OPERATION TEN - GO

1945

YAMATO

In desperation to be involved in the battle for the Japanese island of Okinawa, the Imperial Japanese Navy drew up plans for an attack on the American landing forces by a strike force consisting one Heavy Cruiser, eight Destroyers and the 72,000 ton Super Battleship Yamato, led by Vice Admiral Seiichi Ito.

It was also hoped that the Navy’s mission would divert enemy aircraft away from the Japanese air force’s planned Kamikaze attacks on the U.S. fleet stationed at Okinawa. 

With only enough fuel to reach the island itself, the Japanese flotilla departed the port of Kure on March 29th on what amounted to (In the eyes of all involved) a one way suicide mission

The American submarine USS Threadfin sighted the Japanese force as it made its way through the Bungo Suido straights, it did not attack however choosing instead to shadow the warships and send detailed updates of thier course and speed to Admiral Spruance in command of the U.S. 5th Fleet.

At dawn on April 7th, USS Threadfin radioed the Japanese task force had passed the Osumi Peninsula and out into the open ocean steaming towards Okinawa.

At 10:00 am, Spruance responded by ordering four hundred U.S. aircraft from eight different carriers to launch an all out attack and sink the Japanese task force.

The first wave of U.S. attacks began at 12:35pm, Admiral Ito ordered his ships to begin evasive maneuvers increasing speed to twenty five knots while zigzagging. American torpedo planes were ordered to target Yamato and only from her port side that way it would prevent effective counter measure’s by the Japanese ballast crews.

Within twenty five minutes after the first wave began the Destroyer Isokaze was sunk and Heavy Cruiser Yahagi was heavily damaged while the Yamato was hit by three armor piercing bombs which started a large fire aft of the superstructure.

Japanese Destroyers Suzutsuki and Hamakaze were also both heavily damaged and withdrew from the battle. At 1:30pm, the second wave of U.S. aircraft attacked this time heavily concentrating on Yamato. 

She was struck on her port side by eight torpedo’s and received fifteen bomb hits. Ablaze and listing to port Yamato’s speed was greatly reduced to a mere 11mph.

At 2.05pm the Heavy Crusier Yahagi capsized and sank with the Destroyer Hamakaze following soon after. Ten minutes later the American third wave of one hundred and ten aircraft arrived and began their attack runs.

Yamato started a sharp turn to port to face the oncoming assault but her slow speed allowed four torpedoes to rip into her port side amidships, jamming her auxiliary rudder in a position hard to port.

After being informed that the ship could no longer steer and was unavoidably sinking, Admiral Ito ordered the crew to abandon ship, and for the remaining Destroyers to abandon the mission.

At 2:30pm, Yamato was stopped dead in the water and began to capsize. Admiral Ito and Captain Aruga refused to abandon her as she slipped under the waves. At 2:40pm she suddenly blew up with an explosion so large it was reportedly seen and heard for a distance of one hundred miles.

As the battered remnants of the Japanese task force attempted to make it back to port, the Destroyers Asashimo and Kasumi were hit by multiple bombs and sank. 

Despite having her lower bow completely blown off the Suzutsuki managed to make it back to Japan by steaming the entire way in reverse. The remaining three Japanese Destroyers Yukikaze, Fuyuzuki and Hatsushimo though all seriously damaged, also made it back to Japanese ports.

In all Operation Tengo cost the Japanese Imperial Navy five warships sunk and three damaged beyond repair in addition to some 4,000 sailors killed including the task force commander Admiral Ito, 

American losses were miniscule with ten planes and twelve airmen. After the battle, U.S. vessels picked up and rescued an additional 1,600 Japanese naval personal.