View source for Japanese battleship Musashi

{{short description|Yamato-class battleship of the Imperial Japanese Navy}}
{{Other ships|List of ships named Musashi}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{use British English|date=June 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = File:Japanese battleship Musashi underway in 1944 (NH 63473) (cropped).jpg
| Ship image size = 300
| Ship caption = ''Musashi'' leaving [[Brunei]] in October 1944 for the [[Battle of Leyte Gulf]], where she was sunk by air attack
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header = 
| Ship country = [[Empire of Japan|Japan]]
| Ship flag = {{Shipboxflag|Empire of Japan|naval}}
| Ship name = ''Musashi''
| Ship namesake = [[Musashi Province|Province of Musashi]]
| Ship ordered = June 1937
| Ship builder = [[Mitsubishi Heavy Industries|Mitsubishi Shipyard]], [[Nagasaki]]
| Ship laid down = 29 March 1938
| Ship launched = 1 November 1940
| Ship commissioned = 5 August 1942
| Ship fate = Sunk by American air attack during the [[Battle of Leyte Gulf]], 24 October 1944
| Ship struck = 31 August 1945<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Muir|first=Malcolm|date=October 1990|title=Rearming in a Vacuum: United States Navy Intelligence and the Japanese Capital Ship Threat, 1936–1945|journal=The Journal of Military History|volume=54|issue=4|pages=485|doi=10.2307/1986067|jstor=1986067}}</ref>
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header = 
| Header caption = (as built)
| Ship class = {{sclass|Yamato|battleship}}
| Ship displacement = {{cvt|63000|LT|t|lk=on}} ([[Displacement (ship)#Standard displacement|standard]])
| Ship length = {{convert|263|m|ftin|abbr=on}} ([[Length overall|o/a]])
| Ship beam = {{convert|38.9|m|ftin|abbr=on}} ([[waterline]])
| Ship draft = {{convert|10.86|m|ftin|abbr=on}} ([[full load]])
| Ship power = 12 × Kanpon [[water-tube boiler]]s
{{cvt|150000|shp|kW|lk=on}}
| Ship propulsion = 4 × [[propeller]]s; 4 × [[steam turbine]]s
| Ship speed = {{convert|27.5|kn|lk=in}}
| Ship range = {{convert|7200|nmi|lk=in|abbr=on}} at {{convert|16|kn}}
| Ship complement = 2,500
| Ship sensors = *1 × [[List of Japanese World War II radar#Shipborne Radar|Type 21]] air search [[radar]]
* 1 × Type 0 [[hydrophone]] system
| Ship EW = 
| Ship armament = * 3 × triple [[46 cm/45 Type 94 naval gun|{{cvt|460|mm}} guns]]
* 4 × triple [[15.5 cm/60 3rd Year Type naval gun|{{cvt|155|mm}} guns]]
* 6 × twin [[12.7 cm/40 Type 89 naval gun|{{cvt|127|mm|0}}]] [[Dual-purpose gun|DP guns]]
* 12 × triple [[Type 96 25 mm AT/AA Gun|{{cvt|25|mm|0}}]] [[AA gun]]s
* 2 × twin [[13.2 mm Hotchkiss machine gun|{{cvt|13.2|mm}}]] [[Anti-aircraft machinegun|AA machine guns]]
| Ship armour = * [[Belt armor|Waterline belt]]: {{convert|410|mm|in|abbr=on|1}}
* [[Deck (ship)|Deck]]: {{convert|200|-|230|mm|in|abbr=on|1}}
* [[Gun turret]]s: {{convert|250|-|650|mm|in|abbr=on|1}}
* [[Barbette]]s: {{convert|380|-|560|mm|in|abbr=on}}
| Ship aircraft = 6–7 × [[floatplane]]s
| Ship aircraft facilities = 2 × [[aircraft catapult|catapults]]
| Ship notes = 
}}
|}
{{Nihongo|'''''Musashi'''''|武蔵|lead=yes||named after [[Musashi Province|the former Japanese province]]<ref>Silverstone, p. 334</ref>}} was one of four planned {{sclass|Yamato|battleship}}s{{#tag:ref|Four ships were begun, but only two were completed as battleships. The third, {{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Shinano||2}}, was completed as an aircraft carrier and the fourth was [[ship breaking|scrapped]] before completion.<ref>Garzke & Dulin, pp. 74–80, 84</ref>|group=N}} built for the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]] (IJN), beginning in the late 1930s. The ''Yamato''-class ships were the heaviest and most powerfully armed battleships ever constructed,<ref name=j9/> displacing almost {{convert|72000|LT|t}} fully loaded and armed with nine {{convert|460|mm|in|1|adj=on}} main guns. Their [[secondary armament]] consisted of four {{convert|155|mm|adj=on}} triple-[[gun turret]]s formerly used by the {{sclass|Mogami|cruiser}}s. They were equipped with six or seven [[floatplane]]s to conduct reconnaissance.

