Statement
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Developmenthistory
Developmentbackground
Intheearly1930s,theJapaneseImperialNavy,whichhadbecomeoneoftheworld’snavalpowers,Britishnavychallenge.InJanuary1934,whenJapanreviseditsimperialdefensepolicy,itofficiallylistedtheUnitedStatesasanimaginaryenemy.In1935,theLondonNavalConferencewasconvened.Japanputforwardanequalrequirementforarmamentconstructionandadvocatedtheestablishmentofacommonmaximumpossessionofallcountriesintheworldto"guaranteemutualsecurity",butitwasopposedbyothercountries.In1936,JapanrefusedtosignthenewLondonNavalTreatyandannounceditswithdrawalfromtheConferenceonDisarmament.InJune1936,JapanonceagainreviseditsnationaldefensepolicyandclearlyproposedaninterceptionstrategyagainsttheUnitedStates.Thatis,theImperialJapaneseNavywasfightingagainsttheUnitedStatesintheWesternPacific.Atthebeginningofthewar,themainforceoftheUSFarEastNavyhadtobeeliminatedandtheUSNavy’sactivitiesweredestroyedorseized.ThebasewillthenusethewaterswestoftheOgasawaraIslandsasthescheduledmaritimebattlefieldtointerceptandannihilatetheU.S.fleetofshipsthatarereinforcedbytheUnitedStates.
TheJapaneseAdmiraltybelievesthattowinthewaragainsttheUnitedStates,battleshipsarestillneeded.However,becauseJapanisacountrywitharelativelyweakindustrialbaseandlackofresources,itisdifficulttocompetewiththeUnitedStatesintermsofthenumberofwarships,andevenlessabletocompetewiththeUnitedStatesNavyintermsofthenumberofwarships.Inaccordancewithitspolicyof"quantityshortageandqualitycompensation"sincetheMeijiera,Japanhasestablishedadevelopmentstrategythatusesthepoweradvantageofasinglebattleshiptooffsettheopponent'squantitativeadvantage.TheJapaneseMinistryoftheNavypredictsthatthewidthofbattleshipsbuiltbytheU.S.Navywillbeequippedwith406mmnavalgunsduetotherestrictionsofthePanamaTreaty.Japanhadtrial-produceda460mmnavalgunasearlyas1916,andmanufactureda480mmnavalgunin1920,andhascertainexperienceinthemanufactureoflarge-caliberartillery.Underthisideologicalguidance,theJapaneseNavybegantopreparetobuildasuperbattleshipequippedwitha460mmcalibermaingun,andtoformamaritimestrikeforcewithbattleshipsasthecore.
ConstructionHistory
In1932,JapanbeganthedesignofYamato-classbattleships.
InOctober1934,theJapaneseNavyofficiallyissuedthedesigntaskofanewbattleship,requiring8ormore460mmmainguns,12155mmsecondaryguns,or8200mmsecondaryguns.Withamaximumspeedofmorethan30knots,thehulldefensivearmorcanwithstandtheblowsofitsmaingunsatadistanceof20-35kilometers.
FromMarch10,1935toJuly20,1936,23designsfromA-140toA-140F5weresuccessivelyproposed.Amongthem,theoriginalA-140plan,thenewbattleshiphasanormaldisplacementof69,500tons,alengthof294meters,amainengineoutputof200,000shafthorsepower,amaximumspeedof31knots,andanenduranceof8,000nauticalmiles/18knots.LiketheBritishNelson-classbattleships,thegunsareconcentratedonthefrontdeck.TheJapaneseNavyfinallyadoptedthedesignoftwotriple-mountedmainturretsonthefrontdeckandonetriple-mountedmainturretonthereardeck.Amongthevariousdesignschemesofthenewship,thepowerplantwasoriginallyplannedtouseahybridpowerofasteamturbineandadieselengine.DuetothehighfailurerateoftheJapaneseNavy’sdieselengine-mountedOwhalesubmarinecarrier,theplanwasfinallyabandonedandthefinalA-140F5planwasusedfortheconstructionoftheYamatobattleship(5photos)
Onlysteamturbinesareusedinp>.
