: u'strong' km/h), and following standard Japanese anti-aircraft defensive
measures, the destroyers began circling Yamato. The first aircraft swooped in to attack at 12:37. Yahagi turned and
unknown operator: u'strong' mph; unknown operator: u'strong' km/h) in an attempt to
raced away at 35 knots ((unknown
draw off some of the attackers; although the manoeuvre was successful, the numbers it drew away were
insignificant. Yamato avoided being hit for four minutes until, at 12:41, two bombs obliterated two of her triple
25 mm anti-aircraft mounts and blew a hole in the deck. A third bomb then destroyed her radar room and the
starboard aft 127 mm mount. At 12:46 another two bombs struck the battleship's port side, one slightly ahead of the
aft 155 mm centreline turret and the other right on top of the gun. These caused a great amount of damage to the
[52][54]
turret and its magazines; only one man climbed out alive. At 12:45 a single torpedo struck  Yamato far forward
on her port side, sending extreme shocks throughout the ship. Because many of the hit's survivors were later killed
by strafing or were trapped when Yamato sank, the details are uncertain, but authors Garzke and Dulin record that
[52]
little damage was caused. Shortly afterward up to three more torpedoes struck  Yamato. Two impacts —on the port
side near the engine room and on one of the boiler rooms —are confirmed; the third is disputed but is regarded by
Garzke and Dulin as probable because it would explain the reported flooding in Yamato's auxiliary steering room.
The attack ended around 12:47, leaving the battleship to list 5 – 6°
6° to port; counterflooding —deliberately flooding
compartments on the other side of the ship —reduced the list to 1°. One boiler room had been disabled, slightly
reducing Yamato's top speed, and strafing had incapacitated many of the gun crews who manned Yamato's
[52]
unprotected 25 mm anti-aircraft weapons, sharply curtailing their effectiveness.

The second attack started just before 13:00. In a coordinated strike,

dive bombers flew high overhead to begin their runs while torpedo
laden aircraft approached from all directions at just above sea level.
Overwhelmed by the number of targets, the battleship's anti-aircraft
guns were less than effective, and the Japanese tried desperate
measures to break up the attack. Yamato's main guns were loaded with
 Beehive shells fused to explode one second after firing —a mere
(unknown operator: u'strong' ft) from the ship —but this had
1000 m (unknown
little effect. Four or five torpedoes struck the battleship, three or four to
port and one to starboard. Three hits, close together on the port side,
Yamato photographed during the battle by an
are confirmed: one struck a fireroom that had been hit earlier, one aircraft from USS Yorktown (CV-10). The
impacted a different fireroom, and the third hit the hull adjacent to a battleship is on fire and visibly listing to port.

previously damaged outboard engine room, increasing the water that

Japanese battleship Yamato 9

had already been flowing into that space and possibly causing flooding in nearby locations. The fourth hit (though
unconfirmed) may have struck aft of the third; Garzke and Dulin believe this would explain the rapid flooding that
[55]
reportedly occurred in that location. This attack left Yamato in a perilous position, listing 15 – 18°
18° to port.
Counterflooding all of the remaining starboard void spaces lessened this to 10°, but further correction would have
required either repairs or flooding the starboard engine and fire rooms. Although the battleship was in no danger of 
sinking at this point, the list meant that the main battery was unable to fire and her maximum speed was limited to 18
[56]
(unknown operator: u'strong' km/h; unknown operator: u'strong' mph).
knots (unknown
The third and most
most damaging attack 
att ack developed
developed at about 13:40. At least four bombs hit the ship's superstructure and
caused heavy casualties
c asualties among her 25 mm anti-aircraft gun crews. Many near misses drove in her outer plating,
partially compromising her defense against torpedoes. Most serious were four more torpedo impacts. Three exploded
on the port side, increasing water intake into the port inner engine room and flooding yet another fireroom and the
steering gear room. With the auxiliary steering room already underwater, the ship lost all maneuverability and
became stuck in a starboard turn. The fourth torpedo most likely hit the starboard outer engine room which, along
with three other rooms on the starboard side, was in the process of being counterflooded to reduce the port list. The
torpedo strike increased the rate of water intake by a large margin, trapping many crewmen before they could
[57]
escape.
At 14:02 the order was belatedly given to abandon ship. By this time Yamato's
unknown operator: u'strong' km/h; unknown
speed had dropped to 10 knots ((unknown
operator: u'strong' mph) and her list was steadily increasing. Fires were raging
out of control in some sections of the ship and alarms had begun to sound on the
bridge warning of critical temperatures in the forward main battery
[58]
magazines. Normal practice would have been to flood the magazines,
preventing any explosion, but the pumping stations that should have performed
[59]
this task had been rendered unusable by previous flooding.

