And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Sunday, June 17, 2018
An awesome view of the IJN Yamato
Awesome, and rusting on the bottom of the Pacific.
I used to know a Guy who had been a Pilot in the Navy, Fought the "Yamato" with his Douglas SDB Dive Bomber. He was credited with Hitting the Battleship's Radar Room, so the Task Force had no coordinated Direction of AA Fire (every Ship on its Own) He also said the Battleship had Grapeshot Shells for the 18" Guns that were Vaporizing the Torpedo Bombers making Low Run-Ins. Without the Radar, the Main Turrets couldn't be Aimed at that Aircraft, and that was the End of the Battle.
It's amazing how fast we sunk it when it ventured forth from the safety of Japanese home waters to attack us at Okinawa. It showed how much the big battleship had become obsolete in the face of carrier based air power.
And as you point out, the Japanese were fierce enemies. I wonder how well we'd stand up against their like today?
What are those clusters of round features on Main Deck, amidships, surrounding the superstructure? Not the guns, the smaller ones that go out to the beams. Are those antiaircraft batteries?
Those small AA Turrets had to be partially Enclosed, b/c the Muzzle Blast from the Main Guns would Kill an Unprotected Crewman on the Deck. Without Radar Direction, those Gunners had to keep the Hatches Open, and couldn't See well to Shoot. My Grandfather was on an LST in the Pacific, Gunner on a Twin 40 Mount that was completely Open. He said they Feared Nothing more than IJN Pilots sent to Kamikazi. The Unarmored Ships would usually be Sunk by just One Plane.
I used to know a Guy who had been a Pilot in the Navy, Fought the "Yamato" with his Douglas SDB Dive Bomber. He was credited with Hitting the Battleship's Radar Room, so the Task Force had no coordinated Direction of AA Fire (every Ship on its Own) He also said the Battleship had Grapeshot Shells for the 18" Guns that were Vaporizing the Torpedo Bombers making Low Run-Ins. Without the Radar, the Main Turrets couldn't be Aimed at that Aircraft, and that was the End of the Battle.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how fast we sunk it when it ventured forth from the safety of Japanese home waters to attack us at Okinawa. It showed how much the big battleship had become obsolete in the face of carrier based air power.
DeleteAnd as you point out, the Japanese were fierce enemies. I wonder how well we'd stand up against their like today?
Sanshikidan shells. The 46 cm (18.1 in) Sanshiki Model 13 round weighed 2,998 lb and was filled with 900 incendiary tubes and 600 steel stays.
DeleteWhat are those clusters of round features on Main Deck, amidships, surrounding the superstructure? Not the guns, the smaller ones that go out to the beams. Are those antiaircraft batteries?
ReplyDeleteYep, AA mounts.
DeleteThose small AA Turrets had to be partially Enclosed, b/c the Muzzle Blast from the Main Guns would Kill an Unprotected Crewman on the Deck. Without Radar Direction, those Gunners had to keep the Hatches Open, and couldn't See well to Shoot. My Grandfather was on an LST in the Pacific, Gunner on a Twin 40 Mount that was completely Open. He said they Feared Nothing more than IJN Pilots sent to Kamikazi. The Unarmored Ships would usually be Sunk by just One Plane.
ReplyDelete