Hi boys and girls 
I haven't been able to do some modelling last year or so but the move to our new house is nearing. Still lots to be done but I'll have my proper hobby room so I'm eager to re-start some older builds of mine, like the 1/350 Tamiya Yamato new tool kit with upgrade set by Pontos from South Korea.
I'll start posting some progress from the past in several updates to start light the fire so to speak ^^
Here we go:
First some history.
The Yamato class of Battleships consisted out of three ships: Yamato, Musashi, and the into aircraft carrier converted Shinano. A fourth ship was under construction, but with progress of the war it became clear that Battleships were obsolete technology and the hull was scrapped.
The Yamato class had the largest naval guns ever fitted to BB's: 18.1 inch or 46cms. The blast of the main guns when firing was so heavy and dangerous that the AA guns near the gun towers had to be stationed in armored turrets. Tests with the guns - where live stock was put on the decks - had as a result that many of the animals were heavily wounded or even killed by the blast.
There's a very rare photo of Musashi firing her guns. It's clear that this was quite impressive.
Yamato was a top secret project and the Japanese population never knew of the existance of these ships during the war (except for the crew of course, top naval hot shots, people working on the shipyards and some lucky few who saw them sail by). The Americans never knew the exact displacement of these BB's, nor the caliber (positive estimates were 16 inch in stead of the 18) until after the war.
Yamato and Musashi were prestige projects and because of that, they were often stationed in safe harbours like on Truk for instance. Some people claim that Yamato never achieved much during battles but that's not entirely true.
Recent investigations proved (US photo film was researched) that Yamato during the Battle of Samar ( a couple of sea battles were called 'The Battle of Leyte', the Battle of Samar was one of those) hit the escort BB USS White sands from a distance of 24 kilometres. One of the longest range hits ever. Six impact splashes around USS White Sands can be seen on photos. Yamato was the only Japanese BB in the area with a three gun per turret configuration, so this proves that these impact splashes could only be of Yamato.
I'll be building Yamato as she was configured during her last voyage for Operation Ten Ichi Go (Heaven Number One). Japanese naval brass had decided that a fleet consisting out of Yamato, 8 destroyers and one cruiser had to sail for Okinawa to support Japanese troops. The ships received just enough fuel to get there. Once arrived to Okinawa they had to deal with the US fleet. If this didn't work out, the captains had to strand their ships on the beaches and use the ships as stationary artillery, while the sailors could fight as ground troops. (Both the captains and Vice Admiral Ito didn't agree with this plan and they tried to get as much fuel as possible).
It was clearly a suicide mission.
On the 6th of April 1945 the fleet sailed of but they were spotted fairly quick by two US submarines. These were too slow to keep up with the fleet though.
April 7th Yamato and here accompagnying ships were discovered again, this time by plaines of a US flotilla. Originally the US Navy intended to send some BB's towards Yamato to intercept and fight her but after some discussion it was decided to send airplanes from a couple of aircraft carriers instead.
Around 12.30 the first planes attacked Yamato. Initially Yamato's maing guns fired some Anti aircraft ammo towards the planes but it didn't do much damage.
Three consecutive waves attacked Yamato with a lot of bomb and torpedo damage as a consequence as can be seen on this diagram and photo.
Some hours later it became clear it would be too much for the mighty Battleship. 22 torpedoes had struck Yamato. Eventuelly the rudder became blocked and she started doing circles. She listed very heavily towards starboard and started to capsize. When Yamato rolled over the 18 inch ammunition hit the walls and ignited. A gigantic explosion followed.
3000 souls were lost, including vice-admiral Ito.
Next: the start of the build.
I haven't been able to do some modelling last year or so but the move to our new house is nearing. Still lots to be done but I'll have my proper hobby room so I'm eager to re-start some older builds of mine, like the 1/350 Tamiya Yamato new tool kit with upgrade set by Pontos from South Korea.
I'll start posting some progress from the past in several updates to start light the fire so to speak ^^
Here we go:
First some history.
The Yamato class of Battleships consisted out of three ships: Yamato, Musashi, and the into aircraft carrier converted Shinano. A fourth ship was under construction, but with progress of the war it became clear that Battleships were obsolete technology and the hull was scrapped.
The Yamato class had the largest naval guns ever fitted to BB's: 18.1 inch or 46cms. The blast of the main guns when firing was so heavy and dangerous that the AA guns near the gun towers had to be stationed in armored turrets. Tests with the guns - where live stock was put on the decks - had as a result that many of the animals were heavily wounded or even killed by the blast.
There's a very rare photo of Musashi firing her guns. It's clear that this was quite impressive.
Yamato was a top secret project and the Japanese population never knew of the existance of these ships during the war (except for the crew of course, top naval hot shots, people working on the shipyards and some lucky few who saw them sail by). The Americans never knew the exact displacement of these BB's, nor the caliber (positive estimates were 16 inch in stead of the 18) until after the war.
Yamato and Musashi were prestige projects and because of that, they were often stationed in safe harbours like on Truk for instance. Some people claim that Yamato never achieved much during battles but that's not entirely true.
Recent investigations proved (US photo film was researched) that Yamato during the Battle of Samar ( a couple of sea battles were called 'The Battle of Leyte', the Battle of Samar was one of those) hit the escort BB USS White sands from a distance of 24 kilometres. One of the longest range hits ever. Six impact splashes around USS White Sands can be seen on photos. Yamato was the only Japanese BB in the area with a three gun per turret configuration, so this proves that these impact splashes could only be of Yamato.
I'll be building Yamato as she was configured during her last voyage for Operation Ten Ichi Go (Heaven Number One). Japanese naval brass had decided that a fleet consisting out of Yamato, 8 destroyers and one cruiser had to sail for Okinawa to support Japanese troops. The ships received just enough fuel to get there. Once arrived to Okinawa they had to deal with the US fleet. If this didn't work out, the captains had to strand their ships on the beaches and use the ships as stationary artillery, while the sailors could fight as ground troops. (Both the captains and Vice Admiral Ito didn't agree with this plan and they tried to get as much fuel as possible).
It was clearly a suicide mission.
On the 6th of April 1945 the fleet sailed of but they were spotted fairly quick by two US submarines. These were too slow to keep up with the fleet though.
April 7th Yamato and here accompagnying ships were discovered again, this time by plaines of a US flotilla. Originally the US Navy intended to send some BB's towards Yamato to intercept and fight her but after some discussion it was decided to send airplanes from a couple of aircraft carriers instead.
Around 12.30 the first planes attacked Yamato. Initially Yamato's maing guns fired some Anti aircraft ammo towards the planes but it didn't do much damage.
Three consecutive waves attacked Yamato with a lot of bomb and torpedo damage as a consequence as can be seen on this diagram and photo.
Some hours later it became clear it would be too much for the mighty Battleship. 22 torpedoes had struck Yamato. Eventuelly the rudder became blocked and she started doing circles. She listed very heavily towards starboard and started to capsize. When Yamato rolled over the 18 inch ammunition hit the walls and ignited. A gigantic explosion followed.
3000 souls were lost, including vice-admiral Ito.
Next: the start of the build.
. The propellor shafts are metal ones, a nice feature.
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