In1937,theJapaneseNavyformulatedtheArmamentSupplementPlan(the"03ShipSupplementPlan",alsoknownasthe03Plan),andformallydeterminedtheconstructionoftwoYamato-classbattleshipsinaccordancewiththeA-140F6plan,namelythe"Yamato"and""Musashi".Japanspentahugesumofmoneytoaddalotofnewequipmenttoitsshipbuildingindustry.Itpurchased15,000tonsofhydraulicpresses(16,000tonsinoneword)andthree70-tonacidopen-hearthfurnacesfromGermanytoproducearmoredsteelplatesincluding650mmthick(usedbyYamato’smainturret).)Includinglargeforgedparts.
OnNovember4,1937,constructionoftheNo.1shipbeganattheKureNavalFactoryShipyardinKureCity,HiroshimaPrefecture.Itsofficialnameis"WarshipYamato".("Yamato"isthenameoftheancientvassalcountryinNaraPrefecture,anditmeans"Japan"asXiangqu).
OnAugust8,1940,theYamatobattleship(abbreviatedas:Yamato)waslaunched.Inordertokeeptheshipunderconstruction,strictconfidentialitycontrolwascarriedout.Theshipyardwassurroundedbysurroundingareaswhereitcouldoverlooktheshipyard.AfterthelaunchoftheYamatoandYamato,theoutfittingprojectbegan.Duringtheentireconstructionprocess,itcost150billionyen(post-warprice),andtheaverageconstructioncostpertonwasabout2millionyen.
October1941,theYamatobegantrialsailing.OnDecember7,1941,thedaythePearlHarborincidentbrokeout,theYamato’strialsailingended.
Servicehistory
OnDecember16,1941,YamatowasofficiallycompletedandenteredintotheJapaneseJointFleet.
OnFebruary12,1942,YamatosucceededthebattleshipNagatoastheflagshipoftheJapanesecombinedfleet.
IntheearlymorningofApril7,1945,theYamatowasattackedbyaUScarrier-basedaircraftonthesouthwesternseaofKyushuIsland.Itwashitby10torpedoesand24bombs.ItsankonTokunoshima,southwestofKyushuIsland,Japan.Northwest,128degrees04minuteseastlongitude,30degrees43minutesnorthlatitude.
Technicalfeatures
Ship-typestructure
Ship-type
ThebowoftheYamatobattleshipisonthewaterlineThepositionisdeepandvertical,theupperpartisobviouslyinclinedforward,andthefrontofthebowisapproximatelysemicircular.ThesphericalbowadoptedbytheYamatoisoneofitsgreatestfeatures.Thissphericalbowislocatedabout3metersbelowthewaterline,andtheseatrialprovedthatthisbowhasobviousadvantages.Duetotheuseofthisnovelbow,thelengthofthewaterlineisreducedbyabout3meters,andthedisplacementissavedbyabout30tons.Atthesametime,thebulbousbowiscombinedwiththegoodlineardesignofthehull,whichmakesthehull'sdragreductionperformanceverygood.Withthemainenginepowerof150,000horsepower,thespeedexceeds27knots.
TheforedeckoftheYamatoisdifferentfromothersimilarwarships.Itsinnerwaistiscurvedandthehulliswider.Atsea,thestabilityofthebattleshiphullactuallyaffectstheshootingaccuracyofthemaingun.Large,butthehullisthickandshort,whichbringsbetterlongitudinalstability.Manyofitsimprovementshavebeenadoptedbylargewarshipsandaircraftcarrierslaterdesignedbycountriesaroundtheworld.
ThereardeckoftheYamatoisalsounique.Behindtherearmaingun,thereareorganicstorage,boatstorage,carrieraircraftrecoveryandlaunchingdevices,etc.Inordertoavoidtheimpactofartilleryshockwaves,hangars,boatgaragesandotherfacilitiesareundertheupperdeck.Thedeckbehindtherearmaingunisanirondeck.Therearetunnel-shapedboathousesonbothsidesoftherearmaingun.Thereartwosidesoftheboathousealsohaveoverhangs,underwhichtherearetracksforthemobileboatcranestoliftandunloadtheboats.Therearupperdeckissunkenatthesternoftheshipfortemporarystorageofcarrier-basedaircraftwhenhoisting,andthereisanopeninginfrontofthesunken,leadingtothehangar.Thehangarinsidetheshipislocatedinthemiddleoftheupperdeckandthemiddledeckinfrontoftherearmaingun.Thefronthalfareacanbeplacedonbothsidesof3fighterplanesand3observationplanes,andcarrier-basedaircraftlaunchersareinstalledonbothsides.TheshapeoftheYamato’ssternissimilartothatofacruiser,exceptthatthereisaflatplaceontherearendofthestern.Theseaplanerecoverydevicewasoriginallyplannedtobeinstalledhere,butitwasnotinstalledforsomereason.