At 14:05 Yahagi sank, the victim of twelve bombs and seven torpedoes. At the
same time a final flight of torpedo bombers attacked Yamato from her starboard
of Yamato's
The explosion of Yamato's
side. Her list was now such that the torpedoes —set to a depth of 6.1 m
magazines
(unknown operator: u'strong' ft) —
 —impacted on the bottom of her hull. The

[26]
battleship continued her inexorable roll to port. By 14:20 the power went out
and her remaining 25 mm anti-aircraft guns began to drop into the sea. Three minutes later Yamato capsized. Her
main 46 cm turrets fell off, and as she rolled it created a suction that drew swimming crewmen back towards the
ship. When the roll reached approximately 120° one of the two bow magazines detonated in a tremendous
[59]
explosion. ( unknown operator: u'strong' mi) high, was seen
The resulting mushroom cloud —over 6 kilometres (unknown
[60]
(unknown operator: u'strong' mi) away on Kyūshū.
160 kilometres (unknown Yamato sank rapidly, losing an estimated
[26][61]
2,055 of her 2,332 crew, including Vice-Admiral Seiichi Itō, the fleet commander. The few survivors were
[26]
recovered by the four surviving destroyers, which withdrew to Japan.

From the first attack at 12:37 to the explosion at 14:23, Yamato was hit by at least eleven torpedoes and six bombs.
[59][62]
Two more torpedo and bomb hits are possible, but unconfirmed.

Wreck discovery
Because of the often confused circumstances and incomplete information regarding their sinkings, few wrecks of 
[]
Japanese capital ships have been discovered and identified. Drawing on US wartime records, an expedition to the
[63]
South China Sea in 1982 produced some results, but the wreckage discovered could not be clearly identified. A
second expedition returned to the site two years later, and the team's photographic and video records were later
confirmed by one of the battleship's designers, Shigeru Makino to show the Yamato's last resting place. The wreck 
Japanese battleship Yamato 10

( unknown operator: u'strong' mi) southeast of Kyushu under 340 metres (unknown
lies 290 kilometres (unknown ( unknown operator:
u'strong' ft) of water in two main pieces; a bow section comprising the front two thirds of the ship, and a separate
[63]
stern section.

Cultural significance
From the time of their construction Yamato and her sister  Musashi
carried significant weight in Japanese culture. The battleships
represented the epitome of Imperial Japanese naval engineering, and
because of their size, speed, and power, visibly embodied Japan's
determination and readiness to defend its interests against the Western
Powers and the United States in particular. Shigeru Fukudome, chief of 
the Operations Section of the Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff,
described the ships as "symbols of naval power that provided to
officers and men alike a profound sense of confidence in their
[64] The very large model at the Yamato Museum,
navy." Yamato's symbolic might was such that some Japanese
with museum visitors (2009)
citizens held the belief that their country could never fall as long as the
[65]
ship was able to fight.

