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Musashi shipwreck salvage unlikely: Filipino official

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Of course it is "unlikely". Why would anybody want to raise the wreckage anyway?

1 ( +3 / -2 )

The sunken capital ships of the Imperial Japanese Navy should be rest where they were sunk. Musashi was, of course, the second of the Yamato class of battleships, with Yamato and Musashi both named after key geographical places important to the history of Japan. It is worthwhile to visit the Yamato Museum in Kure (this is the same as the Kure Maritime Museum). There is a one tenth scale model of the Yamato, and smaller scale models of other Japanese war ships. It is worth reading the captions which note the date and place of every IJN capital ship sunk. This is a chilling reminder to all visitors of the cost of war -- albeit the museum lightens the touch somewhat by also having an exhibition of the series on the spaceship Yamato.

The Yamato was actually deployed with the Musashi under Admiral Kurita in the Shibuyan sea. This was the so-called Central Force that should have smashed the American landing support ships because the American carriers were lured away mostly by Admiral Ozawa's Northern Force which contained Japan's remaining carriers, but mostly devoid of aircraft after the devastating losses in the Marianas. American grit and spirit turned Central Force back, with Musashi sunk and many including the Yamato damaged. The Yamato later sortied from Kure headed towards Okinawa where she was to ground herself and fight to the end, not having the fuel to return. She was sunk by aerial attack just south of Kyushu.

To those interested in the subject a visit to the Etajima Naval Museum might also be in order. This is actually part of the Maritime SDF base there. Etajima museum has exhibits on the glories stretching back to the late nineteenth century and has a great emphasis on Admiral Togo during the Russo-Japanese War. The Pacific War coverage is much lighter, with only passing reference to the devastating naval defeats at Midway and the Leyte Gulf battles (of which the Shibuyan Sea is one). Instead the main focus is on "special attack" men and equipment. This gloom and glory theme is quite prevalent and makes Etajima more than somewhat unattractive a place for foreigners and non-rightist Japanese to visit.

It should be noted that Kure and Etajima are very close to each other geographically, Etajima being an island as one can tell from its name, and both are in Hiroshima Prefecture. I recommend both, and, of course, the Peace Museum in Hiroshima City.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Good and brave soldiers. Regardless of government decision, those young soldiers had dreams and dear people like family, girlfriends, etc... They died for Japan!!!

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Liarsnfools thanks for the little explanation. Chilling reminders that the wars are always started by politicians. The ones who pay the price are the youngsters...

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I visited Kure in 2013....I think I'll go again at the end of the month.... Hiroshima? I'll visit for the 4th time at the end of the month. :)

0 ( +0 / -0 )

A terrible waste, with few lessons learned.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@WilliBMAR. 08, 2015 - 08:38PM JST . Why would anybody want to raise the wreckage anyway?

Mf Paul Allen want to raise with his own money.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

There was talk of filling the Titanic with pingpong balls to raise her, but I wonder what ocean depths do to a pingpong ball?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

If you want a chilling reminder of the cost of war better go to Kudanshita Yushukan. The room filled full whit photos of people of all ages who died in Japan in the war (mostly civilians in air raids) is very sobering.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

If you want a chilling reminder of the cost of war better go to Kudanshita Yushukan.

Ah you mean that place next to Yasukuni which glosses over Japan's WW2 atrocities? Gotcha

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

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