TheweightdistributionoftheYamatoshipisasfollows:20,122tonsofhull,21,266tonsofarmor,1,629tonsofdefensiveplates,11,611tonsofweaponsystems,5,300tonsofmainequipment,1,756tonsofoutfitting,and417tonsoffixedequipment.641tonsofnon-fixedequipment,75tonsoftorpedoes,95tonsofnavigationandopticalequipment,1,108tonsofelectricalequipment,111tonsofaircraft,297tonsofboilerwater,212tonsofpreparedwater,4,210tonsofheavyoil,61tonsoflubricatingoil,and48tonsoflightoilTon.
Bridge
TheYamatohasatotalof2bridges.Thefrontbridgebeforethechimneyisthebattlecommandcenterofthewholeship.ThechimneyAfterthatistherearbridge,whichisthepreparatorycombatcommandpost(whentheartilleryfiresbeforeandafterthesplitfire,italsoservesastherearcommandpost).TheYamatochangedthesituationthatthebridgesoflargebattleshipsweretoolarge,startingfromtherealityofnavalbattles,andappearedveryconcise.Thesideareaofthebridgeis310squaremeters,butthefrontalareaisonly159squaremeters,whichisonlyhalfofthesidearea,andthewindresistanceisrelativelysmall;itadoptsadoublecylindricalstructurewithvariouslinesandpipesintheinnertubeandbetweentheinnerandoutertubes.Therearevariousspecialchambersinthemezzanine,anddevicesrelatedtocommandanddetectionarearrangedaroundtheoutercylinder.Inordertoreducetheimpactofshockwaves,therearefewopeningsontheoutsideofthebridge,andtheshapeofthebridgeisclosedandtidy.
ThetopofYamato’sfrontbridgeisequippedwithamaingunobservatory/maingunfiringcommandpost,abuilt-in98-typeazimuthplate,aperiscopetelescopeonthetop,anda15-meterrangefinderunderit.Belowthemaingunfiringcommandpostistheairdefensecommandpost.Anumberofhigh-colorbinocularsareinstalledaroundtheprotectiverotatingplateonthetopopendeck.Belowtheairdefensecommandpostisthedaytimecombatbridge,alsoknownasthefirstbridge.Thefrontandsideshaveairregulatingboardsandprotectivedevices.Usually,thecommanderandstaffofthefleetcommanderandhisheadquarters,captain,etc.directthebattlehere.Thenextflooristhewarroomandthecaptain’slounge.Thefollowingaretheupperobservationpost,thecompassroom(thatis,thenightbattlecommandpost),thelowerobservationpost(thesecondchartroom),andthecommandtower(actuallyacommunicationchannel,thatis,thecommunicationtube),etc.
Protection
ThearmorbeltofYamato,accordingtothedesignrequirementsofbattleships,canwithstandthearmorofitsown460mmmaingunat20～Shellingatadistanceof30kilometers.Thisclassofshipistheheaviestarmoredtypeintheentirebattleshiphistory.Thearmorbelthasbeenstrictlydesignedandprocessed,andithasagoodbullet-proofappearance.Thefrontalprotectiveshieldoftheship’smainturretis650mmthick,whichisthethickestironarmoreverseenintheworld’smilitaryhistory.The410mmsidearmorofthisclasshasaninclinationof20degrees(inclinedtotheinside).Thesidearmorinclinationisthelargestamongbattleships.The230mmarmorattheedgeofthemiddeckoftheYamatoalsohasaninclinationof7degrees.TheinclineddesignimprovestheresilienceofYamato'sarmor.TheYamato’sentireship’sarmorwasdeployedtoprovidekeyprotectionforthecommandtower,turret,mainengineandammunitiondepot;topreventaircraftbombingandlong-rangeartillerybattlesfromfallingatalargeangle,thedeckofimportantpartsoftheshipwasfurtherstrengthened.Atthesametime,inordertoreducetheweightoftheentireshipandensuretherotationspeedoftheturret,thedefensedesignoftheship’ssecondarygunisrelativelyweak.Itsturretarmoris25mm.)
