| Battleships |
| Musashi |
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| History of Service: 1935 Japan was already working on the design of the super-battleship YAMATO (MUSASHI) when Japan withdrew from the 2nd London Naval conference. 29 March 1938 Laid down 1 November 1940 Launched and fitting out at Nagasaki August 1942 Commissioned and assigned to BatDiv 1 with YAMATO, NAGATO & MUTSU. September 1942 Final fitting out & undertook sea trials. December 1942 Conducted training with ZUIKAKU in the Inland Sea. March - May 1942 Underwent trials and crew training. 11 Februaury 1943 Admiral Yamamoto's Flag transferred from YAMATO to the MUSASHI. May 1943 Admiral Yamamoto's ashes (Killed on the 18 April 1943, his plane was shot down by 18 P-38 Lighting over Bougainville) were shipped aboard the MUSASHI bound to Tokyo for a state funeral. June 1943 Overhaul & overpainting at Yokosuka. Visited by the Emperor & a dinner was hosted on board. July 1943 New radar was installed. September 1943 Sorties to Brown Island to intercept Task Force 15, but no contact was made. Refitting- new radar and anti-air guns were installed. October 1943 Sorties to intercept the enemy carriers after the Japanese intercept radio communiction that Americans were going to raid on Wake Island for the second time. But no contact was made. February 1944 MUSASHI unsuccessfully opened fired on two B-24 that overflew Truk. 29 March 1944 Hit by one torpedo from the submarine USS Tunny.when the MUSASHI departed Palau at night. The torpedo caused a 19 feet hole under her bow, and she took in 3000 tons of water. April 1944 Torpedo damage repaired at Kure. New radar and anti-air guns were installed. May - June 1944 Participated joined gunnery drills with the YAMATO. June 1944 "Operation Kon" - the relief of Biak. MUSASHI nearly collided with YAMATO as the group was suddenly ordered to turned hard-left-rudder when the submarine alert was given. 19- 23 June 1944 "Operation A-GO" - The Battle of Phillippine Sea. YAMATO's guns fired for the first time, but mistakenly fired at friendly aircraft. MUSASHI was the only ship that identified the planes and didn't shoot at all. She received on damage in this battle. July 1944 Conducted training with YAMATO. September 1944 MUSASHI received a dark coat on the sides at the Singapore Naval Arsenal. October 1944 The deck was camouflaged black for the night breakthrough in the San Bernardino Strait. 22 October 1944 "Operation SHO-I-GO" - The Battle of Leyte Gulf. MUSASHI, YAMATO, NAGATO, HARUNA & the KONGO formed part of the Kurita's Center Force. 23 October 1944 The Battle of Sibuyan Sea, the MUSASHI was hit by 3 AP bombs & 4 torpedos & 5 near miss during the first & second attack wave from US carriers. The speed was reduced to 22 knots & the ship's bow was down by 6 feet. MUSASHI was futher hit by 2 near hits, 8 torpedo hits & 4 bomb hits. her speed reduced to 20 knots and the bow was down by 13 feet. The fourth attack didn't do any damage to the MUSASHI. In the fifth attack, the MUSASHI received 4 bombs hits, 3 torpedos hits, but she was able to make 13 knots after counter flooding. In the sixth attack, the MUSASHI was further hit by 10 bombs, one hit the bridge, 11 torpedos, & 6 near misses. She was listing 10 degrees to port, & her main rudder was jamed 15 degrees left. She remained afloat but her bow was down by 26 feets. She was listing heavily, and every effort was made trying to safe her, but they were all unsuccessful. When the list reached 12 degrees, abandon ship was ordered. Finally, 5 hours after the attack, the MUSASHI slowly turned over and sank by the bow in Visayan Sea. 1023 out of 2400 men were lost. August 1945 Scrapped from the Navy list. |
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