Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I haven't even started reading this thread and I am excited. I love the battleships and also, the little destroyer (tin cans). What a period of time in our history when these giants were on the seas!
I have read the official history of destroyers and fell in love with them in high school. It helped that one of my older brothers was a gun mount captain in the 1950's on the Hanson and the USS Stickel.
The Yamato didn't serve so admirably during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. The Japanese had overpowering numbers, largely aided by the uncomparable Yamato. My uncle served on the American destroyer who, captained by a Cherokee Indian, charged the Yamato. Now that was a suicide mission.
One giant shell from the Yamato essentially cut the American destroyer in half and it quickly sank. But the Yamato had already started bugging out of there before it was able to sink the destroyer.
I'm certain there were many factors that affected the decision to bug out but history credits the bold move of the destroyer with the ultimate move.
Half of the surviving crew of the destroyer were to meet their demise over the next three days. Leyte Gulf was the largest shark fest in recorded history. With all of the blood in the water, it was mostly a matter of time before a shark started tugging on exposed bodies.
The survivors met every year, I assume they continue to do so though attendance surely shrinks due to the eternal tug of time.
Yes....my uncle and the rest of the survivors were quite proud of their participation in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. I believe it was the largest naval battle of WWII. The Japs managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. It was essentially the last time they matched up on a par.
Ensign Randy Brown was his name and he was one of my favorite uncles, he was the Best Man at my fathers wedding. The fires of war often produce the calmest of men.
My heart swells when i read of those hearty little ships in WWII. Thank you for that tribute to the ships and your uncle.
My heart swells when i read of those hearty little ships in WWII. Thank you for that tribute to the ships and your uncle.
Victory at Leyte Gulf surely helped shorten the war. I doubt there would have been a victory if the Yamato had not turned tail and ran. Leyte Gulf was HUGE.
Though the writing started appearing on the wall with our extreme success at the Battle of Midway. I believe that four Japanese carriers were sunk....they never recovered from that.
Japan was an extremely formidable foe. With a gung ho population half the size of ours and an absolute willingness to sacrifice everything for anything that would help ensure victory.
The Japs didn't bother with rafts and vests. They felt it more honorable to die. They eventually got rid of beds and slept on planks. OK....they were a bit nuts.
Victory at Leyte Gulf surely helped shorten the war. I doubt there would have been a victory if the Yamato had not turned tail and ran. Leyte Gulf was HUGE.
Had the Japanese got amongst the invasion shipping how much damage could they have done? And how long would it have been before Halsey came back south with the fast carriers and fast battleships and pitched into Kurita's fleet? What were the capabilities of Kincaid's fleet (especially his old battleships) to stall Kurita while Halsey approached? Is it not possible that Kurita's pressing on would've resulted in the destruction of his fleet a day or two later?
I'm wondering is if there a meaningful Japanese victory to be gained in any case.
Had the Japanese got amongst the invasion shipping how much damage could they have done? And how long would it have been before Halsey came back south with the fast carriers and fast battleships and pitched into Kurita's fleet? What were the capabilities of Kincaid's fleet (especially his old battleships) to stall Kurita while Halsey approached? Is it not possible that Kurita's pressing on would've resulted in the destruction of his fleet a day or two later?
I'm wondering is if there a meaningful Japanese victory to be gained in any case.
One thing is for sure. We will never know the answer to that.
Our lopsided victory at Midway was due to breaking the Japanese code. We performed admirably well against Japan but it wasn't because our sailors were vastly superior. It was because we broke their codes, had far superior manufacturing capabilities, and better tactics.
I once spoke to a Pacific theater sailor who fought in the Phillipines during the latter stages of the war. He felt we were making absolutely no progress down there.
Our history books portray a nation of over sized soldiers who consistently destroy all enemies with relative ease. Well....the winner gets to write the history book.
Had the Japanese got amongst the invasion shipping how much damage could they have done? And how long would it have been before Halsey came back south with the fast carriers and fast battleships and pitched into Kurita's fleet? What were the capabilities of Kincaid's fleet (especially his old battleships) to stall Kurita while Halsey approached? Is it not possible that Kurita's pressing on would've resulted in the destruction of his fleet a day or two later?
I'm wondering is if there a meaningful Japanese victory to be gained in any case.
I think that's exactly why Kurita withdrew. He was expecting hundreds of bombers of the Third Fleet to appear over his ships at any moment. With Musashi already sunk by carrier born aircraft, he did not want to tempt fate and pursue the chase.
I think that's exactly why Kurita withdrew. He was expecting hundreds of bombers of the Third Fleet to appear over his ships at any moment. With Musashi already sunk by carrier born aircraft, he did not want to tempt fate and pursue the chase.
Kurita and the Yamato really didn't accomplish hardly anything but fleeing from one place to another. Curious considering the Yamato was almost twice the weight of our battleships.
I'll bet Japanese naval historians study WWII and wonder............what was their leadership thinking?
I'll have to see if I can find the pics from when I visited the USS North Carolina. It was many years ago (when I was like 6) so they would have to be scanned on.
Kurita and the Yamato really didn't accomplish hardly anything but fleeing from one place to another. Curious considering the Yamato was almost twice the weight of our battleships.
I'll bet Japanese naval historians study WWII and wonder............what was their leadership thinking?
Without proper air cover, battleships, no matter how big, are sitting ducks. Air power was the deciding factor - which is why the US built only 4 Iowa class battleships but 24 Essex class aircraft carriers (in addition to scores of smaller escort carriers).
What are Japanese historians thinking? Probably "why the hell did we start a war we had no hope of winning?"
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
as i'd be stoked to tour her Bridge!!