Commissioned in mid-1942, ''Musashi'' was modified to serve as the [[flagship]] of the [[Combined Fleet]], and spent the rest of the year [[Glossary of nautical terms (M-Z)#working up|working up]]. The ship was transferred to [[Chuuk Lagoon|Truk]], [[Empire of Japan|Japan's]] main wartime naval base in the [[Pacific War|South Pacific theatre]], in early 1943 and [[sortie]]d several times that year with the fleet in unsuccessful searches for [[Military history of the United States during World War II|American]] forces. She was used to transfer forces and equipment between Japan and various occupied islands several times in 1944. [[Torpedo|Torpedoed]] in early 1944 by an American [[submarine]], ''Musashi'' was forced to return to Japan for repairs, during which the navy greatly augmented her [[anti-aircraft warfare|anti-aircraft armament]]. She was present during the [[Battle of the Philippine Sea]] in June, but did not come in contact with American surface forces. During the [[Battle of Leyte Gulf]], ''Musashi'' was sunk by an estimated 19 torpedo and 17 bomb hits from American [[carrier-based aircraft]] on 24 October 1944. Over half of her crew was rescued. Her wreck was located in March 2015 by a team of researchers employed by [[Microsoft]] co-founder [[Paul Allen]].

==Design and description==
{{Main|Yamato-class battleship}}
Since the IJN anticipated it would be unable to produce as many ships as the United States, the ''Yamato''-class ships with their great size and heavy armament were designed to be individually superior to American battleships.<ref>Garzke & Dulin, p. 45</ref> ''Musashi'' had a length of {{convert|244|m|ftin|sigfig=3}} [[Length between perpendiculars|between perpendiculars]] and {{convert|263|m|ftin}} [[length overall|overall]]. She had a [[waterline]] [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|38.9|m|ftin}} and a [[draft (ship)|draught]] of {{convert|10.86|m|ftin}} at [[deep load]].<ref name=s10>Skulski, p. 10</ref> She [[displacement (ship)|displaced]] {{convert|64000|LT|t|lk=on}} at [[Standard displacement#Standard displacement|standard load]] and {{convert|71659|LT|t}} at deep load. Her crew consisted of 2,500 officers and [[naval rating|ratings]] in 1942, and about 2,800 in 1944.<ref name=j8>Jentschura, Jung & Mickel, p. 38</ref>

The battleship had four sets of [[Imperial Japanese Navy Technical Department|Kampon]] geared [[steam turbine]]s, each of which drove one propeller shaft. The turbines were designed to produce a total of {{convert|150000|shp|lk=on}}, using steam provided by 12 Kampon [[water-tube boiler]]s, giving the ship a maximum speed of {{convert|27.5|kn|lk=in}}. She had a stowage capacity of {{convert|6300|LT|t}} of [[fuel oil]], giving a range of {{convert|7200|nmi|lk=in}} at a speed of {{convert|16|kn}}.<ref name=j8/>

===Armament===
[[File:Musashi battleship in 1942.jpg|thumb|''Musashi'', August 1942, seen from the bow]]
''Musashi''{{'}}s [[main battery]] consisted of nine 45-[[caliber (artillery)|calibre]] [[40 cm/45 Type 94|460-milliimetre Type 94]] guns mounted in three triple gun turrets, numbered from front to rear. The guns had a rate of fire of 1.5 to 2 rounds per minute.<ref name=c8>Sturton, p. 178</ref> The ship's [[secondary armament|secondary battery]] consisted of twelve 60-calibre [[15.5 cm/60 3rd Year Type naval gun|155-millimetre 3rd Year Type guns]] mounted in four triple turrets, one each fore and aft of the [[superstructure]] and one on each side [[amidships]]. These had become available once the ''Mogami''-class cruisers were rearmed with [[20 cm/50 3rd Year Type naval gun|{{convert|200|mm|adj=on}}]] guns.<ref>Garzke & Dulin, pp. 91–92</ref> Heavy [[anti-aircraft warfare|anti-aircraft defence]] was provided by a dozen 40-calibre [[  12.7 cm/40 Type 89 naval gun|127-millimetre (5&nbsp;in) Type 89]] [[dual-purpose gun]]s in six twin turrets, three on each side of the superstructure. ''Musashi'' also carried thirty-six [[Type 96 25 mm AT/AA Gun|25-millimetre (1&nbsp;in) Type 96]] light [[Anti-aircraft gun|anti-aircraft (AA) guns]] in 12 triple-gun mounts, all mounted on the superstructure.<ref name=s20>Skulski, p. 20</ref> The ship was also provided with two twin mounts for the [[licence-built]] [[13.2 mm Hotchkiss machine gun|{{convert|13.2|mm|adj=on}} Type 93]] anti-aircraft [[machine gun]]s, one on each side of the [[bridge (nautical)|bridge]].<ref name=c8/>

While the ship was under repair in April 1944, the two 155&nbsp;mm [[wing turret]]s were removed and replaced with three triple 25&nbsp;mm gun mounts each. A total of sixteen triple 25&nbsp;mm mounts and twenty-five single mounts were added at that time, giving the ship a light AA armament of 115 guns.<ref name=cfrecord/>

