Spruance was originally intend to use his BBs to engage the incoming Yamato fleet,. that would be the last battleships battles supposed it was happening.
Spruance was originally intend to use his BBs to engage the incoming Yamato fleet,. that would be the last battleships battles supposed it was happening.
About Firefly’s first comment… Sanshiki(三式）means Type3.
This article is reproduced, in part and with permission, from the World War II Database; further reproduction prohibited without permission. The URL to the original full article is:
http://ww2db.com/ship_spec.php?ship_id=B393
As big naval guns are concerned, none were as fearsome as the Type 94 naval guns built by WW2-era Japan. In fact, these 46-centimeter caliber (18.1-inch) guns were the largest guns mounted on surface ships in naval history. To hide their true size, they were designated “Special Type 40 cm” guns; this attempt was successful in fooling American intelligence.
These guns were mounted on the battleships Yamato and Musashi in 3-gun turrets. Each one of the turrets weighed 2,500 tons, which was actually heavier than many destroyers in the WW2 time period. The range of these guns were also stunning, being able to reach a target as far as 40 kilometers (25 miles) away. When they roared, a 15-meter semi-circle perimeter were considered dangerous for crew members, as the muzzle blasts generated intense heat. These Yamato-class battleships were typically stocked with:
- Explosive shells
- Armor piercing shells (Type 94)
- Sanshiki anti-aircraft shells (Type 3)
The explosive and armor piercing shells were heavier than their contemporaries, weighing in at 1,460 kilograms each (3,218 pounds). The armor-penetration capabilities of the armor piercing shells were so great that when they were mis-used, as seen with Yamato during the Battle off Samar, they went right through target ships without exploding. With a capable crew, they could fire at the rate of once about every 40 seconds.
While explosive and armor piercing shells were common among battleship ammunitions, the sanshiki shells were unique. They were 1360-kilogram (2,998-pound) shells filled with 900 incendiary tubes. They were fired toward toward the general direction of incoming hostile aircraft, and timed fuses triggered them to explode. After the fuses triggered, the cone-shaped space before each exploded shell were filled with steel splinters from the destroyed shell, shrapnel, and 0.5 second later fireballs from the incendiary tubes; the fireballs lasted for 5 seconds and burned at 3,000 degrees Celsius. Sanshiki shells were used by the battleship Yamato during her run at Okinawa, when she was overwhelmed by American carrier aircraft.
Battleship Musashi used her explosive shells in an interesting manner when she was attacked by American aircraft during the Battle of Sibuyan Sea. She fired explosive shells from her 46-centimeter primary guns into the water, making huge geysers aimed at knocking down torpedo bombers attacking her. “Running into one of these geysers would be like running into a mountain”, recalled TBF Avenger pilot Jack Lawton, “I felt the muzzle blast each time they fired. I could swear the wings were ready to fold every tie these huge shockwaves hit us.”
For more information and photographs from the World War II Database:
http://ww2db.com/ship_spec.php?ship_id=1
http://ww2db.com/ship_spec.php?ship_id=3
http://ww2db.com/ship_spec.php?ship_id=B393
This article is reproduced, in part and with permission, from the World War II Database; further reproduction prohibited without permission.
Yamato class Battleships
http://www.combinedfleet.com/yamato_c.htm
The BIGGEST, the BADDEST, the most … PONDEROUS BBs ever to roam the earth. Yes, I know that the U.S. Iowa-class had superior radar fire control, and better damage control, and that in terms of actual armor penetration the 16"/50 cal. mounted on the Iowas was almost identical to the much heavier 18"/45 cal. the Yamatos sported. So I suppose the Iowa probably would have triumphed over Yamato in a one-on-one engagement. If you really want to debate the point ad nauseum, I refer you first to my page on this very subject http://www.combinedfleet.com/baddest.htm , and then to the sci.military.naval newsgroup. On the other hand (and this is crucial) the Yamato looked cooler. And she was just so damn big. And which is really more important, I ask you: looks and size, or mere functionality?
If you’re really into these ships, the book you’ve got to have is Janusz Skulski’s “Battleship Yamato,” published by the Naval Institute Press. Fantastic line drawings, very rare and cool photographs, and a ridiculous level of detail on every aspect of these brutes. Buy it. You won’t be sorry.