Decades after the war, Yamato was memorialised in various forms by the Japanese. Historically, the word "Yamato"
[66][67]
was used as a poetic name for Japan; thus, her name became a metaphor for the end of
o f the Japanese empire. In
April 1968, a memorial tower was erected on Cape Inutabu in Japan's Kagoshima Prefecture to commemorate the
[68]
lives lost in Operation Ten-Go. In October 1974, Leiji Matsumoto created a new television series, Space
 Battleship Yamato, about rebuilding the battleship as a starship and its interstellar quest to save Earth. The series was
a huge success, spawning five feature films and two more TV series; as post war Japanese tried to redefine the
purpose of their lives, Yamato became a symbol of heroism and of their desire to regain a sense of masculinity after
[69][70]
their country's defeat in the war. Brought to the United States as Star Blazers , the animated series proved
[71]
popular and established a foundation for anime in the North American entertainment market. The motif in Space
 Battleship Yamato was repeated in Silent Service , a popular manga and anime that explores issues of nuclear
weapons and the Japan-US relationship. The crew of the main plot device, a nuclear powered super submarine,
mutinied and renamed their vessel Yamato, in allusion to the World War II battleship and the ideals she
[72]
symbolises.
In 2005, the Yamato Museum was opened near the site of the former Kure shipyards. Although intended to educate
[73]
on the maritime history of post Meiji era Japan, the museum gives special attention to its namesake; the battleship
is a common theme among several of its exhibits, which includes a section dedicated to Matsumoto's animated
[74]
series. The centrepiece of the museum, occupying a large section of the first floor, is a 26.3 metre long model of 
[75]
Yamato (1:10 scale).
Later that year, Toei released a 143 minute movie, Yamato, based on a book by Jun Henmi, to commemorate the
60th anniversary of the end of World War II; Tamiya released special editions of scale models of the battleship in
[76]
conjunction with the film's release. Based on a book of the same name, the film is a tale about the sailors aboard
the doomed battleship and the concepts of honour and duty. The film was shown on more than 290 screens across the
[77][78]
country and was a commercial success, taking in a record 5.11 billion yen at the domestic box office.
Japanese battleship Yamato 11

Notes
[1] Skulsk
Skulskii (2004)
(2004),, p. 8.
8.
[2] Jentshura,
Jentshura, Jung
Jung and Mickel
Mickel (1977),
(1977), p. 38.
38.
[3] Jentshura,
Jentshura, Jung
Jung and Mickel
Mickel (1977),
(1977), p. 39.
39.
[4] Jackson
Jackson (2000), p. 74; Jentshura,
Jentshura, Jung
Jung and Mickel (1977),
(1977), p. 38.
[5] Jackso
Jackson
n (2000),
(2000), p. 128.
128.
[6] Johnst
Johnston
on and McAul
McAuley,
ey, p. 123
123
[7] Parshall,
Parshall, Jon; Bob Hackett,
Hackett, Sander Kingsepp,
Kingsepp, & Allyn Nevitt.
Nevitt. "Combined
"Combined Fleet – Yamato Class Battleship" (http:/  / combinedfleet.com/ 
combinedfleet.com/ 
ships/ yamato).
yamato). . Retrieved 25 October 2008.
[8] Willmot
Willmottt (2000),
(2000), p. 32.
[9] Garzke and Dulin
Dulin (1985),
(1985), p. 44.
[10] Garzke
Garzke and
and Dulin,
Dulin, pp.
pp. 45 – 51
51
[11]
[11] Hough
Hough,, p. 205
205
[12] Skulsk
Skulskii (2004)
(2004),, pp. 8 – 
11.
11.
 – 

[13] Johnston
Johnston and McAuley
McAuley (2000),
(2000), p. 122.
122.
[14] Willmott (2000), p. 35. The Japanese Empire produced 3.5% of the world's industrial output, while the United States produced 35%.
[15] Garzke and Dulin
Dulin (1985),
(1985), pp. 52 54.
54.
 – 
 – 

[16] Garzke and Dulin

Dulin (1985),
(1985), p. 53.
[17] Garzke and Dulin
Dulin (1985),
(1985), pp. 50 51.
51.
 – 
 – 