===Armour===
The ship's waterline [[belt armor|armour belt]] was identical to {{ship|Japanese battleship|Yamato||2}}'s at {{convert|410|mm|in|1}} thick and angled outwards 20 degrees at the top.<ref name="USNTMJ">{{cite web|last1=US Naval Technical Mission to Japan|title=Ship and Related Targets: Reports of Damage to Japanese Warships|url=http://www.fischer-tropsch.org/primary_documents/gvt_reports/USNAVY/USNTMJ%20Reports/USNTMJ-200H-0745-0786%20Report%20S-06-2.pdf|website=fischer-tropsch.org|publisher=United States Navy|access-date=26 December 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131018053426/http://www.fischer-tropsch.org/primary_documents/gvt_reports/USNAVY/USNTMJ%20Reports/USNTMJ-200H-0745-0786%20Report%20S-06-2.pdf|archive-date=18 October 2013}}</ref> Below it was a [[strake]] of armour that ranged in thickness from {{convert|270|to|200|mm|in|1}} over the [[magazine (artillery)#Naval magazines|magazines]] and machinery spaces, respectively; it tapered to a thickness of {{convert|75|mm|in|1}} at its bottom edge. The [[deck (ship)|deck]] armour ranged in thickness from {{convert|230|to|200|mm|in|1}}. The turrets were protected with an armour plate {{convert|650|mm|in|1}} thick on the face, {{convert|250|mm|in|1}} on the sides, and 270 millimetres on the roof. The [[barbette]]s of the turrets were protected by armour {{convert|560|to|280|mm|in|1}} thick, and the turrets of the 155&nbsp;mm guns were protected by {{convert|50|mm|in|1|adj=on}} armour plates. The sides of the [[conning tower]] were {{convert|500|mm|in|1}} thick and its roof was 200 millimetres thick. Underneath the magazines were {{convert|50|to|80|mm|in|1|adj=on}} armour plates to protect the ship from [[naval mine|mine]] damage. ''Musashi'' contained 1,147 watertight compartments (1,065 underneath the armour deck, 82 above) to preserve [[buoyancy]] in the event of battle damage.<ref>Garzke & Dulin, pp. 100, 104, 122</ref>

===Aircraft===
''Musashi'' was fitted with two [[aircraft catapult|catapults]] on her [[quarterdeck]] and could stow up to seven [[floatplane]]s in her below-decks [[hangar]]. The ship operated [[Mitsubishi F1M]] [[biplane]]s and [[Aichi E13A]]1 monoplanes and used a {{convert|6|t|LT|adj=on}}, stern-mounted [[crane (machine)|crane]] for recovery.<ref>Skulski, pp. 25–26</ref>

===Fire control and sensors===
The ship was equipped with four {{convert|15|m|ftin|adj=on}} [[Rangefinding telemeter|rangefinder]]s, one atop her forward superstructure and one in each of her main gun turrets, and another {{convert|10|m|ftin|adj=on}} unit atop her rear superstructure. Each {{convert|15.5|cm|adj=on}} gun turret was equipped with an {{convert|8|m|ftin|adj=on}} rangefinder. Low-angle fire was controlled by two Type 98 [[fire-control director]]s mounted above the rangefinders on the superstructure. Type 94 high-angle directors controlled the 127&nbsp;mm AA guns, with Type 95 short-range directors for the 25&nbsp;mm AA guns.<ref>Skulski, pp. 20–21</ref>

''Musashi'' was built with a Type 0 [[hydrophone]] system in her bow, usable only while stationary or at low speed.<ref>Skulski, p. 21</ref> In September 1942, a [[List of Japanese World War II radar#Shipborne radar|Type 21 air-search radar]] was installed on the roof of the 15-metre rangefinder at the top of the forward superstructure. Two Type 22 surface-search radars were installed on the forward superstructure in July 1943. During repairs in April 1944, the Type 21 radar was replaced by a more modern version, and a Type 13 [[early-warning radar]] was also fitted.<ref name=cfrecord>Hackett & Kingsepp</ref>

==Construction==
[[File:Musashi1944.png|thumb|''Musashi'' as she appeared in mid-1944]]
To cope with ''Musashi''{{'}}s great size and weight, the construction [[slipway]] was reinforced, nearby workshops were expanded, and two [[Crane (machine)#Floating|floating cranes]] were built. The ship's [[keel]] was laid down on 29 March 1938 at [[Mitsubishi]]'s [[Nagasaki]] shipyard, and was designated "Battleship No. 2". Throughout construction, a large curtain made of hemp rope weighing {{convert|408|t|ST|abbr=on}} prevented outsiders from viewing construction.<ref>Garzke & Dulin, pp. 51, 53, 66</ref><ref name=Y29>Yoshimura, p. 29</ref>{{refn|The amount of [[sisal]] rope necessary to complete the curtain was so great that it caused a shortage in the fishing industry.<ref>Garzke & Dulin, p. 51</ref>|group=N}}

