Unsinkable Kongo Class BBs

[borner]

The AA ammo for the Yamato's main guns was a very good idea Japan came up with. Effectively a giant shotgun shell if what I have read is accurate. I do think Japan thought it would cause great barrel damage if used too much though.
 
Not at all  bad idea against torp attack though. Makes you wonder why it was never thought of for 6-8" guns on CV escort duty.

[PizzaMan]

Hey thanks ike for the clip!  (I hope it's not in breach of any copyright laws).   Does the movie have English subtitles?  My Japanese ain't so good.

[RGIJN]

ORIGINAL: Ike99

Here is Yamato in real life after being hit multiple times by US dive bombers. From what I can tell in this picture no bombs have penetrated Yamatos deck armor and the damage is superficial. The ship seems completely sea worthy. But then again, I never was a sailor but that is what it seems to me.

most likely, this picture was taken on Oct 24th 1944 during the battle of Leyte, while the main force led by VAdm Kurita Takeo was attacked by several waves of A/C. YAMATO´s main guns fired some rounds of a special AA shell - the "Sanshiki-dan" type.

"Helldivers drop two AP bombs that damage the port bow abreast of main gun turret No. 1. Later on, they dropped twelve AP bombs. The first bomb penetrates the anchor deck, demolishes the port chain locker, explodes below the waterline, blows out a side plate and holes the bow. The mess deck is wrecked. Two bombs hit turret No. 1. One blows a hole above the waterline. Another bomb penetrates through the top deck to the crews' quarters. YAMATO ships 3, 000 tons of seawater and takes on a five-degree list to port. Damage Control counterfloods and reduces the list to one degree. YAMATO is down by the bow and maintains a 2-ft, 8-in. bow trim." (from www.combinedfleet.com)

Her sister MUSASHI (which the attackers were focussed on) was sunk this day.

[Ike99]

most likely, this picture was taken on Oct 24th 1944 during the battle of Leyte, while the main force led by VAdm Kurita Takeo was attacked by several waves of A/C. YAMATO´s main guns fired some rounds of a special AA shell - the "Sanshiki-dan" type.

That could very well be. A bomb did explode ¨near the forward turrent¨ they say at Leyte and from the picture the forward turrent is black like a bomb exploded right on top of it.

Hey thanks ike for the clip! (I hope it's not in breach of any copyright laws). Does the movie have English subtitles? My Japanese ain't so good.

I didn´t upload it...[:D]I´m thinking for a movie like this though it´s good advertisement. I understand the DVD has language options yes.

[tocaff]

Yes the DVD comes with English subtitles.

[Hornblower]

ORIGINAL: borner

The AA ammo for the Yamato's main guns was a very good idea Japan came up with. Effectively a giant shotgun shell if what I have read is accurate. I do think Japan thought it would cause great barrel damage if used too much though.

Not at all  bad idea against torp attack though. Makes you wonder why it was never thought of for 6-8" guns on CV escort duty.

No recordable event of the 18.1's knocking down a airplane..

[RGIJN]

furthermore and adding to the relative ineffectiveness, the usage of these AA rounds was quite a risk for the gun barrels. MUSASHI had one her 18.1" guns damaged from this AA firing during the Leyte operation. As I understood the incident, the "Sanshiki-dan" type ammo spoiled the bore of the gun that much it was out of action thereafter.
This ammo was dreaded because it tended to spontaneous ignition if not stored properly.