[18] Garzke and Dulin

Dulin (1985),
(1985), p. 54.
[19] Garzke and Dulin
Dulin (1985),
(1985), p. 55.
[20]
[20] Jackso
Jackson
n (2000),
(2000), p.
p. 75.
[21] Johnston and McAuley (2000), p. 123. Because of the size of the guns and thickness of armor, each of the three main turrets weighed
weighed more
than a good sized destroyer.
[22] Johnston
Johnston and McAuley
McAuley (2000),
(2000), p. 180.
180.
[23] Garzke/Dulin and Whitley's books do not give specific dates, and disagree on the month; the former gives October, and the latter gives
November.Whitley (1998), p. 211.
[24]
[24] Skulsk
Skulskii (2004)
(2004),, p. 10.
10.
[25]
[25] Ballar
Ballard
d (1999),
(1999), p. 36.
[26] "Combin
"Combined
ed Fleet of Yamato"" (http:/ 
Fleet – tabular history of Yamato  / combinedfleet.com/ 
combinedfleet. com/ yamato.htm).
yamato.htm). Parshall, Jon; Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp, &
Allyn Nevitt. 2009. . Retrieved 1 April 2010.
[27] Whitle
Whitley
y says
says that
that Yamato left six days earlier (the 11th).
Dulin report that Yamato entered Truk on the 29th.
[28] Garzke and Dulin
[29]
[29] Whitle
Whitley
y (1998),
(1998), p. 212.
212.
[30]
[30] Steinbe
Steinberg
rg (1978),
(1978), p.
p. 147.
[31]
[31] Whitle
Whitley
y (1998),
(1998), p. 213.
213.
[32] Garzke and Dulin
Dulin (1985),
(1985), p. 56.
[33]
[33] Reynold
Reynoldss (1982),
(1982), p. 139.
139.
[34]
[34] Reynold
Reynoldss (1982),
(1982), p. 152.
152.
[35] Garzke and Dulin
Dulin (1985),
(1985), p. 57.
[36] Garzke and Dulin
Dulin (1985),
(1985), p. 58.
[37]
[37] Skulsk
Skulskii (2004)
(2004),, p. 11.
11.
[38]
[38] Reynold
Reynoldss (1982),
(1982), p. 156.
156.
[39] Garzke and Dulin
Dulin (1985),
(1985), p. 59.
[40] "Yamato (Battleship, 1941 – 1945)
1945) — in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, 22 – 26
26 October 1944" (http:/ 
 / www.history.
www. history.navy.
navy.mil/ 
mil/ photos/ 
photos/ sh-fornv/ 
sh-fornv/ 
 japan/ 
 japsh-xz/ yamato-k.htm). Japanese Navy Ships
yamato-k.htm). Japanese Ships. Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. 13 May 2000. . Retrieved 7 March
2009.
[41]
[41] Steinbe
Steinberg
rg (1980),
(1980), p.
p. 60
[42]
[42] Steinbe
Steinberg
rg (1980),
(1980), p.
p. 63.
[43]
[43] Wheele
Wheelerr (1980),
(1980), p. 183.
183.
[44]
[44] Jackso
Jackson
n (2000),
(2000), p. 129.
129.
[45]
[45] Reynold
Reynoldss (1982),
(1982), p. 160.
160.
[46]
[46] Reynold
Reynoldss (1968),
(1968), p. 338.
338.
[47] Led by the man who planned the attack on Pearl Harbor, Minoru Genda,
Genda, the appearance of these fighters, which were equal or superior in
performance to the F6F Hellcat, surprised the attackers and several American planes were shot down.
[48]
[48] Feifer
Feifer (2001
(2001),
), p. 7.
[49]
[49] Reynold
Reynoldss (1982),
(1982), p. 166.
166.
[50] Garzke and Dulin
Dulin (1985),
(1985), p. 60.
Japanese battleship Yamato 12

[51] Authors Garzke and Dulin speculate that the likely outcome of a battle between the two forces would have been a victory for the Allies, but
at a serious cost due to the large margin of superiority Yamato held over the old battleships in firepower (460 mm vs. 356 mm), armour and
(unknown operator: u'strong' km/h; unknown operator: u'strong' mph) vs. 21 knots (unknown
speed (27 knots (unknown (unknown operator:
u'strong' km/h; unknown operator: u'strong' mph)).
[52] Garzke and Dulin
Dulin (1985),
(1985), pp. 60 61.
61.
 – 
 – 

[53] The poor quality of the

the Japanese naval radar during World War II meant that only large groups of planes could be detected. Smaller
detachments were usually picked up via line of sight
[54] This account
account is
is based on Garzke
Garzke and Dulin's Battleships: Axis and
Dulin's Battleships: and Neutral Battleships
Battleships in World War
War II . Other works generally agree,
although the exact timings of events can vary between sources.
[55] Garzke and Dulin
Dulin (1985),
(1985), pp. 62 63.
63.
 – 
 – 

[56] Garzke and Dulin

Dulin (1985),
(1985), p. 63.
[57] Garzke and Dulin
Dulin (1985),
(1985), pp. 64 65.
65.
 – 
 – 