[[Launch (ship)|Launching]] the ''Musashi'' also presented challenges. The ship's {{convert|4|m|ftin|adj=on}} thick launch platform, made of nine {{convert|44|cm|in|abbr=on}} [[Douglas fir]] planks bolted together, took two years to assemble (from keel-laying in March 1938) because of the difficulty in drilling perfectly straight bolt holes through 4&nbsp;metres of fresh timber. The problem of slowing and stopping the massive hull once inside the narrow Nagasaki Harbour was met by attaching {{convert|570|t|LT}} of heavy chains on both sides of the hull to create dragging resistance in the water. The launch was concealed by measures that included a citywide [[Civil defense|air-raid drill]] staged on launch day to keep people inside their homes. ''Musashi'' was launched on 1 November 1940, coming to a stop only {{convert|1|m|ft}} further than the hull's expected {{convert|220|m|ft}} travel distance across the harbour. The entry of such a large mass into the water caused a {{convert|120|cm|ftin|adj=mid|-tall}} wave, which swept the harbour and local rivers, flooding homes and capsizing small fishing boats.<ref>Yoshimura, pp. 83–85, 97, 109, 115–117</ref> ''Musashi'' was [[Fitting-out|fitted out]] at nearby [[Sasebo, Nagasaki|Sasebo]], with [[Captain (naval)|Captain]] [[Kaoru Arima]] assigned as her commanding officer.<ref name=cfrecord/>

Towards the end of fitting out, the ship's flagship facilities, including those on the [[Ship's bridge|bridge]] and in the admiral's [[Cabin (ship)|cabins]], were modified to satisfy Combined Fleet's desire to have the ship equipped as the primary flagship of the commander-in-chief, as her [[sister ship]] ''Yamato'' was too far along for such changes. These alterations, along with improvements in the secondary battery armour, pushed back completion and pre-handover testing of ''Musashi'' by two months, to August 1942.<ref>Yoshimura, pp. 123–125</ref>

==Service==
[[File:Japanese battleships Yamato and Musashi moored in Truk Lagoon, in 1943 (L42-08.06.02).jpg|thumb|left|''Musashi'' and ''Yamato'' in [[Chuuk Lagoon|Truk Lagoon]] in early 1943]]

''Musashi'' was commissioned at Nagasaki on 5 August 1942, and assigned to the 1st Battleship Division, together with ''Yamato'', {{ship|Japanese battleship|Nagato||2}} and {{ship|Japanese battleship|Mutsu||2}}.<ref>Garzke & Dulin, p. 66</ref> Beginning five days later, the ship conducted machinery and aircraft-handling trials near [[Hashirajima]]. Her secondary armament of twelve 127&nbsp;mm guns, 12 triple 25&nbsp;mm gun mounts, and four {{convert|13.2|mm|in|2|abbr=on}} anti-aircraft machine guns was fitted 3–28 September 1942 at Kure, as well as a Type 21 radar. The ship was working up for the rest of the year. Arima was promoted to [[rear admiral]] on 1 November.<ref name=cfrecord/>

''Musashi'' was assigned to the [[Japanese Combined Fleet|Combined Fleet]], commanded by Admiral [[Isoroku Yamamoto]], on 15 January 1943<ref name=w6>Whitley, p. 216</ref> and sailed for Truk three days later, arriving on 22 January. On 11 February, she replaced her sister ship ''Yamato'' as the fleet's flagship. On 3 April, Yamamoto left ''Musashi'' and flew to [[Rabaul]], [[New Britain]] to personally direct [[Operation I-Go|"Operation ''I-Go''"]], a Japanese aerial offensive in the [[Solomon Islands]]. His orders were intercepted and deciphered by [[Magic (cryptography)|Magic]], and American [[Lockheed P-38 Lightning]] fighters shot down his transport aircraft and killed him in [[Operation Vengeance]] while he was en route from New Britain to Ballale, [[Bougainville Island|Bougainville]]. On 23 April, his [[Cremation|cremated]] remains were flown back to Truk and placed in his cabin on board ''Musashi''.<ref name=cfrecord/>

On 17 May, in response to American [[Battle of Attu|attacks on Attu Island]], ''Musashi''—together with the [[aircraft carrier]] {{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Hiyō||2}}, two [[heavy cruiser]]s, and nine [[destroyer]]s—[[sortie]]d to the northern Pacific. When no contact was made with American forces, the ships sailed to Kure on 23 May, where Yamamoto's ashes were taken from the vessel in preparation for a formal [[state funeral]]. Immediately afterwards, ''Musashi''{{'}}s task force was significantly reinforced to counterattack American naval forces off Attu, but the island was captured before the force could intervene. On 9 June, Arima was relieved by Captain [[Keizō Komura]]. On 24 June, while being overhauled at [[Yokosuka Naval Arsenal]], ''Musashi'' was visited by [[Emperor Hirohito]] and high-ranking naval officers. From 1 to 8 July, the ship was fitted with a pair of Type 22 radars at Kure.<ref name=cfrecord/> She sailed for Truk on 30 July and arrived there six days later, where she resumed her position as fleet flagship for Admiral [[Mineichi Koga]].<ref name=w6/>

In mid-October, in response to suspicions of planned American raids on [[Wake Island]], ''Musashi'' led a large fleet—three carriers, six battleships, and 11 cruisers—to intercept American forces, but failed to make contact and returned to Truk on 26 October. She spent the remainder of 1943 in Truk Lagoon. Komura was promoted to rear admiral on 1 November and transferred to the [[3rd Fleet (Imperial Japanese Navy)|3rd Fleet]] on 7 December as [[chief of staff]]; Captain Bunji Asakura assumed command of ''Musashi''.<ref name=cfrecord/>

