Yamato was the lead ship of her class of battleships for the Japanese Navy. Along with her sister ship Musashi, she was the largest and most heavily armed battleship ever built displacing 72,000 tonnes and being armed with nine 460mm guns.
Although often used as the fleet’s flagship, her only surface action was the Battle off Samar where she engaged American escort carriers and their escort. Yamato was sunk 7 April 1945 by US carrier-based aircraft with the loss of most of her crew.
September 20, 1941 Yamato Fitting out at Kure Naval Yard.Forward barbettes of a Yamato class battleship during constructionOctober 30, 1941 Yamato on Sea TrialsYamato during sea trials in October 1941Yamato during sea trials in October 1941October 30, 1941 Yamato on Sea TrialsOctober 30, 1941 Yamato on Sea TrialsYamatoYamatoYamatoYamatoYamatoYamato and MusashiYamato’s Aft 155mm Gun TurretYamato’s SuperstructureYamato and a heavy cruiser, possibly Tone or Chikuma, in action during the Battle off Samar, 25 October 1944Yamato, during the engagement with Taffy-3 at Battle off Samar, 25 October 1944Yamato, during the engagement with Taffy-3 at Battle off Samar, 25 October 1944October 26, 1944 Yamato hit by a bomb in the Sibuyan SeaOctober 24, 1944 Yamato under attack in the Sibuyan SeaMarch 19, 1945 Yamato under attack in the Inland SeaApril 7, 1945 Yamato and her screen seen in the East China Sea shortly before the attack which sank her.April 7, 1945 Yamato with a list in the East China Sea.April 7, 1945 Yamato burning and under fire during Operation Ten-GoApril 7, 1945 Yamato exploding in the East China SeaApril 7, 1945 Yamato exploding in the East China SeaYamato’s magazine explosionbarrel of a 46 cm gun used in the IJN Yamato class battleships onboard a USN transport ship heading to the US for research after the war