[58] Garzke and Dulin

Dulin state in their 1985 account that
that the alarms were for the aft magazines. Yamato's
magazines.Yamato 's wreck was discovered that same year and
more detailed surveys were completed in 1999; these conclude that it was the fore magazines that exploded. Corroborating evidence comes
from Yamato's
Yamato's Executive Officer, Nomura Jiro, who testified that he saw warning lights for the forward magazines.Tully, Anthony (4
September 2009). "Located/Surveyed Shipwrecks of the Imperial Japanese Navy" (http:/  / www.combinedfleet.
www. combinedfleet.com/ 
com/ atully08.htm).
atully08.htm).
 Mysteries/Untold Sagas
Sagas of the Imperial
Imperial Japanese Navy.
Navy. . Retrieved 23 January 2010.
[59] Garzke and Dulin
Dulin (1985),
(1985), p. 65.
[60]
[60] Reynold
Reynoldss (1982),
(1982), p. 169.
169.
[61] Garzke and Dulin
Dulin give a slightly different
different number of 2,063 out of 2,332 lost. An exact number is unknown.
unknown.
[62]
[62] Whitle
Whitley
y (1998),
(1998), p. 216.
216.
[63] "Remains
"Remains of sunken
sunken Japanese
Japanese battleship Yamato discovered" (http:/ 
battleship  / news.google.
news. google.com/ 
com/ newspapers?id=FP0tAAAAIBAJ&
newspapers?id=FP0tAAAAIBAJ&
sjid=f6cFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6363,2384338).
sjid=f6cFAAAAIBAJ& pg=6363,2384338). Reading Eagle. Associated Press. 4 August 1985. . Retrieved 31 March 2010.
 Reading Eagle.
[64] Evans and Peattie
Peattie (1997), pp. 298, 378.
[65] "A bomb survivors
survivors leery of battleship hype". Yomiuri Shimbun.
battleship hype". Shimbun. 6 August 2006.
[66] Yoshida
Yoshida and Minear (1985),
(1985), p. xvii; Evans
Evans and Peattie
Peattie (1997), p. 378.
[67]
[67] Skulsk
Skulskii (2004)
(2004),, p. 7.
[68] Bill Gordon (27 March
March 2010). "Battleship
"Battleship Yamato
Yamato Memorial Tower"
Tower" (http:/ 
 / wgordon.web.
wgordon. web.wesleyan.
wesleyan.edu/ 
edu/ kamikaze/ 
kamikaze/ monuments/ 
monuments/ yamato/ 
yamato/ 
index.htm).
index. htm). . Retrieved 6 April 2010.
[69] Mizuno
Mizuno (2007),
(2007), pp.
pp. 106, 110
110 – 111,
111, 121 – 122.
122.
[70]
[70] Levi
Levi (1998
(1998),
), p.
p. 72.
72.
[71]
[71] Wright
Wright (2009
(2009),
), p. 99.
[72] Mizuno
Mizuno (2007)
(2007),, pp. 114
114 – 
115.
115.
 – 