[[File:島村信政5.jpg|thumb|right|[[Emperor Hirohito]] and his staff on board ''Musashi'', 24 June 1943. Visible in the background are two pairs of twin 127 mm (5 in) DP guns and a triple 25 mm (1 in) AA gun.]]
The ship remained in Truk Lagoon until 10 February 1944, when she returned to Yokosuka. On 24 February, ''Musashi'' sailed for [[Palau]], carrying one [[Imperial Japanese Army]] [[battalion]] and another of [[Special Naval Landing Force]]s and their equipment. After losing most of her deck cargo in a [[typhoon]], she arrived at Palau on 29 February and remained there for the next month. On 29 March, ''Musashi'' departed Palau under cover of darkness to avoid an expected air raid, and encountered the submarine {{USS|Tunny|SS-282|6}}, which fired six torpedoes at the battleship; five of them missed, but the sixth blew a hole {{convert|5.8|m}} in diameter near the bow, flooding her with 3,000 tonnes of water.<ref name=stille42>Stille, p. 42</ref> The torpedo hit killed seven crewmen and wounded another eleven. After temporary repairs, ''Musashi'' sailed for Japan later that night and arrived at [[Kure Naval Arsenal]] on 3 April. From 10 to 22 April, she was repaired, while her anti-aircraft armament was substantially increased in the space freed up by removal of the beam-mounted {{convert|155|mm|in|adj=on}} triple turrets. When she undocked on 22 April, the ship's secondary battery comprised six 15.5&nbsp;cm guns, twenty-four 12.7&nbsp;cm guns, one hundred and thirty 25&nbsp;mm guns, and four 13.2&nbsp;mm machine guns. She also received new radars (which were still primitive compared to American equipment)<ref>Padfield, p. 285</ref> and [[depth charge|depth-charge]] rails on her [[Poop deck|fantail]].<ref name=cfrecord/>

In May 1944, Asakura was promoted to rear admiral; ''Musashi'' departed Kure for [[Okinawa Prefecture|Okinawa]] on 10 May, then for [[Tawi-Tawi]] on 12 May. She was assigned to the [[1st Mobile Fleet (Imperial Japanese Navy)|1st Mobile Fleet]], under the command of [[Vice Admiral]] [[Jisaburō Ozawa]], with her sister ship. On 10 June, the battleships departed Tawi-Tawi for [[Batjan]] under the command of Vice Admiral [[Matome Ugaki]], in preparation for [[Operation Kon]], a planned counterattack against the American [[Battle of Biak|invasion of Biak]]. Two days later, when word reached Ugaki of American attacks on [[Saipan]], his force was diverted to the [[Mariana Islands]]. After they rendezvoused with Ozawa's main force on 16 June, the battleships were assigned to Vice Admiral [[Takeo Kurita]]'s [[2nd Fleet (Imperial Japanese Navy)|2nd Fleet]]. During the [[Battle of the Philippine Sea]], ''Musashi'' was not attacked.<ref name=cfrecord/><ref name=stille42/> Following Japan's disastrous defeat in the battle (also known as the "Great Marianas Turkey Shoot"), the Second Fleet returned to Japan. On 8 July, ''Musashi'' and her sister embarked 3,522 men and equipment of the Army's [[106th Infantry Regiment (Japan)|106th Infantry Regiment]] of the [[49th Infantry Division (Imperial Japanese Army)|49th Infantry Division]] and sailed for [[Lingga Island]], where they arrived on 17 July.<ref name=cfrecord/>

===Battle of Leyte Gulf===
{{Main article|Battle of Leyte Gulf}}
[[File:Japanese battleships at Brunei, Borneo, in October 1944 (NH 73090).jpg|thumb|Japanese battleships at Brunei, Borneo, in October 1944, photographed just prior to the Battle of Leyte Gulf. The ships are, from left to right: ''Musashi'', ''Yamato'', ''Mogami'' and ''Nagato''.]]
Captain [[Toshihira Inoguchi]] relieved Asakura in command of ''Musashi'' on 12 August 1944 and was promoted to rear admiral on 15 October.<ref name="cfrecord" /> Three days later, the ship sailed for [[Brunei Bay]], Borneo to join the main Japanese fleet in preparation for "Operation ''Sho''-1", the planned counterattack against the American landings at Leyte. The Japanese plan called for Ozawa's carrier forces to lure the American carrier fleets north of Leyte so that Kurita's 1st Diversion Force (also known as the Central Force) could enter [[Leyte Gulf]] and destroy American forces landing on the island. ''Musashi'', together with the rest of Kurita's force, departed Brunei for the [[Philippines]] on 22 October.<ref>Polmar & Genda, pp. 420–422</ref>

The following day, the submarine {{USS|Dace|SS-247|6}} torpedoed and sank the heavy cruiser {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Maya||2}} near [[Palawan (island)|Palawan]]. The destroyer {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Akishimo||2}} rescued 769 survivors and transferred them to ''Musashi'' later in the day.<ref>Lacroix & Wells, pp. 346–347</ref>

