Japanese battleship Musashi facts for kids

Musashi (武蔵) was a giant battleship built for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during the late 1930s. It was named after an old Japanese province called Musashi. This ship was part of the famous Yamato-class, which included some of the biggest and strongest battleships ever made.

The Yamato-class ships were truly enormous. They weighed about 72,000 tons when fully loaded. Imagine a ship as heavy as many thousands of cars! They were also armed with nine huge main guns, each about 46 centimeters (18 inches) wide. These guns were among the largest ever put on a warship.

Only two Yamato-class ships were finished as battleships: Musashi and its sister ship, Yamato. A third ship, Shinano, was turned into an aircraft carrier, and a fourth was never finished.

Building a Giant Battleship

The construction of Musashi began in 1938 and was completed in 1942. Building such a massive ship was a huge task. The Japanese Navy wanted these battleships to be so powerful that no other navy could match them. They were designed to be the ultimate warships, capable of destroying any enemy fleet.

The ship's armor was incredibly thick to protect it from enemy attacks. Its main guns could fire shells weighing as much as a small car over long distances. These features made Musashi a floating fortress.

Life Aboard Musashi

Musashi served as the flagship for Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto for a time. This meant it was the main ship where the admiral commanded the fleet. Life on board a battleship like Musashi was busy. Hundreds of sailors worked together to operate the ship, maintain its weapons, and keep it ready for battle.

In 1943, after Admiral Yamamoto died, his ashes were brought back to Japan aboard Musashi. This showed the importance of the ship to the Japanese Navy.

Musashi in World War II

During World War II, Musashi mostly stayed in safe areas like Chuuk Lagoon (also known as Truk Lagoon). The Japanese Navy tried to keep these valuable battleships safe from harm. They were seen as a powerful weapon that should only be used in major battles.

However, as the war continued, Musashi was sent into more dangerous areas. It was involved in the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944. This was one of the largest naval battles in history.

The Final Battle

On October 24, 1944, during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, Musashi came under heavy attack from American aircraft. Waves of planes bombed and torpedoed the giant battleship. Despite its thick armor and many anti-aircraft guns, the ship took many hits.

The crew fought bravely to save their ship, but the damage was too severe. Musashi began to sink, slowly going down by its bow. After hours of fighting, the mighty battleship finally capsized and sank into the Sibuyan Sea. Many sailors were lost, but many also survived and were rescued.

The sinking of Musashi showed that even the largest battleships were vulnerable to air power in modern warfare. The ship's wreck was discovered in 2015 by a team led by Paul Allen.

Images for kids

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  Musashi, August 1942, taken from the bow

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  The bridge of Musashi, 1942

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  Musashi as she appeared in mid-1944

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  Yamamoto's ashes return to Japan aboard Musashi, 23 May 1943

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  Musashi and Yamato in Truk Lagoon in early 1943

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  Emperor Hirohito and his staff on board Musashi, 24 June 1943

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  Musashi under attack by American carrier aircraft during the Battle of Leyte Gulf

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  Musashi down by the bow after the air attacks, shortly before her sinking

See also

In Spanish: Musashi (1942) para niños