Itcanonlydefendagainstshrapnelandnearmissingbullets.Theturretbaseofthesecondarygunuses75mmthickalloycopperarmortoprotecttheaccesstotheammunitiondepot.Twosub-turretswithweakdefensivecapabilitiesinstalledonthecenterlineoftheship’shullareadjacenttothemainturret.Theammunitionstorageistooclose.Oncethedamageishit,itwilleasilyspreadtothemainartilleryammunitionstorage.Thisisanobviousdefect.Thestrengtheningofprotectivemeasuresonlystrengthenedtheprotectionoftheammunitiondepot.Inordertopreventmineandtorpedoattacks,thebottomoftheYamatoclassusesathree-layerbottom.Atthesametime,inordertoimprovethesinkingresistance,theshipwasdividedinto1,147watertightcompartments.Thetorpedo-proofdesignoftheYamato-classhullisnotscientific,andthisisalsoamajorreasonforthesubsequentsinkingoftheYamato.Thecriticalpartsoftheship'sammunitioncompartment,mainengine,boilercompartment,etc.areconcentratedinthedefensivezoneprotectedbyheavyarmorbeltsinthemiddleofthewarship(extendingfromthefrontendofthefrontmainguntotherearendoftherearmaingun).Thesidearmorofthedefensivezoneextendsfromthemidshipwaterlinetothebottomofthebattleship.Thethicknessofthemainarmorbeltattheupperwaterlineis410mm,andthethicknessofthesidestrakebelowthemainarmorbeltis75-200mm(Decreasefromtoptobottom).Thearmoratthetopofthedefensivezoneislaidonthemiddeckofthebattleshipwithathicknessof200-230mm.Thefrontandrearendsofthedefensivezoneareprotectedby270-350mmthickarmoredwalls.
| Protectivearmor | ||
| Mainarmorbelt | Belowthemiddledeck | 410mm(135mmhardenedlayer) |
| Camberangle | 20° | |
| deck | upperdeck | td>35~55mm |
| Middeck | 200mm | tr>|
| turret | front | 650mm |
| Side | 250mm | |
| Top | 270mm | |
| Cannonmount | 560mm | |
| Bottom | 250mm | |
| Ammunitionbulkhead | Top | 270mm |
| Bottom | 50~80mm | |
| Inclination | 25° | |
| engineroom,boilerroom | top | 200mm |
| Tothebottomoftheship | 75~90mm | |
| Inclination | 14° |
Powersystem
TheYamatobattleshipisequippedwith12boilers,4steamturbines,amaximumenduranceof7,200nauticalmiles/16knots,andamaximumloadof6,400tonsofheavyoil.
TheYamatousesamaturetechnologysteamturbineinthedesign,sothattheshipcanreachaspeedof27knots.
Inordertoimprovethemaneuverability,Yamatoadoptedsemi-balancedrudder,whichisconfiguredfrontandrear,andthedistanceis15meters.).Thelargerearrudderisthemainrudder;thesmallfrontrudderistheauxiliaryrudder.Duetothelargeinertiaoftheship,itisdifficulttosteerwithonlytheauxiliaryrudder,whichassiststhemainrudder.Therearefacilitiessuchasbatteries,dieselengines,andhydraulicpumpsinthesteeringgearroomwiththickdeckprotection.Themainruddercanstillworkevenwhenthepowersupplyiscutoff.
TheYamatousesasinglechimney,andtheflueofeachboileriszigzagbackwards,connectingwithacertainpartofthechimney.Thechimneyisalsotiltedbackasfaraspossibletoavoidsmokeexhaustaffectingthebridgework.Inordertoensurethesafetyoftheopeningofthechimneyoftheshiphull,ahoneycombpanelisinstalledattheopening,whichis380mmthickandhasmanyventswithadiameterof180mm.Inaddition,50mmthickprotectionisinstalledontheslopeandsideofthechimney.Thesafetyofdecksandchimneyshasbeenimproved.