====Loss at Sibuyan Sea====
On 24 October, while transiting the [[Sibuyan Sea]], Kurita's ships were spotted by a reconnaissance aircraft from the [[fleet carrier]] {{USS|Intrepid|CV-11|6}}. Just over two hours later, the battleship was attacked by eight [[Curtiss SB2C Helldiver]] [[dive bomber]]s from ''Intrepid'' at 10:27. One {{convert|500|lb|adj=on|order=flip}} bomb struck the roof of Turret No. 1, failing to penetrate. Two minutes later, ''Musashi'' was struck starboard amidships by a torpedo from a [[Grumman TBF Avenger]], also from ''Intrepid''. The ship took on 3,000&nbsp;tonnes of water and a 5.5-degree [[list (watercraft)|list]] to starboard that was later reduced to 1 degree by counterflooding compartments on the opposite side. During this attack, two Avengers were shot down.<ref name="cfrecord" />

[[File:Musashi under fire.jpg|thumb|left|''Musashi'' under attack by American carrier aircraft during the [[Battle of Leyte Gulf]]]]

An hour and a half later, another eight Helldivers from ''Intrepid'' attacked ''Musashi'' again. One bomb hit the upper deck and failed to detonate; another hit the port side of the deck and penetrated two upper decks before exploding above one of the engine rooms. Fragments broke a steam pipe in the engine room and forced its abandonment, as well as that of the adjacent boiler room. Power was lost to the port inboard propeller shaft and the ship's speed dropped to {{convert|22|kn}}. Anti-aircraft fire shot down two Helldivers during this attack. Three minutes later, nine Avengers attacked from both sides of the ship, scoring three torpedo hits on the port side. One hit abreast Turret No. 1, the second flooded a hydraulic machinery room, forcing the main turrets to switch over to auxiliary hydraulic pumps, and the third flooded another engine room. More counterflooding reduced the list to one degree to port, but the amount of flooding reduced the ship's forward [[freeboard (nautical)|freeboard]] by {{convert|6|ft|m|1|order=flip}}. During this attack, ''Musashi'' fired ''[[Beehive (anti-aircraft shell)|sanshikidan]]'' anti-aircraft shells from her main armament; one shell detonated in the middle gun of Turret No. 1, possibly because of a bomb fragment in the barrel, and wrecked the turret's elevating machinery.<ref name="cfrecord" />

At 13:31, the ship was attacked by 29 aircraft from fleet carriers {{USS|Essex|CV-9|2}} and {{USS|Lexington|CV-16|2}}. Two [[Grumman F6F Hellcat]] fighters [[strafe]]d the ship's deck and Helldivers scored four more bomb hits near her forward turrets. ''Musashi'' was hit by four more torpedoes, three of which were forward of Turret No. 1, causing extensive flooding. The ship was now listing one degree to starboard, and had taken on so much water that her bow was now down {{convert|13|ft|m|order=flip|0}} and her speed had been reduced to {{convert|20|kn}}. Two hours later, nine Helldivers from {{USS|Enterprise|CV-6|2}} attacked with {{convert|1000|lb|adj=on|order=flip}} [[Armor-piercing shot and shell|armour-piercing bombs]], scoring four hits. The ship was hit by three more torpedoes, opening up her starboard bow<ref>Padfield, pp. 286–287</ref> and reducing her speed to {{convert|13|kn}}. At 15:25, ''Musashi'' was attacked by 37 aircraft from ''Intrepid'', the fleet carrier {{USS|Franklin|CV-13|2}} and the [[light carrier]] {{USS|Cabot|CVL-28|2}}. The ship was hit by 13 bombs and 11 more torpedoes during this attack, for a loss of three Avengers and three Helldivers. Her speed was reduced to {{convert|6|kn}}, her main [[steering engine]] was temporarily knocked out and her [[rudder]] was briefly jammed 15 degrees to port. Counterflooding reduced her list to six degrees to port from its previous maximum of ten degrees. ''Musashi'' had been struck by an estimated total of 19 torpedoes and 17 bombs.<ref name="cfrecord" />{{refn|The exact tally of hits is not precisely known; most Japanese sources report 11 torpedo and 10 bomb hits,<ref name=cfrecord/> Garzke & Dulin report 20 torpedo and 17 bomb hits,<ref>Garzke & Dulin, p. 18</ref> and analysis by the US Naval Technical Mission to Japan reports 10 torpedo and 16 bomb hits.<ref>Holtzworth, p. 22</ref>|group=N}}

[[File:Japanese battleship Musashi on 24 October 1944, down at the bow and sinking (NH 63434).jpg|thumb|''Musashi'' down by the bow after the air attacks, shortly before her sinking]]

Kurita left ''Musashi'' to fend for herself at 15:30, and encountered her again at 16:21 after reversing course. The ship was headed north, with a list of 10&nbsp;degrees to port, down {{convert|26|ft|m|order=flip|0}} at the bow with her [[forecastle]] awash. He detailed a heavy cruiser and two destroyers to escort her while frantic efforts were made to correct her list, including flooding another engine room and some boiler rooms. Her engines stopped before she could be [[Beaching (nautical)|beached]]. At 19:15, her list reached 12&nbsp;degrees and her crew was ordered to prepare to abandon ship, which they did fifteen minutes later when the list reached 30&nbsp;degrees. ''Musashi'' capsized at 19:36 and sank in {{convert|4430|ft|m|-1|order=flip}} of water at {{Coord|13|07|N|122|32|E|display=inline,title}}.{{refn|Jentschura, Jung & Michel give a different location of {{Coord|12|50|N|122|35|E|display=inline}}.<ref name=j9>Jentschura, Jung & Mickel, p. 39</ref>|group=N}} Inoguchi chose to go down with his ship; 1,376 of her 2,399-man crew were rescued. About half of her survivors were evacuated to Japan, and the rest took part in the defence of the Philippines.<ref name=cfrecord/> The destroyer {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Shimakaze|1942|2}} rescued 635 of ''Maya''{{'}}s survivors from ''Musashi''.<ref>Lacroix & Wells, p. 347</ref>