[73] "Outli
"Outline"
ne" (http:/ 
(http:/ 
 / www.yamato-museum.
www.yamato-museum.com/ 
com/ en/ 
en/ concept/ 
concept/ policy.html).
policy.html). Hiroshima, Japan: Yamato Museum. 2008. . Retrieved 29 March
2010.
[74] "Yamato
"Yamato Museum
Museum Leaflet"
Leaflet" (http:/ 
 / yamato.kure-city.
yamato. kure-city. jp/ 
 jp/ english/ 
english/ eng.indd.
eng. indd.pdf)
pdf) (PDF). Hiroshima, Japan: Yamato Museum. 2005. .
Retrieved 2 April 2010.
[75]
[75] "Yam
"Yamat
ato
o —Kure Maritime Museum Leaflet" (http:/ 
 / www.yamato-museum.
www.yamato-museum.com/ 
com/ concept/ 
concept/ pdf/ 
pdf/ ref09_3_eng.pdf)
ref09_3_eng.pdf) (PDF). Hiroshima,
Japan: Yamato Museum. 2008. . Retrieved 2 April 2010.
[76] "戦 艦 
艦 大 
大 和 
和 ・ 
・ 映 
映 画 
画 「 
「 男 
男 た 
た ち 
ち の 
の 大 
大 和 
和 ／ 
／ YAMATO」 特 
特 別 
別 仕 
仕 様様 [Battleship Yamato —Special Edition for Yamato the
Movie]" (http:/ 
 / www.tamiya.
www.tamiya.com/ 
com/ 
 japan/ products/ 
products/ 8966x_yamato/ 
8966x_yamato/ index.htm)
index.htm) (in Japanese). Tamiya Corporation. 14 December 2005. .
Retrieved 28 March 2010.
[77] "「 One piece」 が 
が 爆 
爆 発 
発 的 
的 ヒ 
ヒ ッ 
ッ ト 
ト 、 
、 「 
「 男 
男 た 
た ち 
ち の 
の 大 
大 和 
和 」」 「 
「 相 
相 棒 
棒 」」 を 
を 超 
超 え 
え た 
た 背 
背 景 
景 と 
と は 
は … [One Piece is a
Runaway Hit, Could It Surpass Yamato and Aibou
and Aibou...]"
...]" (http:/ 
 / www.hollywood-ch.
www.hollywood-ch.com/ 
com/ news/ 
news/ 09121302.html)
09121302. html) (in Japanese). Hollywood 
Japanese). Hollywood 
Channel (Japan: Broadmedia). 13 December 2009. . Retrieved 27 March 2010.
[78] "「 
「 相 
相 棒 
棒 」」 50億 
億 円 
円 超 
超 え 
え ち 
ち ゃ 
ゃ う 
う 大 
大 ヒ 
ヒ ッ 
ッ ト 
ト の 
の 予 
予 感 
感 ？？ 水 
水 谷 
谷 と 
と 寺 
寺 脇 
脇 が 
が 初 
初 日 
日 に 
に ノ 
ノ リ 
リ ノ 
ノ リ 
リ で 
で 登 
登 場 
場 ！！
[Seems Aibou Will be a 5 Billion Yen Big Hit? Mizutani and Terawaki Makes an Entrance on Opening Day in High Spirits!]" (http:/ 
[Seems Aibou  / www.
www.
cinematoday. jp/ 
 jp/ page/ N0013689) (in Japanese). CinemaToday (Japan: Welva). 1 May 2008. . Retrieved 27 March 2010.
page/ N0013689)
Japanese battleship Yamato 13

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• Whit
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8).. Battleships of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia
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Japanese battleship Yamato 14

External links
• Yama
Yamato
to Muse
Museum
um (http
(http:/ 
:/ 
 / www.yamato-museum.
www.yamato-museum.com/ 
com/ en/ 
en/ )
• Joseph
Joseph Czarnecki,
Czarnecki, "What
"What did the
the USN know
know about
about Yamato
Yamato and when?"
when?" (http:/ 
(http:/ 
 / www.navweaps.
www.navweaps.com/ 
com/ 
index_tech/ tech-084.htm)
tech-084.htm)
• US Navy
Navy histo
history
ry page
page on the
the Yamat
Yamato
o (http:
(http:/ 
/ 
 / www.history.navy.
www.history.navy.mil/ 
mil/ photos/ 
photos/ sh-fornv/ 
sh-fornv/ 
 japan/ 
 japsh-xz/ yamato.
yamato.
htm)
• The
The Bat
Battl
tlee Off
Off Sama
Samarr – Taffy III at Leyte Gulf website (http:/  / www.bosamar.com/ 
www.bosamar.com/ ) by Robert Jon Cox
Article Sources and Contributors 15