WeaponSystem
MainGun
TheYamatobattleshipisequippedwiththreetriple-mountedType9445-timesdiameter460mmnavalguns(Atotalof9),ofwhichtwotriple-mountedturretsarearrangedonthefrontdeck,andonetriple-mountedturretisarrangedonthereardeck.Atthattime,theJapanesenavykeptsecretthecaliberofthemaingun.ItwascalledtheType94400mmgunwithacaliber45timesthelengthofthegun.Theactualsizewas460mm.Thegunbodyweighs165tons.Thetotalweightofthethreeartilleryinaturretis1,720tons.Withtheweightoftheturretarmor(790tons)andammunition,thetotalweightoftherotationpartofasingleturretis2,774tons,whichisequivalenttotheJapaneseNavy'sAutumnMoonclass.Thedisplacementofthedestroyer.
TherearoftheYamatomainturretisequippedwitha93-type15-meterbaselinerangefinder(equippedwithagyro,whichcanmaintainstabilitywhensailing),andperiscopesightsareinstalledinthefrontofbothsidesoftheturretandinthefrontofthetop..Thepitchangleoftheturretis+45degreesto-5degrees.Whentheartilleryisloadedwithshells,itisfixedat+3degrees,thepitchspeedis8degreespersecond,andtheturretrevolvesfor3minutes.Thefiringspeedisthreevolleysin2minutes,1.8roundsperminute;thebasenumberofshellsis100roundspergun,eachroundweighs1.5tons,andeachroundhasachargeof330kilograms.Theraisingspeedis6secondsperround,andthereloadingismechanized.
Yamato’s460mmnavalgunisequippedwiththreetypes
TheinternalstructureofthemaingunsoftheYamatobattleship(2photos)
Theshellsare91typearmor-piercingshells,3typepairsAirbombsandhigh-explosivebombs.TheType91armor-piercingprojectileweighs1,460kg(33.85kgofbuilt-inexplosives),hasafiringpressureof32kg/mm2,muzzlevelocityof785meterspersecond,andamaximumrangeof42050meters(45degreeselevationangle).Themaingunhasarangeof40,700metersatanelevationof40degrees,35826metersat30degrees,27916metersat20degrees,and16,843metersat10degrees.TheweightoftheType3anti-aircraftandthehigh-explosiveprojectileis1360kg,andthemuzzlevelocityisalso805m/s.Forcombatingunarmoredtargetsandperformingshorebombingmissions.WhentheYamato’s9maingunsfiredatoneside,therecoilforcereached8,000tons,andtheshockwavewasalsoverystrongduringlaunch.TheJapaneseshipdesigndepartmentaimedtoreducetheshockwave
155mmnavalgun3Dmap(4photos)
,theliftingandventsarecentrallyarrangedbehindthewindshieldinfrontoftherearmaingun,whichcanmakethedeckinfrontoftherearmaingunlookcleanandsimple,andVentilatorscanbeusedtoreducetheimpactofthemaingunshockwave.Theshellsfiredafterthethree-unitmaingunsalvosofteninterferewitheachotherinflightandaffecttheshootingaccuracy.Previously,thisproblemwasgenerallysolvedbyalternatelyfiringthemiddleartillerywiththetwosideartillery,andYamatoinstalledacannonlaunchdelaydeviceonthemainguntodelaythelaunchtimeofthemiddleartillerycomparedtothetwosideartillery.From3/1000secondsto5/1000seconds,soastoensurethatthethreemaingunscanfireatthesametime.SecondaryArtillery
TheYamato’ssecondaryartilleryusesfourtriple-mounted60-timesdiameter155mmnavalguns,atotalof12,fourguns
YamatoBattleshipSeaplane(5photos)
Thetowerswereinstalledonthefrontandrearofthesuperstructureandonbothsidesofthesuperstructure,andtwotowerswereremovedafterthefinalmodification.Others
TheYamatoisalsoequippedwith12twin-mounted127mmnavalguns,atotalof24(6ofwhichareaddedaftermodification);45triple-mounted,21single-mounted25mmnavalguns,atotalof156;twotwin-mounted13.2mmmachineguns,atotalof4guns.Inaddition,thereare7ship-basedaircraft.