==Wreck==
===Discovery===
For over 70 years after her sinking, various attempts were made by [[shipwreck]] hunters to locate the wreck of the Japanese battleship, but none succeeded. ''Musashi'', like other Japanese warships, did not have its name on its sides, making it more difficult for divers and shipwreck hunters to find her. A research team sponsored by [[Microsoft]] co-founder [[Paul Allen]] eventually found her after eight years of searching for the wreck, going through various historical records in different countries, and deploying the high-tech [[yacht]] {{ship||Octopus|yacht|2}} and a [[Remotely operated underwater vehicle|remotely operated vehicle]] to aid in their search. In March 2015, Allen announced that the team had found ''Musashi'' under the Sibuyan Sea, some {{convert|3000|ft|m|order=flip|sigfig=1}} beneath the surface.<ref name = "hist">{{cite news |last=Pruitt |first=Sarah |date=17 March 2015 |title=WWII's Largest Battleship Revealed After 70 Years Underwater |url=http://www.history.com/news/wwiis-largest-battleship-revealed-after-70-years-underwater |work=[[History.com]] |publisher=[[A&E Networks]] |access-date=20 May 2015}}</ref><ref name="Allen discovers wreck of Japan's biggest warship Musashi">{{cite news|last1=Agence France-Presse|title=US Billionaire Paul Allen Discovers Wreck of Japan's Biggest Warship ''Musashi''|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/04/us-billionaire-paul-allen-discovers-wreck-of-japans-biggest-warship-musashi|access-date=4 March 2015|work=The Guardian|date=4 March 2015}}</ref>

The ship had been thought to have sunk in one piece; in reality, it exploded underwater,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.startribune.com/world/296172551.html |title=Japanese WWII Battleship ''Musashi'' Exploded Under Water, New Footage Suggests |last=Yamaguchi |first=Mari |date=13 March 2015 |work=StarTribune |access-date=13 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150316024345/http://www.startribune.com/world/296172551.html |archive-date=16 March 2015 }}</ref> scattering debris across the ocean floor. The bow section from the number one barbette forward is upright on the sea floor, while the stern is upside down. The forward superstructure and funnel is detached from the rest of the ship and lies on its port side.<ref name="Allen2015">Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/qNMmqagTt90 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20150313153101/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNMmqagTt90 Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNMmqagTt90|title=Musashi (武蔵) Expedition|last=Allen|first=Paul G.|website=[[YouTube]] |date=12 March 2015|access-date=13 March 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In the live streaming video tour conducted by the expedition team, a mount for the seal of the Imperial Japanese Navy—a [[chrysanthemum]] made out of [[teak]], long rotted away—can be seen amid the debris. The video also showed damage made by U.S. torpedoes, including a warped bow and hits under the ship's main gun.<ref name="Allen2015"/> Other items found in the area of the wreck, as well as other features found inside, led maritime experts to claim with 90% certainty that the wreck was ''Musashi''.

To further confirm the identity of the wreck, Shigeru Nakajima, an electrical technician on ''Musashi'' who survived by jumping overboard after the order to abandon ship was given, told the [[Associated Press]] that he was "certain" that the wreck was ''Musashi'' upon seeing its anchor and the imperial seal mount. He also expressed his gratitude to the expedition team for having located the shipwreck.<ref name = "hist"/>

===Preservation and protection===
The discovery of the wreck beneath the surface of the Sibuyan Sea raised issues in the Philippines because the provincial government of [[Romblon]], which has jurisdiction over the shipwreck site, and the [[Philippine Coast Guard]] were unaware that Allen and his team had an ongoing expedition in the area, though Governor Eduardo Firmalo publicly welcomed discovery of the ship. In response to the find, the Philippine Coast Guard stated that foreign-owned vessels need clearance from the Philippine Foreign Affairs Department, the Customs Bureau, and the Immigration Bureau before entering Philippine waters.<ref name = "abs">{{cite news |date=6 March 2015 |title=Philippines Not Told of Battleship ''Musashi'' Search |url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/regions/03/06/15/philippines-not-told-battleship-musashi-search |agency=[[Kyodo News]] |work=[[ABS-CBN News]] |access-date=21 May 2015}}</ref>

Although discovering the shipwreck was very important to the Japanese people because of the presence aboard of over 1,000&nbsp;Japanese sailors' remains, the [[National Museum of the Philippines]] stated that "any further activity [pertaining to the shipwreck would] be governed by established rules and regulations." The Museum pointed out that the wreck site of ''Musashi'', as stated by the law, is considered an archaeological site under Romblon's jurisdiction, and was "giving priority to verifying the discovery, obtaining and sharing key information, facilitating the protection and preservation of the site, and formulating appropriate next steps."<ref name="abs"/>

