Calling all Yamato (大和) and Musashi (武蔵) fans

[Dan K]

There is some discussion on the J-ships board leaning towards the photo having been taken during a Feb 22, 1944 transport mission.

[vds242]

There is some discussion on the J-ships board leaning towards the photo having been taken during a Feb 22, 1944 transport mission.

As I stated in some FB Groups, you can see the Type 21 Radar on the Main Rangefinder.
This Refit was done on September 3th 1942. And the white Top of the Main Rangefinder was repainted to grey at the end of 1943 (Sources: Skulskis Battleships Yamato and Musashi, and different pictures in some of my collected books and maganzines).
So this picture was taken between Early September 1942 and December 1943.

The discussion on the J-ships board about "Feb 22 1944" is obsolete!

Some interesting things about this new picture:
The forward main Turrets and the forward 15,5cm Turret (No.1) are aligned together with the 10m Rangefinder of the aft tower (lightly to starboard).
The No.2 and No.4 15,5 cm Turrets and the three port 12,7cm High Angle Twin Guns are aligned into one direction.

Imho I think that they made some Gunnery Practice (without shooting) against aircrafts, or some tests. For example: Main Rangefinder is out of action; switch to second Rangefinder.

Another interesting part is, that you can see two little Clouds of smoke in front of the Bow. Perhaps another indication of a simulated Attack by Aircrafts.

Just my 2 Cents!

Christian van der Sanden

[Dan K]

Well, the photo is taken from an aircraft.

The discussion on the J-ships board about "Feb 22 1944" is obsolete!

I don't know about that. She is clearly loaded with freight midships aft the 15.5cm mount and aft. The midships freight could be automotive in nature.

"15 February 1944:
At 1225, arrives at Yokosuka. That evening MUSASHI commences embarkation of ammunition, provisions and fuel for the garrison of Palau. Some 40 Isuzu and Nissan trucks are embarked on the afterdeck. Crated 60-kg and 250-kg aerial bombs and torpedoes intended for the Palau-based 751st NAG, as well as boxes of 12.7-mm AA ammunition are loaded to the foredeck. Gasoline drums are accommodated on the middle deck. The transfer of cargo continues until 24 February.

22 February 1944:
Yokosuka. MUSASHI embarks the 300-strong IJN 87th AA Defense Unit, a 100-strong Army unit and other personnel, including some IJN staff officers destined for reassignment to Palau.:"

[Dan K]

I fiddled with the contrast and lightness:

[cplchanb]

amazing new find!!!

is it just me or are the main guns painted in a darker colour than the turret? the after guns look really dark vs the turret. it could be just shading though.....

[David Outten]

I fiddled with the contrast and lightness:

If this is in fact the February 1944 transport mission, that would seem to date between 22-29 February, btw 1944 was a leap year.


-David

[ijnfleetadmiral]

amazing new find!!!

is it just me or are the main guns painted in a darker colour than the turret? the after guns look really dark vs the turret. it could be just shading though.....

I agree...though the forward guns are the same shade as their turrets, so I think it might just be shading.

[truesandman]

If you ask me, the #3 main turret's (visible) barrel is definitely black or very, very dark grey. What if that turret was fitted with new barrel(s), not yet painted?

[Dan K]

Lars Ahlberg has been in touch with the Yamato Museum, and they are of the opinion that the photo more likely taken in January, 1943.

[Mutsuo Sasaki]

Lars Ahlberg has been in touch with the Yamato Museum, and they are of the opinion that the photo more likely taken in January, 1943.

yea, probably taken after 22nd of jan.�43. She perfomed a practice with torpedoe planes, but the Museum is not fully sure of the exact date of the shot, yet. Suppose the black colored stufs are provisions, these might have been offloaded when arrriving on the 22nd and the deck ought to be empty. My assumption is Musahi is quite near to the port, then, toepedoe planes came flying over, for the practice. If so, the pic must have been taken on the very day of 22nd.


cheers,

[JackSix]

Hi sailors,

I am currently finishing a Yamato model project. I am currently working on the stern and was wondering where the stern anchor(s) of the Yamato was (were)?

I always though she had only one anchor on port below the flight deckt at the stern. That's how it is amongst others on pics of the Yamato museum in Kure. However, while investigating, I saw a lot of models who had the stern anchor only starboard or even on both sides. I could't find historical pictures from the starboard stern side of the Yamato (anybody?).

Anybody knows how it was and what is correct?