Performancedata
Shipwidth
65,000tons
69,000tons(trialtrial)
12boilers,4steamturbines,mainengineoutputpower153,000horsepower(reversing45000horsepower),6400tonsofoilstorage
Three-seatertriplesetType9445×diameter460mmnavalguns,9gunsintotal
Fourtriple-mounted60×diameter155mmnavalguns,12gunsintotal(2dismantledaftermodification)
12Thereare24double-mounted127mmnavalguns(6ofwhichareaddedaftermodification)
45-seattriple-mounted,21-seatsingle-mounted25mmnavalguns,atotalof156
Twotwin-mounted13.2mmmachineguns,atotalof4
7carrier-basedaircraft(6)
Servicedynamics
InJune1942,YamatoparticipatedinthebattleofMidwayastheflagshipofthecombinedfleet.Thebattleshipfleetandtheaircraftcarrierfleetwereusedseparately.Takepartinthebattle.
OnAugust17,1942,Yamatodepartedagain.ThemissionwastosupportoperationsagainsttheSolomonIslands.However,aftertheshiparrivedattheTrukIslands,theYamatointheWrightBaynavalbattle(5photos)
wasonlystationedintheportanddidnotparticipateinactualcombat.OnFebruary11,1943,Yamato’ssistershipMusashisucceededYamatoasthenewflagshipofthecombinedfleet.OnMay8th,YamatoleftTrukandreturnedtoWugangtodockforrepairsfor3months,andthenreturnedtoTrukonAugust23.Inthefollowingdays,theshipwasassignedtogotosomeislands.TheJapanesearmydeliveredsuppliesandreplenishedsoldiers.
OnDecember25,1943,theYamatowasattackedbyatorpedofromanAmericansubmarinenearTruk.The165thribonthestarboardsideofthebattleship(neartheNo.3mainturret)washitbyatorpedo.Theimpactoftheexplosioncausedthearc-shapedstructureoftheship'ssidesupportarmorplatetopenetratethelongitudinalsidewallofthewatertightcompartmentforthedefensiveshrapnel.Themachineryroomandthegunpowderstorewerefloodedwithabout3,000tonsofwater.ThedamagedYamatowasevacuatedfromthecombatarea.
OnJanuary16,1944,YamatoreturnedtoWugangagainfordockingandrepair,addingalayerofsteelplatewitha45-degreeinclinationandathicknessof6mminthewaterproofareabelowitssidewaterline.,Toincreaselightningprotectionperformance.Atthesametime,modificationwascarriedouttoimprovetheairdefensecapability.Thetwo155mmturretsonthesideofthebattleshipwereremoved,and6additionaloneswereinstalled.
Thesinkingofthe"unsinkable"Yamato(9photos)
127mmtwinWithantiaircraftguns,thenumberof25mmantiaircraftgunshasincreasedto98.Atthesametime,theshipisalsoequippedwithNo.22anti-seawarningradarandNo.13anti-airwarningradar.InJune1944,YamatoparticipatedintheBattleofMariana.
OnOctober22,1944,asthecoreoftheKuritafleet,theYamatowasattackedbyBruneitoexecutethebattleplanoftheCzechRepublicandparticipateintheBattleofWrightBay.
OnOctober24,1944,YamatoenteredtheSibuyanSeanortheastofWrightIslandandwasattackedbyaircraftcarrier-basedaircraftoftheUSNavy's3rdFleet.Duringthebattle,theYamatowashitbyabombontheforedeckbyanAmericanplane,andtheship'shullwasdamagedintheportanchorlockroom,causingalotofwatertoenter.
OnNovember18,1944,hedepartedfromBruneitoreturntothemainlandonthe24thandarrivedinWugangfordockingrepairandmodification.OnNovember24,1944,theYamatoreturnedtoKurePort,Japan.
OnMarch26,1945,theU.S.ArmybegantolandonOkinawa.Japanattemptedtodispatchafleetofsurfaceships,includingtheYamato,tosupportJapaneseoperationsinOkinawa.OnApril5,theJapaneseMilitaryCommandformallyissuedthe"OperationTenOne"orderfortheYamatotocommitsuicideoperations.OnApril6,10warshipsoftheSecondFleetwithYamatoasitsflagshipwereintheItoSeiichiNavy.Underthecommandofthegeneral,setsailfromtheTokuyamaanchorageinthewesternpartoftheSetoInlandSea.
