The Mighty Musashi: A Personal Account of the Formidable Japanese Battleship’s Sinking
Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen made headlines earlier this week when he announced the discovery of the long-lost Japanese battleship Musashi, the fearsome sister ship of the renowned Yamato. The remarkable find is the result of over eight years of relentless search efforts by Allen and his dedicated team of researchers, and it sheds new light on a pivotal moment in World War II history.
The Musashi, an imposing 74,000-ton, 800-foot battleship constructed at the Mitsubishi Shipyard in Nagasaki, met its tragic fate on October 24, 1944, during the Battle of the Sibuyan Sea, a critical engagement within the larger Battle of Leyte Gulf in the central Philippines. The vessel succumbed to a relentless onslaught, enduring an estimated 19 torpedo strikes and 17 bomb hits from American carrier-based aircraft over a grueling four-hour span.
This relentless assault led to the loss of over 1,000 crew members aboard the Musashi during the intense battle and subsequent sinking. Fortunately, more than 1,300 survivors were rescued by other Japanese warships, as reported by the US Navy.
The discovery of the Musashi’s wreckage occurred at an astounding depth of approximately 3,280 feet, a testament to the dedication and advanced technology employed by Allen and his team.
The Musashi and its sister ship, the Yamato, held the distinction of being the two largest battleships ever constructed. They were equipped with the most formidable naval artillery ever seen on a warship, boasting monstrous 18-inch guns capable of firing 3,000-pound shells over distances exceeding 25 miles. Their sheer size and firepower were meant to dominate the seas, but the ever-present threat posed by American submarines and aircraft carriers ultimately sealed their fate.
