Prologue
The year 1945 at April the seventh, the pacific war reaches its near end at the East China Sea. The empire of Japan launches its final attack sending its last naval fleet for their final battle whilst the Americans continues to reach the Japanese home islands. At the East China Sea, the last fleet has one large battleship called the Yamato, a light cruiser and 8 destroyer escorts sailors to the islands for the giant battleship's final voyage around 3000 young Japanese soldiers boarded her. At the top bridge the spotting officer were keep in watch for any enemy planes.
Around 10 am at the bridge of the ship one of the Japanese sailors spotted something "Two PBM Mariner planes flying nearby!" he announced through the message pipes to the main bridge.
At the main bridge with a bunch of officers including the Admiral and the Captain, the Captain announced, "Intercept enemy aircraft, fire beehive shells!"
The Yamato's main guns starts moving and points its guns at the coming near aircraft then Yamato fired its guns at the two American Planes but didn't hit them and the two planes flew away.
As the Admiral finishes looking at the two planes flying away he ordered the captain "No point hiding our course now. Head straight for Okinawa"
The Captain responded, "Navigation Officer, set course for Okinawa!"
Navigation Officer "Aye-aye, sir. Setting course for Okinawa…Port the helm!"
As the engine officers increased the power the Yamato starts speeding to its top speed 27knots heading south to Okinawa. At the deck, all the young sailors are at high alert and the captain requested the Admiral to let him command the upper command deck and the admiral responded with a salute "Look after the Yamato" Then the captain left the main bridge and entered the top area and assisted the spotting for any enemy activity.
Meanwhile, in the far South near Okinawa, eleven American Carrier was sailing on a search for the Yamato.
"Sir, we got reports of the Yamato's position" US Intel Officer.
"We'll launch the attack first wave!" US Admiral ordered.
Around 10:00am the Task Force 58 Fleet launched its first wave of 280 planes which includes fighters, torpedo bombers and dive bombers flying North. The US Squadron commander spotted the Fleet shortly after noon.
At the Ten-Go Fleet….
The Japanese Fleet is still keeping an eye on the enemy but later they spotted a large wave of American Planes.
"Multiple enemy planes on portside!" Spotting Officer announced.
Then all the Japanese seamen on the deck rushed to their Anti-Aircraft gun units. As the US First Wave of Planes.
"Fire Beehive Shells" The Captain ordered.
Then the main guns started rotating and points at the enemy wave of planes then BOOM. Some of the shells exploded near the wave of planes, but only one plane was shot down by Yamato's attack. Then at the same time: 24 Anti-Aircraft Artillery guns and one hundred fifty-two Anti-Aircraft Machine guns all opened fire at the American Planes.
During the attack at the sky at 12:40 pm….
"There she is, let's sink that monster!" American DB squadron leader announced.
The Dive bomber squadrons dived down to the Yamato at speed and dodging Anti-Aircraft barrage as the squadrons getting closer.
"Bombs away!" The DB Squadron Leader ordered.
The Dive Bomb squadrons dropped their bombs at the Yamato. Most of them missed due to Yamato maneuvering but 2 bombs hit her as smoke rises near the mainmast and a bomb explodes in the same area resulting in the aft secondary battery fire control, secondary gun turret and air search radar being knocked out.
Then another Dive Bomber squadrons appeared from the high sky and the Yamato was at flanking speed turning right and the DB squadrons diving down to the Yamato dodging the Anti-Aircraft Barrage and the squadrons dropped bombs on the ship. Only two bombs hit the Yamato, the first one explodes in the crew's quarters abaft the radar shack and the second bomb penetrates the port side of the aft Command station and explodes between the 155-mm gun magazine and main gun turret No.3 upper powder magazine. It started a fire that cannot be extinguished and the fire continues to rip on the weather deck creating a 60-foot hole.
"Mayday! Mayday! I'm going down!" an American DB pilot announced to the squad leader through the radio communication as his plane got shot down and crashes into the ocean.
"Sir, my plane is damaged badly I request to return to the fleet!" A pilot requested to the DB squad leader.
"Request Accepted" The DB squad leader.
The damaged DB plane flies away returning to the Task Force 58 Fleet, meanwhile, the squadron leader flies his plane away to reload and his crewman behind him looked at the battle scene.
The pilot behind the Squad Leader questions the Squad Leader. "Man, those Japs on the decks look so young"
The DB Squad Leader answered "I know…. Those young men are just following orders to their crazy commanders"
Meanwhile on the Yamato at 12: 43 PM….
All the sailors kept screaming their patriotism while their gun directors announced enemy planes positions.
"Fire!" An Officer shouted at his sailors while they were trying to shoot at the American Planes.
During the battle, some sailors run around the deck to get ammo for their Anti-Aircraft gun units and some sailors got affected by American Fighter Plane's firing barrage. Some of them got killed and severely injured. Several medical officers appeared at the battle deck and picked up injured sailors.