At12:31onApril7,1945,thefirstattackwaveoftheU.S.Navy’s58taskforcefocusedonattackingtheportsideoftheYamato.4bombsfellneartheNo.3mainturret,2ofwhichA225kgbombpenetratedtherearmaindeckandexploded,destroyingthe155mmsecondaryartilleryandthereservefiringcommandpostattherearofthebattleship.At12:43,atorpedohitthefrontportside.At13:37,threetorpedoeshitthemiddleoftheportsideofthehull.Almostatthesametime,becausea450-kilogramaerialbombdestroyedthedrainvalve,makingtheshipunabletoperformdrainageoperations,thecaptainorderedasymmetricalinjectionofwatertothestarboardcompartmenttorestorethebalanceofthehull,andthespeeddroppedto18knots.At13:44,twotorpedoeshitthemiddleoftheportside,increasingthelefttiltto15-16degrees,whichmadetheship’slarge-caliberantiaircraftgunsunusable.At14:01,threeU.S.aircraftbombshitthemiddleoftheportside.At14:07,atorpedoalsohitthestarboardribofNo.150.At14:12,theYamatowashitbytwotorpedoesinthemiddleandrearoftheportside,andthehulltilted16-18degrees.Sincethestarboardinjectionanddrainageareahasbeenfilledwithwater,watercanonlycontinuetobeinjectedintothemachineryroom,restroomandboilerroom.At14:15,anotherminehittheportsideandthespeedgraduallyreducedto7knots.Thecaptainwasforcedtoissueanabandonmentorder.At14:23,themainartilleryammunitiondepotexplodedandsank.Thecommanderofthe2ndFleet,LieutenantGeneralItoSeiichi,andthethenCaptainYugaYusakuOsaatthetime,had2498survivorsofthe2498deadandonly269(therewerealso7commandersrescued).).
Overallevaluation
AlthoughthebattleshipYamatoispowerful,itcoincideswiththeerawhenthebattleship’sbattleship’sstatusasthebattleshipbegantobereplacedbyaircraftcarriers,andtheSeaofJapan
YamatoThebattleshipcrane(4photos)
Thearmyregardeditasthetrumpcardofthefinalbattle.Thecombinedfleetcouldnotbeusedwithoutpermissionandrarelyplayed.Asaresult,theYamatolackscombatexperienceandburiedhiddendangersforsubsequentoperations.Itssinkingwasannounced.ThedestructionoftheJapanesenavyalsoannouncedtheendoftheeraofgreatartilleryships.The3triple460mmmaingunsoftheYamatobattleshipcanpenetratethemainarmorbeltofanybattleshipintheworld.Themainarmoris410mmthick.Itwashitby2torpedoesorseveralheavyaerialbombsatthesametime.Itwillnotaffectthebattle.Themaximumspeedreaches27knots,andtheconstructioncostisequivalentto3Feilong-classaircraftcarriersor1.6Xianghe-classaircraftcarriers.
Thelarge-scaleindustrialresourcesrequiredfortheconstructionofYamato-classbattleshipsnotonlyexceededJapan’seconomicstrengthatthetime,butalsolimitedthenumberofbattleshipsthatcouldbebuilt.TheJapanesenavy'sdeliberatepursuitofthedisplacementofthisclassofshipshasreachedthepointwheredesignersaredeeplyrestrained.Thiskindofgiantbattleshipwithalargedraftneedstoprovidedeep-wateranchoragesandspecialdocks,whichweakenitsdeploymentflexibility,andthisabilityisactuallyoneofthemostimportantadvantagesofbattleships.
ThemodificationoftheYamato-classbattleship'sairdefensereinforcementwascompletedin1945.Beforethemodification,exceptforits155mmsecondaryguns,theentireship’sairdefensecapabilityonlyreliedonsixtwin127mmguns.And825mmcannons.DuetothebackwarddesignandproductionofJapan’sownanti-aircraftartillery,thedesignofthelong-rangeandshort-rangefirepowercannotbematched,andthereisnoradar-guidedairdefensefirenetwork..
AlthoughtheYamato-classbattleshiphasahugetonnage,itsactualcombatprotection,firepower,andintelligencecommunicationcapabilitiesareinferiortorelativelysmallWesternbattleships.(ThreeSeasandOneNuclearScienceNetwork,GlobalNetwork,"ModernShips",ChineseMilitaryNetworkReview)