==Footnotes==
{{reflist|group=N}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
* {{cite book
  | last1 = Garzke
  | first1 = William H.
  | last2 = Dulin
  | first2 = Robert O.
  | year = 1985
  | title = Battleships: Axis and Neutral Battleships in World War II
  | publisher = Naval Institute Press
  | location = Annapolis, Maryland
  | isbn = 978-0-87021-101-0|name-list-style=amp }}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.combinedfleet.com/musashi.htm|title=IJN Battleship Musashi: Tabular Record of Movement |last1=Hackett|first1=Bob|last2=Kingsepp|first2=Sander|year=2012|publisher=Combinedfleet.com|access-date=17 April 2013 |name-list-style=amp}}
* {{cite web | url = http://www.fischer-tropsch.org/primary_documents/gvt_reports/USNAVY/USNTMJ%20Reports/USNTMJ-200H-0745-0786%20Report%20S-06-2.pdf | last1 = Holtzworth | first1 = E.C., Commander | title = Reports of the US Naval Technical Mission to Japan: Ship and Related Targets – Article 2: Yamato (BB), Musashi (BB), Taiho (CV), Shinano (CV) | access-date = 28 April 2013 | publisher = United States Navy | date = January 1946 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131018053426/http://www.fischer-tropsch.org/primary_documents/gvt_reports/USNAVY/USNTMJ%20Reports/USNTMJ-200H-0745-0786%20Report%20S-06-2.pdf | archive-date = 18 October 2013}}
* {{cite book | last1 = Jentschura | first1 = Hansgeorg | last2 = Jung | first2 = Dieter | last3 = Mickel | first3 = Peter | year = 1977 | title = Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869–1945 | publisher = United States Naval Institute | location = Annapolis, Maryland | isbn = 0-87021-893-X|name-list-style=amp}}
* {{cite book|last1=Lacroix|first1=Eric|last2=Wells|first2=Linton|title=Japanese Cruisers of the Pacific War|publisher= Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=1997|isbn=0-87021-311-3|name-list-style=amp}}
* {{cite book|last=Padfield|first=Peter|author-link= Peter Padfield|title=Battleship|year=2000 |publisher=Birlinn |location=Edinburgh |isbn=1-84158-080-5}}
* {{cite book|last1=Polmar|first1=Norman|last2=Genda |first2=Minoru |author-link2=Minoru Genda|title=Aircraft Carriers: A History of Carrier Aviation and Its Influence on World Events|publisher=Potomac Books|location=Washington, D.C. |year=2006 |volume=1, 1909–1945|isbn=1-57488-663-0|name-list-style=amp}}
* {{cite book|last=Silverstone|first=Paul H.|title=Directory of the World's Capital Ships|year=1984 |publisher=Hippocrene Books|location=New York|isbn=0-88254-979-0}}
* {{cite book|last=Skulski|first=Janusz|title=The Battleship Yamato|orig-year=1988|series=Anatomy of the Ship|year=1995 |publisher=Conway Maritime Press|location=London|isbn=0-85177-490-3}}
* {{cite book |last=Stille |first=Mark |title=Imperial Japanese Navy Battleships 1941–45| series =New Vanguard |volume=146 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |location=Botley, UK |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-84603-280-6 }}
* {{cite book|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946|editor1-last=Chesneau|editor1-first=Roger|publisher=Conway Maritime Press|location=Greenwich, UK|year=1980|isbn=0-85177-146-7|chapter=Japan|author-first=Ian|author-last=Sturton}}
*{{cite journal |last1=Thorne |first1=Phil |title=Battle of the Sibuyan Sea |journal=Warship International |date=March 2022 |volume=LIX |issue=1 |pages=34–65 |issn=0043-0374}}
* {{cite book|last=Whitley|first=M. J.|title=Battleships of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia |publisher= Naval Institute Press|year=1998|isbn=1-55750-184-X |location=Annapolis, Maryland |author-link=Michael J. Whitley}}
* {{cite book|last=Yoshimura|first=Akira|title=Battleship Musashi: The Making and Sinking of the World's Greatest Battleship|year=1999|publisher=Kodansha International|location=Tokyo|isbn=4-7700-2400-2}}

==External links==
* {{Commons-inline|Japanese battleship Musashi}}
* [http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/japan/battleships/musashi_page_1.htm Maritimequest.com: ''Musashi'' photo gallery]

{{Yamato class battleship}}
{{October 1944 shipwrecks}}
{{Authority control}}

{{featured article}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Musashi}}
[[Category:1940 ships]]
[[Category:Battleships sunk by aircraft]]
[[Category:Battle of Leyte Gulf]]
[[Category:Ships built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries]]
[[Category:Yamato-class battleships]]
[[Category:World War II battleships of Japan]]
[[Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Sibuyan Sea]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks of the Philippines]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in October 1944]]
[[Category:Ships sunk by US aircraft]]
[[Category:Shipwreck discoveries by Paul Allen]]
[[Category:2015 archaeological discoveries]]
[[Category:Ships sunk by aircraft during the Battle of Leyte Gulf]]