"Hurry up, pick the ones that still are alive but injured and bring them to the medical bay!" A Japanese nurse shouted while looking out for any fighters approaching them. "Alright let's go!"
The nurses then rushed back to their medical quarters in the ship to help the injured sailors.
Then 5 American Torpedo Bomber planes flying at portside starting a torpedo run.
"Evasive Starboard!" Captain ordered. The Yamato went flank speed at 27knots.
As the Yamato did an evasive action on starboard side to dodge torpedoes, three torpedo bomber planes dropped their torpedoes and two torps missed the Yamato and one hit her portside.
"Fire!" Anti-Aircraft Artillery Officer ordered. Then one of the AA Artillery fires and one of the retreating torp bombers planes got hit by AA artillery.
At the main bridge….
"Were taking 2,350 tons of water, Damage Control!" An officer announced to the captain through the message pipes.
Hundreds of sailors in the ship's interior tries to counter flood by using watertight compartments to prevent further flooding but in the end, they were too late and they were all trapped.
Around the same time, fourteen fighter planes armed with small rockets approached the Yamato and strafes the deck killing more sailors on their AA units and the launching rockets to the Yamato but the ship took minor damage. Most of the American planes of the first wave flew away to reload their bombs, torpedoes and machine guns.
After seven minutes the first wave of American planes withdrew for reloading. The Yamato maintains flank speed and changes course to 180 degrees due South.
"We detected the Second Wave of enemy planes!" An officer in the Air Search Radar Room announced to the main bridge.
Meanwhile 18.5 miles away the Yamato sighted 50 American Planes approaching from SSW.
"Full speed at 22knots!" The Captain ordered to the engine crew.
As the Second Wave approaches at full speed: a fighter plane equipped with one bomb flies towards the Yamato and the plane drops one bomb and it hits the superstructure in the port bow area.
Meanwhile at the high sky…..
"Let's do this!" Dive Bomber Squad Leader shouted to his squadrons. The whole squadron cheered and the Second gets close to the Yamato. The Yamato fires the remaining AA guns at the second wave of planes. The dive bomber squadrons fly high in the sky while the fighters strafing AA gun units and the Torpedo Squadrons trying to commence a torpedo run on the Yamato. Then twelve dive bombers dive down very fast that the AA guns unable to intercept them.
"Bombs away" Dive Bomber Squad Leader ordered. All the dive bombers dropped their bombs to the Yamato and several of those bombs hit near the Ships Bridge and main gun turret No.3 and all the dive bomber squadrons flew away from the AA barrage.
"Excuse me sir we got 5 of our planes got damaged by AA fire" A pilot announced to the squad leader through the radio.
One of the pilots of the 5 damaged planes asked through the radio "We requested to pull back for repairs"
Dive Bomber Squad Leader accepted and asked through the radio "Request Accepted"
Then the 5 damaged dive bombers flew away from the battle area and returned to the Task Force 58 Fleet.
During the attack on the Yamato the 20 torp bombers make a new torpedo run from 60 degrees to port. The Yamato starts a sharp turn to port.
"Torpedo's away!" The Torp Squad Leader ordered.
All 20-torpedo bombers dropped their torpedoes and flew away from heavy AA barrage. About 3 torpedoes' hit the Yamato ripping into her port side amidships. Then her auxiliary rudder is jammed due to the torpedo attack and the rudder is in position hard port. Then 4 torpedos hit her and she's flooding about 3000ton of water and the ships list about 7 degrees to port.
At the Yamato…...
"Damage Control!" An officer shouted through the message pipes.
"Amounts of water rushing into the starboard engine and boiler room were closing those doors to prevent flooding!" Sailor announced to the bridge through message pipes.
The Yamato turns starboard to course 230 degrees and at the main bridge, one of the officers sighted something.
"Tracks 4 torpedoes approaching!" An officer announced to the bridge.
The 4 torpedoes approach to the Yamato but 2 passed harmlessly but the other 2 torps hit her port amidships causing the ship to heavy list to port and her speed has decreased to 18knots.
At the deck of the ship, most of the sailors at the AA post have been killed due to many strafing and bomb hits by the Second Wave of planes. Only a few sailors are still alive but heavily wounded continued to fight. Many sailors on deck running to reload their guns but most of them were slaughtered and heavily wounded by machine gun barrage.
At the upper Command Bridge….
Captain ordered one of the officers "Right the list, quick!"
One fighter plane fires at the upper command bridge, but all of the officers ducked down including the captain but one of the officers got shot.
A few minutes later 3 officers that survived the First and Second Wave got to a fully functional AA gun and the Petty Officer ordered: "Right 80 degrees, elevation 60!" The AA gun fires and most of the shots missed and the AA gun ran out of ammo and one of the sailors reloaded the gun. "Right 70 degrees, elevation 70"
One of the sailors shouted "Ready, center. Ready left!" Another round of machine guns have been fired and a torp bomber plane got shot down.