Year Completed: Yamato: 1941, Musashi: 1942
Displacement 71,659 tons
Dimensions 862’10" x 121’1" x 32’11"
Speed 27 knots
Armament 9 x 18.1"/45
12 (later 6) x 6.1"/60
12 (later 24) x 5"/40 DP
up to 150 x 25mm AA
4 x 13mm AA
Armor 16.1" belt (inclined)
11.8" bulkheads
9.1" deck
25.6" turret face
19.7" conning tower
Crew 2800More Yamato Stuff:
Good elevation view of Yamato
Good plan view of Yamato
Yamato running her builder’s trials in October 1941
The World’s Best Battleship: The Sequel!
http://www.combinedfleet.com/baddest.htm
By popular demand, a new, more complete look at the most powerful battleships of World War II. However, in this rendition of the ‘Best BB Page’ I compare and contrast not three, but seven battleships, and in much greater detail.
The Guns n’ Armor Page!
http://www.combinedfleet.com/gunarmor.htm
Articles concerning ballistics, armor penetration, and battleship protective schemes, including a downloadable face-hardened armor penetration calculator! All of this material was contributed by Mr. Nathan Okun. Most of it is previously unpublished.
SEE ALSO:
Imperial Japanese Navy Page
http://www.combinedfleet.com/kaigun.htm
The Pacific War: The U.S. Navy
http://www.microworks.net/PACIFIC/
http://www.microworks.net/PACIFIC/armament/406mml50.htm
Man!,… Yamato is definetely majestic looking ship!. If it’s look not imposing, I don’t know what is…
An interesting about the ammo is that it could float around when it was a miss, hopefuly hitting an enemy.
The Main drawback of that mighty ship(yamato) was the speed. It could not pursue it’s enemy in a descent pace. (battle of midway)
Eh? :shock:
The Yamato class had a major liability in a design flaw in their underwater protection system. The joint holding the lower belt and the torpedo bulkhead was weak and torpedo hits could cause major flooding. To revise this design would have been too costly although Japanese naval authorities were aware of this defect.
The floating 46cm shell is a myth, possibly being confused with the diving shell which was designed to penetrate the water short of the target, follow a trajectory to the underwater hull of the target and penetrate under the armored belt. This design was a feature of all AP shells above 20.3 cm in caliber.
A follow on design to YAMATO, A-150 was to have weighted 70,000 tons and carried six 51cm guns (3x2) and 20+ 10.0 cm flak. An 18inch belt would have been featured constructed in two strakes. This feature would have been less effective than one belt of the same thickness but Japanese industry was incapable of making Class A face hardened armor of that depth.
Yamato’ other fault was her lack of endurance. She could make 7,200 miles at 16 knots which was not sufficient for Pacific warfare. The original design, A140a was to have had diesels as well as turbines for a radius of 9,000 miles. This design was rejected as too large (69,100 tons standard). This design also was to have carried all nine 46cm guns forward and all twelve 15.5cm guns aft.
no, wait its 撒式 to disperse
is it true the Yamato stayed in japan for most of the war??? I heard after midway she ran for home and stayed there till the okinawa invasion.
yeah. they were scared to use the yamato in the same way the US is scared of using the B-2 Spirits too muh.
I heard they found her grave site. a massive wreck. I hope some day we can find the wreck of the USS Indianapolis. she’s a part of history to
the search continues [here
the story: [URL=“http://www2.indystar.com/library/factfiles/history/military/uss_indianapolis/history.html”]here](http://www.ussindianapolisinharmsway.com/recentsearch.htm)
I heard the Emperor said " dont we have any battleships?" and so the Yamato and its crew’s fate had been sealed.
the Yamato today
The impressive bow crest was put only into the most important ships of the Imperial Navy.
How would the Yamato go in a one on one with the Iowa class?
Yamato probably would be down,…
good question. the Iowa class were built to take the punishment. armed to the teeth. double hulled. built for speed to get from one battle to another. and radar controlled guns. also 2 catapults for Kingfisher aircraft. The Kingfisher’s high operating ceiling made it well-suited for its primary mission: to observe the fall of shot from the battleship’s guns and radio corrections back to the ship. The floatplanes also performed search and rescue for naval aviators who were shot down or forced to ditch in the ocean. it would have been something to see these 2 giants go head to head.
