They had no apparent effect on this wave or the next, but more torpedo and bomb hits followed, leaving Musashi stricken. When the next strike arrived, even the main guns fired on it, using nine sanshiki-dan, or beehive shells designed for antiaircraft fire. She fell behind the fleet, losing the protection of its escorts. The ship now listed five degrees to port and lost the port propeller. Within an hour another attack occurred a trio of torpedoes struck the port side along with two more bomb hits. Tragically for the crew, however, Musashi’s trials had only just started. Musashi developed a list of 5 1/2 degrees to starboard, but damage control crews were able to reduce that to one degree. Then a torpedo impacted amidships and four more bombs were near misses their combined effects were leaks below the ship’s waterline. A bomb hit first, but it struck the forward turret, doing no damage. Within a few minutes Musashi’s antiaircraft guns were in action, sending rounds skyward at aircraft that plunged down to deliver their deadly payloads. aircraft carriers Intrepid and Cabot, a few dozen torpedo and dive bombers escorted by 21 fighters. Less than an hour later the lookouts spotted the first wave of American planes. Kurita requested air support from land-based fighters, but they never arrived. Trust in the Gods and give it your best.”Īt 9:30 a lookout spotted a trio of what appeared to be more scout planes. The fleet commander, Admiral Takeo Kurita, sent a message to his sailors: “Enemy attackers are approaching. The fleet lacked its own air cover, so it had to endure the American plane and expected an attack any time.
An American scout plane had been spotted overhead. At 8:10 am on October 24, 1944, Musashi’s captain ordered the crew to battle stations. The Japanese superbattleship Musashi was steaming east along with a fleet of other battleships, cruisers, and destroyers on their way toward what was expected to be a climactic battle at Leyte Gulf.
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