Fierce fighting on land, sea and in the air continued after the attack on Easter Sunday 1945. About a week into the battle we learned that the Yamato, the world's most powerful ship, had departed Japan and was on a suicide mission to save Okinawa.
Principal duty of the Pickens at this time was serving as a hospital ship. While our days were spent this way, at night we would make smoke and leave the area. Planes were ordered to leave and ships were ordered to fire on any plane that flew. Even though we knew the United States forces would handle the Yamato, we could not help but be nervous. After all, this was the world's most powerful ship and had been held in reserve by the Japs.
Task Force 58 met the ship and sank it with 12 bombs and 7 torpedos. This was planned suicide; the men had been told they would not return and the ship had only enough fuel for a one-way trip.
(Designed to be twice as large as any other battleship, the Yamato was built in secret. It displaced 72,000 tons and was 862 feet long. Armaments included nine 18.l inch guns. For comparison the Missouri displaced 45,000 tons and carried nine 16-inch guns.)
I
Principal duty of the Pickens at this time was serving as a hospital ship. While our days were spent this way, at night we would make smoke and leave the area. Planes were ordered to leave and ships were ordered to fire on any plane that flew. Even though we knew the United States forces would handle the Yamato, we could not help but be nervous. After all, this was the world's most powerful ship and had been held in reserve by the Japs.
Task Force 58 met the ship and sank it with 12 bombs and 7 torpedos. This was planned suicide; the men had been told they would not return and the ship had only enough fuel for a one-way trip.
(Designed to be twice as large as any other battleship, the Yamato was built in secret. It displaced 72,000 tons and was 862 feet long. Armaments included nine 18.l inch guns. For comparison the Missouri displaced 45,000 tons and carried nine 16-inch guns.)
I
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