Would really help me to finish my project. Thanks guys,

Jack

[Dan K]

There is a photo of Yamato at anchor at Truk in 1943 taken from her aft starboard quarter. I know its in the KMM book. Looks like there might be something there. Will try to remember to scan it.

[vds242]

Hi sailors,

I am currently finishing a Yamato model project. I am currently working on the stern and was wondering where the stern anchor(s) of the Yamato was (were)?

I always though she had only one anchor on port below the flight deckt at the stern. That's how it is amongst others on pics of the Yamato museum in Kure. However, while investigating, I saw a lot of models who had the stern anchor only starboard or even on both sides. I could't find historical pictures from the starboard stern side of the Yamato (anybody?).

Yamato-stern-kure-museum.jpg

Anybody knows how it was and what is correct?

Would really help me to finish my project. Thanks guys,

Jack

Super Illustration Battleship Yamato NO. 745
Page 27:
"Stern anchors
The stern anchors are about half the size of the main anchor. On the starboard is a medium anchor and one of the port is a little smaller"

And in Skulskis actual book there are anchors on both sides of the stern, too!

Chris

[Holly.Z]

Recently I am studying the shape of Musashi's crew ready room (?????) which is allegedly different from Yamato's. By editing the contrast of the screenshot of "Musashi expedition" , I think we could see a cube under the flag deck. It should be the crew ready room (?????). Let's talk about the details!


[img]https://twitter.com/Donginging/status/1162670920055443456?s=20/img]

[Thomas E. Johnson]

What�s the best 1/700 Yamato kit, preferably as she was commissioned in late 1941/early 1942?

[chuck]

Hi sailors,

I am currently finishing a Yamato model project. I am currently working on the stern and was wondering where the stern anchor(s) of the Yamato was (were)?

I always though she had only one anchor on port below the flight deckt at the stern. That's how it is amongst others on pics of the Yamato museum in Kure. However, while investigating, I saw a lot of models who had the stern anchor only starboard or even on both sides. I could't find historical pictures from the starboard stern side of the Yamato (anybody?).

Yamato-stern-kure-museum.jpg

Anybody knows how it was and what is correct?

Would really help me to finish my project. Thanks guys,

Jack

Super Illustration Battleship Yamato NO. 745
Page 27:
"Stern anchors
The stern anchors are about half the size of the main anchor. On the starboard is a medium anchor and one of the port is a little smaller"

And in Skulskis actual book there are anchors on both sides of the stern, too!

Chris

The stern anchors (called sheet anchors) were hold over from the concepts of seamanship born during the age of sails. Sheet anchors have very little use in large steam powered ships. In fact many other countries (such as the US and UK) have completely abandoned sheet anchors right after WWI.

Yamato, like most other WWII battleship, undoubtedly gained considerable weight as the war progressed. It would be perfectly expected for the Japanese to jettison one or both of Yamato's essentially useless sheet anchors as war progressed as a gimme weight saving measure to compensate.

[bucketfoot-al]

EVERYBODY - FYI:

I have just completed the most major update of the Yamato/Musashi Gallery in 10 years with dozens of new, high resolution archive photos that show much more detail. Some of the photos replaced older, low res photos, some were added next to the old photos, and some are brand new - including 4 REAL COLOR photos of Yamato under attack during Leyte Gulf (OK, OK, I know they're taken from 8 miles up, so don't drop your drink!!)

Anyways ... take your time, peruse and enjoy.

http://WWW.BATTLESHIPYAMATO.COM

[FW_Allen]

Due to recent surgery, I'm unable to do much building right now. One thing I AM doing until I get my arm back is to go through my various unbuilt kits (see what I have, what I have aftermarket parts for etc.). its slow going with just one useable arm

Unfortunately, I'm finding that in some cases, the assembly instructions have disappeared (damn gremlins). For some ships (well, Hood anyway) its no problem. For others, I'm up a certain creek without a rowing implement. This includes a certain Sumo wrestler of a ship...

With this in mind, would someone be willing to photograph the instructions for the post '98 Tamiya 1/700 waterline Yamato? I seem to have lost the instructions and painting instructions (but I do have various bits of aftermarket photoetch!). I bought the kit back in '98 and never did much with it...except lose the instructions!

Many thanks

[Timmy C]

Frank, Hobby Search has them in beautiful high-rez, but double check the parts numbers to make sure it's the same kit: https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10001802

[FW_Allen]

Frank, Hobby Search has them in beautiful high-rez, but double check the parts numbers to make sure it's the same kit: https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10001802

Excellent! That is indeed the correct version/release. Many thanks for your help Timmy!

All the best,

Frank