Then the Petty Officer got knocked out by a nearby explosion and one of the sailors checked if he's alright "Uchida, sir!"
"Kamio you fire, I'll reload!" One of the sailor's ordered and Kamio back to the AA gun unit. They continued to shoot at the incoming enemy planes. When they run out of ammo they reload and one sailor shouted: "Kamio, let'em have it!"
Then suddenly one plane flies fast and shoots near them and wounded the sailor's shoulder and screaming in pain. Kamio became angry and tried to shoot at the enemy planes but was unable to intercept them along with other remaining AA gun units. Waves of American Planes charges to drop bombs and torpedoes at the Yamato. Three bombs hit the amidships and a torpedo hits her starboard side. Then ten minutes later two torpedoes hit her port side and the ship list increases to 15 degrees and the ship's speeds in decreasing to 12knots.
At the main bridge…
An officer asked "Commander, I think now's the time"
The Admiral said "Tell the Captain to give orders to abandon ship. Have the radio room summon escorts to pick up survivors"
One officer reported "Radio room doesn't respond, I'll take the message"
"Captain, all trim control lost. Unable to right the ship!" An executive officer shouted through the message pipes to let the Captain know.
At the upper command bridge, most of the officers are dead and the captain was wounded, he responds "Understood. Prepare to evacuate upper deck!"
The sailor that left the main bridge to bring the message to the radio room "All hands, abandon ship!" When he enters the radio room and sees most of the radio officers are dead he rushes to a Morse code station to transmit the message to the escort ships. Suddenly huge water rushes into the radio room flooding the whole place and drowning the sailor in the process.
Meanwhile at the upper command bridge…
The Captain then asked through the message pipes "Leave in an orderly manner"
Then all the sailors getting out of the interiors of the ship and some stayed to check if there are any sailors left and most of them shouted abandon ship but most of them didn't make it.
At the main bridge…..
The Admiral turns around and looked at his officers and said "A great shame. Gentlemen. My gratitude to you" All of his officers saluted at him and then the Admiral walks to the end of the bridge.
"Commander!" Officer shouted.
The Admiral continues walking and enters a door that leads to an exit and then he closes the door.
Meanwhile, at the deck, a bomb exploded near Kamio and he tries to get up but was stopped by Uchida.
Uchida asked "Kamio! Hold On" But Kamio tries to stand up and he continued "Orders are to abandon ship. Get Away"
Kamio ignores him and said "But they're still attacking"
Uchida said "Forget it. The battle's over"
The chief officer walked slowly due to his wound and Uchida opened his coat and hands a wrapped dagger and hands it to Kamio and said "This is my life. Look after it"
Kamio said "Uchida sir!"
As the chief officer stopped next to Kamio and Uchida he tries to speak due to his wound "Kamio. Quick, get off the ship"
Kamio didn't and responded "I can't. I'm staying!"
Chief Officer tries to reason Kamio "We're telling you to live"
Kamio disagrees "I want to stay with you!"
Uchida requested Kamio "Get up" Both Uchida and Chief Officer Tries to let Kamio get up.
Kamio keeps screaming "I won't go"
As Uchida and Chief Officer drags Kamio near the edge of the AA gun platform and throws Kamio out of the platform and fell to the main deck. As they both trying to let Kamio live by letting him get off the ship. The Chief Officer lies down and Uchida sits on the AA gun to fire the last ammo.
Uchida shouted "Not done yet! He triggers the button of the AA gun and the gun fires its last ammo and he shouted "My last throw!"
At the upper command bridge…
The Captain is still wounded and he tries to speak "All hands, abandon ship. Get away from her!"
Then a small explosion occurred on the upper command bridge killing the captain in the process.
At the decks, many debris, dead sailors and survived sailors sliding down to the water port side due to the ships listing and many sailors screamed and some of them tried to swim away from the ship and American fighter planes start shooting at the surviving sailors. Then the Yamato was struck by several torpedoes on starboard side while she's listing portside. As the ship continues to capsize slowly her main guns moved and pointing portside due to the weight and then she capsizes then a monstrous explosion erupted blowing the ship in half, main turrets ripped off its mountings due to its weight and then another 2 explosions erupted a few seconds later. After these huge explosions, it leaves a huge cloud of smoke in the air creating a huge mushroom cloud.
Right after the huge explosion, 3 survived destroyers approach the area to pick any survivors and at the sky 3 planes fly around the area to look at the destruction.
"We won boys…the Imperial Navy has been defeated!" One of the pilots announced through the radio and all the pilots cheered celebrated.
"Let's head back to our carrier to report this!" One of the pilots ordered and the pilots responded with a yes and the 3 planes fly away and leave the area. One of the pilots looked back at the area where the mighty battleship was sunk and saluted. At the same time in the ocean floor, two large hulls that were once the mighty battleship continues to sink far away from the surface and then it hits the seafloor along with other several debris symbolizing the end of the Japanese Navy…..