IJN Battleship Musashi

Rare picture of IJN Battleship Musashi. 1942

Japanese Battleship Musashi

The Japanese battleship Musashi was one of the most formidable warships constructed during World War II. It was part of the Yamato-class battleships, renowned for their immense size and firepower, and was named after the historic province of Musashi.

Construction and Characteristics

• Ordered: The construction of the Musashi began in June 1937.
• Builder: It was built at the Mitsubishi Shipyard in Nagasaki.
• Laid Down: The keel was laid down on 29 March 1938.
• Launched: Musashi was launched on 1 November 1940.
• Commissioned: It was commissioned on 5 August 1942.
• Displacement: The battleship had a standard displacement of 63,000 long tons (64,000 t).
• Dimensions: Musashi had an overall length of 263 meters (862 feet 10 inches), a waterline beam of 36.9 meters (121 feet 1 inch), and a draft of 10.86 meters (35 feet 8 inches) when fully loaded.
• Power Plant: It was equipped with 12 Kanpon water-tube boilers generating 150,000 shaft horsepower (110,000 kW), driving four propellers through four steam turbines.
• Speed: Musashi could reach a top speed of 27.5 knots (50.9 km/h; 31.6 mph).
• Range: The battleship had a range of 7,200 nautical miles (13,300 km; 8,300 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph).
• Crew: Musashi accommodated a crew of around 2,500 personnel.

Armament

• Main Guns: The primary armament consisted of nine 460-millimeter (18.1-inch) Type 94 guns mounted in three triple-gun turrets.
• Secondary Guns: It was armed with twelve 155-millimetre (6.1-inch) 3rd Year Type guns in four triple turrets.
• Anti-Aircraft Weapons: Musashi was equipped with a robust anti-aircraft defence system, featuring twelve 127-millimetre (5-inch) Type 89 dual-purpose guns in six twin turrets, thirty-six 25-millimetre (1-inch) Type 96 light anti-aircraft guns in twelve triple-gun mounts, and two twin mounts for 13.2-millimetre (0.52-inch) Type 93 anti-aircraft machine guns.
• Armour: The battleship had extensive armour protection, with a 410-millimetre (16.1-inch) waterline belt, 200-230-millimetre (7.9-9.1-inch) deck, and heavily fortified gun turrets and barbettes.

Aircraft and Sensors

• Aircraft: Musashi could carry up to six or seven floatplanes for reconnaissance missions.
• Sensors: It was equipped with radar and hydrophone systems for air and underwater surveillance.

Service History

• Commissioning: Musashi was commissioned in August 1942 and became the flagship of the Combined Fleet.
• Operations: It participated in various naval operations, including patrols and troop transfers between Japan and occupied islands.
• Damage: In early 1944, Musashi was torpedoed by an American submarine and underwent repairs, during which its anti-aircraft armament was increased.
• Sinking: During the Battle of Leyte Gulf on 24 October 1944, Musashi was subjected to relentless attacks by American carrier-based aircraft, ultimately succumbing to 19 torpedo and 17 bomb hits. It capsized and sank, with over half of its crew rescued.

Wreck Discovery and Preservation

• The wreck of Musashi remained undiscovered for over 70 years until a research team sponsored by Paul Allen located it in March 2015, 3,000 feet (910 meters) below the surface of the Sibuyan Sea in the Philippines.
• The discovery raised concerns about preservation and protection, as it is considered an archaeological site. Efforts were made to adhere to established rules and regulations for its conservation.