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Photo # NH 62582: Japanese battleship Yamato blows up, following massive attacks by U.S. Navy carrier planes north of Okinawa, 7 April 1945.

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- JAPANESE NAVY SHIPS --

Yamato (Battleship, 1941-1945) --
in the "Ten-Go" Operation, 6-7 April 1945

Soon after Okinawa was invaded on 1 April 1945, the Japanese implemented a desperate effort to destroy the fleet supporting the landings. Designated "Ten-Go", this operation largely consisted of massed "Kamikaze" suicide plane attacks. However, the battleship Yamato, largest surviving ship of the Japanese Navy, was also to play a role, steaming down from the home islands to blast invasion shipping off Okinawa's western coast. This mission was also understood to be suicidal, and only enough fuel was provided for a one-way cruise.

Yamato and her consorts, including the light cruiser Yahagi and eight destroyers, left port in mid-afternoon on 6 April 1945, the day that the "Ten-Go" suicide planes began their all-too-horrible onslaught. While exiting the Inland Sea, the ships were twice sighted by U.S. submarines, and were again seen by a carrier search plane in the morning of the 7th. U.S. Navy carriers launched nearly 400 aircraft to hit the oncoming Japanese ships. Six U.S. battleships prepared to intercept the Japanese, in case they somehow got past the overwhelming aerial force. The Yamato group was provided with no air support, so the U.S. planes were opposed only by generally ineffective anti-aircraft gun fire.

The carrier planes began their attacks in the early afternoon, scoring immediate bomb and torpedo hits on Yamato and sinking Yahagi and a destroyer. Three other destroyers were sunk over the next hour, as the Japanese continued to steam southwards. In all, Yamato was struck by some ten torpedoes, mainly on the port side, and several bombs. At about 1420 on the afternoon of 7 April, less than two hours after she was first hit, the great battleship capsized to port, exploded and sank, leaving behind a towering "mushroom" cloud. Fewer than 300 men of Yamato's crew were rescued. Nearly 2500 of her men were lost, plus over a thousand more from Yahagi and the escorting destroyers. U.S. losses totalled ten aircraft and twelve aircrewmen.

This page features all the images we have of the Japanese battleship Yamato during the April 1945 "Ten-Go" Operation.

For more views of the battleship Yamato, see:

  • Yamato (Japanese Battleship, 1941-1945).


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.


    The following photographs show Yamato during her final operation, and are presented in approximately the order in which they were taken:

    Photo #: NH 62581

    "Ten-Go" Operation, April 1945


    Japanese battleship Yamato maneuvers while under attack by U.S. Navy carrier planes north of Okinawa, 7 April 1945.
    The original photo caption reads: "The 72,000-ton Japanese battleship Yamato, pride of the Imperial Fleet, maneuvers evasively at a brisk 15 to 20 knots prior to attack. One fire can be observed amidships from previous attacks, but at this point no list has developed."
    Photographed from a USS Yorktown (CV-10) plane.

    Collection of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, USN.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 66KB; 740 x 615 pixels

     
    Photo #: 80-G-313714

    "Ten-Go" Operation, April 1945


    Japanese battleship Yamato (top) and a destroyer in action with U.S. Navy carrier planes north of Okinawa on 7 April 1945. Yamato appears to be down at the bow and moving slowly after being hit by multiple air attacks.
    The destroyer is either Fuyuzuki or Suzutsuki, and appears to have fired her after 10cm guns at the instant this photo was taken.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 162KB; 740 x 610 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: NH 62580

    "Ten-Go" Operation, April 1945


    Japanese battleship Yamato listing to port and afire at the after end of her superstructure, but still underway, while under attack by U.S. Navy carrier planes north of Okinawa, 7 April 1945.
    The original photo caption reads: "A torpedo plane's view of battleship Yamato. This is how Japan's mightiest warship appeared as six lone U.S. Navy torpedo planes raced in to destroy her. She is still making 10 to 15 knots, though fires continue to burn amidships."
    Photographed from a USS Yorktown (CV-10) plane.

    Collection of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, USN.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 103KB; 740 x 625 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 62585

    "Ten-Go" Operation, April 1945


    Japanese battleship Yamato listing to port and down at the bow, during attacks by U.S. Navy carrier planes north of Okinawa, 7 April 1945. One of her escorting destroyers is at left.
    The original photo caption reads: "Japanese battleship Yamato lists to port (at right) just prior to VT-9 (USS Yorktown) torpedo attack, 7 Apr. 1945. She is making 10 to 15 knots. A Japanese destroyer cruises ahead."
    Photographed from a USS Yorktown (CV-10) plane.

    Collection of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, USN.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 111KB; 740 x 620 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 62579

    "Ten-Go" Operation, April 1945


    The Japanese battleship Yamato explodes as she sinks, after receiving massive torpedo and bomb damage from U.S. Navy carrier planes north of Okinawa, 7 April 1945.
    The original photo caption reads: "A split-second shot of Yamato as she blew up. A red ball of flame envelops this mightiest of Japanese battleships, and a moment later it shoots like a comet to the clouds, 2000 feet high." Photographed from a USS Yorktown (CV-10) plane.

    Collection of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, USN.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 92KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     
    Photo #: 80-G-413914

    "Ten-Go" Operation, April 1945


    Japanese battleship Yamato blows up after receiving massive bomb and torpedo damage from U.S. Navy carrier planes, north of Okinawa on 7 April 1945.
    Three Japanese destroyers are nearby.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 76KB; 740 x 615 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: NH 62582

    "Ten-Go" Operation, April 1945


    Japanese battleship Yamato blows up, following massive attacks by U.S. Navy carrier planes north of Okinawa, 7 April 1945. An escorting destroyer is at left.
    Photographed from a USS Yorktown (CV-10) plane.

    Collection of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, USN.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 85KB; 590 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 62584

    "Ten-Go" Operation, April 1945


    Smoke rises to the clouds shortly after the Japanese battleship Yamato capsized, exploded and sank after receiving many bomb and torpedo hits from U.S. Navy carrier planes north of Okinawa, 7 April 1945. Escorting destroyers are visible to the left of the smoke.
    Photographed from a USS Yorktown (CV-10) plane.

    Collection of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, USN.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 74KB; 685 x 675 pixels

     


    For more views of the battleship Yamato, see:

  • Yamato (Japanese Battleship, 1941-1945).


    NOTES:

  • To the best of our knowledge, the pictures referenced here are all in the Public Domain, and can therefore be freely downloaded and used for any purpose.

  • Some images linked from this page may bear obsolete credit lines citing the organization name: "Naval Historical Center". Effective 1 December 2008 the name should be cited as: "Naval History and Heritage Command".


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval History and Heritage Command home page.

    Page made 13 May 2000
    Coding updated 3 May 2009