Article Sources and Contributors

Japanese battleship Yamato Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/inde
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=506420 254 Contributors: -js-, 0607crp, 2T, 4wajzkd02, A. B., A. Exeunt, A.R., A2Kafir, Abalcar,
x.php?oldid=506420254
Abhishek191288, Aeonimitz, Agentbla,
Agentbla, Al Simmons, Alai, AlexiusHoratius, Alexpl, Alonso de Mendoza, Andre Engels, Andycjp, Anthony Appleyard, Ariah, Arima, Art LaPella, Attilios,
Aurora sword, AussieLegend, Avenged Evanfold, Avihu, Bachcell, Barnej, Bdesham, Beetstra, Bellhalla, Bendono, Benea, Bertus, Bilsonius, Binksternet, BismarckTitanic,
BismarckTitanic, Blackpccase,
Blackworm, BlaiseFEgan, Bobblewik, Bonewah, Bosamar, Brad101, Brandmeister, Brian Kendig, Bruce1ee, Bryan Derksen, Bucketfoot-al, Bukubku, Busaccsb, Captain Impulse, Carnildo,
Catsmeat, Cdc, Chiba007, Chris the speller, Cla68, Clarityfiend, Clawed, Climie.ca, Clindberg, Closedmouth, Cnilep, Colonel Cow, Confuzion, Cuchullain, Danceswithzerglings, Dank,
Darthbob100, Dave-ros, Davensuze, David Newton, Dawnseeker2000,
Dawnseeker2000, Dbenbenn, DebtMan, Decafpenguin, Delta 51, Denniss, Deschreiber, Dick Kimball, DocWatson42, Donfbreed, Durin,
Dweller, ERcheck, Eaglestorm, Elassint, Emperorbma, EoGuy, Erzengel, Espen, EurekaLott, EwokWarrior, EyeSerene, Falcorian, Fernvale, Flewellyn, Fosnez, Fred8615, Fredrik, Friedfish,
Fuzzy901, GabrielF, Gaius Cornelius, Ganesha, Gavia immer, Gdr, Gene Nygaard, Gilliam, Glanthor Reviol, Gobeirne, Gogo Dodo, Golbez, GoldDragon, GraemeLeggett, Greenshed, Grm wnr,
Gssq, Guanaco, Gulfstorm75, Gunbirddriver, H27kim, HarveyHenkelmann, Haus, Hdw, Hellcat fighter, Herr Gruber, Hohum, Hokeman, Hornfischer, Hydraton31, Iamiowa, Ian Rose, IanManka,
Ida Shaw, Ingolfson, InnocuousPseudonym, Ionides2, J.delanoy, Jameslwoodward,
Jameslwoodward, Jappalang, Jeff G., JetLover, Jim1138, Jll, Joconnor, Joealtus, John, John Prattley, JonRichfield, Joseph Solis
in Australia, Kaihsu, Kaitoh93, Kaiwhakahaere, Kate, Khutuck, Kowloonese, Kresadlo, Kusunose, La Pianista, Lacrimosus, Leandrod, Leif, Leonard G., Leslie Mateus, Lightmouse, Ling.Nut,
Loopear, Loosmark, Lrenh, Lupinoid, Lyellin, MBK004, MChew, MadMax, Marauder09, Marcus Qwertyus, Mark Kim, MastCell, Mav, Megapixie, Mgiganteus1, Mgiganteus1, Midori, Miserlou,
Miwasatoshi, Mmuroya, MoRsE, Mohummy, Moroboshi, Mostergr, Movyn, Mr Grim Reaper, N Watson, N328KF, Naaman Brown, Nanshu, NativeForeigner, Nautical, Neier,
NewEnglandYankee,
NewEnglandYankee, Nick Number, Nick-D, NickBush24, Nigel Ish, Nobunaga24, Nova77, Oberiko, OldakQuill, Ontopofthewall, PRRfan, PaladinWhite, PaladinWhite, Palm dogg, Palnatoke, Parsecboy,
Parsecboy, Pat
Berry, Patiwat, Pavel Vozenilek, Per Honor et Gloria, Pibwl, Piet Delport, Piledhigheranddeeper, Pilot850, Pinball22,
Pinball22, PoccilScript, Pol098, Poli, Portuguese Man o' War, Profoss, R-41, Rama,
Ranger Steve, Raul654, Rave, Revth, Rich Farmbrough, Richard Keatinge, RjCan, Rje, Rjwilmsi, RobertG, Rsquire3, Ryan Roos, SDCHS, SSDPenguin, SYSS Mouse, Saaska, Sakhal, Sakkura,
Scott Mingus, Scubakid87, Secondworldwar, Seeker alpha806, Seibun, Shibumi2, Signaleer, Snestank, SpookyMulder, Spot87, Spventi, Srajan01, Staygyro, Stephen Hui, Sturmvogel 66,
Suguru@Musashi, Sus scrofa, TBDuval, Tabunoki, TalShiar, Tangotango, TarenCapel, Tec15, Tectar, TerraFrost, The ed17, Theanthrope, Thingg, Thomas Yeardly, Tiller54, TitaniumCarbide,
TitaniumCarbide,
TomTheHand, Tommy2010, Tony1, Toytoy, Trainik, Trekphiler, Tripbeetle, Truthanado, Tsteil, Ucucha, Unregistered.coward, V8Cougar, Vamsae, Varlaam, Vaughnstull, Velella, Vgy7ujm,
Vina, Welsh, WereSpielChequers, Wikieditoroftoday,
Wikieditoroftoday, Wikiuser100, Wildsurmise, Wolcott, Woohookitty, Wwoods, Xdamr, Xyl 54, Yaki-gaijin, Yosy, Youandme, ZelconWillowmen,
ZelconWillowmen,
Zerobandwidth, ²¹², АлександрВв, Подпоручикъ, 459 anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors

File:Yamato Trial 1941.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fil
php?title=File:Yamato_Trial_1941.jpg  License: Public Domain Contributors: Felix Stember, Igiveup, Jappalang,
e:Yamato_Trial_1941.jpg
Makthorpe, Megapixie
File:Naval Ensign of Japan.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/inde
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=F
x.php?title=File:Naval_Ensign_of_Japan.svg  License: GNU Free Documentation License Contributors: David Newton,
ile:Naval_Ensign_of_Japan.svg
uploader was Denelson83
File:Yamato battleship under construction.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fi
.php?title=File:Yamato_ba
le:Yamato_battleship_under_construction.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Kure
ttleship_under_construction.jpg
Naval Base
File:Yamato during Trial Service.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/inde
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=F
x.php?title=File:Yamato_duri
ile:Yamato_during_Trial_Service.jpg  License: Public Domain Contributors: Yamatotrials.jpg:
ng_Trial_Service.jpg Yamatotrials.jpg:
Unknown derivative work: 0607crp (talk)
File:YamatoClassBattleships.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/inde
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=F
x.php?title=File:YamatoCl
ile:YamatoClassBattleships.jpg  License: Public Domain Contributors: 神 田 
assBattleships.jpg 神  田 武 
武 夫 
夫 
File:Yamato1945.png Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fil
php?title=File:Yamato1945.png  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike
e:Yamato1945.png Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Contributors: Alexpl
File:Yamato hit by bomb.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/inde
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=F
x.php?title=File:Yamato_hit_by_bomb.jpg  License: Public Domain Contributors: Denniss, Igiveup, Ingolfson, Makthorpe,
ile:Yamato_hit_by_bomb.jpg
Rcbutcher, Schekinov Alexey Victorovich, Schimmelreiter
File:Yamato under air attack.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fil
php?title=File:Yamato_unde
e:Yamato_under_air_attack.jpg  License: Public Domain Contributors: Unknown US Navy personnel
r_air_attack.jpg
File:YamatoTenGoOfficers.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/inde
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=F
x.php?title=File:YamatoTenGoOfficers.jpg  License: Public Domain Contributors: BrokenSphere, Cla68, PMG,
ile:YamatoTenGoOfficers.jpg
Raul654, Sceadugenga
File:Yamato maneuvering.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/inde
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=F
x.php?title=File:Yamato_maneuvering.jpg  License: Public Domain Contributors: Igiveup, PMG, Sceadugenga
ile:Yamato_maneuvering.jpg
File:Yamato damaged 7 apr 1945.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fil
php?title=File:Yamato_dam
e:Yamato_damaged_7_apr_1945.jpg  License: Public Domain Contributors: BrokenSphere,
aged_7_apr_1945.jpg
Denniss, Ingolfson, Makthorpe, Rama, Yann78
File:Yamato explosion.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/inde
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=F
x.php?title=File:Yamato_e
ile:Yamato_explosion.jpg
xplosion.jpg  License: Public Domain Contributors: BrokenSphere, Igiveup, Makthorpe, Man vyi
File:YAMATO Moder.JPG Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/inde
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=F
x.php?title=File:YAMATO_Moder.JPG  License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Contributors:
ile:YAMATO_Moder.JPG
Carpkazu

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