IJN
Nagato Class Battleship
Dementions (after refit)
738' x 108' x 31'
Tons (after refit)
39,120
Sunk
June 8, 1943
Magazine Explosion
Justin Taylan 2003
Tom Burchill 2004
Ship History
Construction began in June 1918 by Yokosuka Navy Yard. Commissioned October 24, 1921. Mutsu was refitted between 1934 and 1936.
Wartime History
Mutsu suffered an internal magazine explosion on June 8, 1943 causing it to sink in Hiroshima
Bay off Hashirajima Island. The exact cause
of the explosion was never determined, but was probably
a cordite charge. Of the crew of 1,471 a total of 1,121 were killed and only 350 survived. While sinking, the battleship capsized, weighed down by its enormous superstructure. The turrets, held in place remained attached to the ship.
Salvage
A failed salvage attempt happened in 1949. Salvage operations between 1970 - 1978 recovered
items include part of the bow, the anchors, screws, rudder, main guns,
the complete number 4 turret, and personal effects of the crew. Overseen by Yagi, a salvage diver who had served on the Hakki Maru. The crane used had a 1,500 ton lifting capability. The intact No. 4 turret had to be freed with explosivve charges, then fell to the seafloor, and could be rigged for lifting. The turret weighed 900 tons and fired a 40cm shell.
Display
Relics from the Mutsu are displayed at several museums:
The Mutsu Memorial Museum is located at Tôwa Chô, with many artifacts are restored and displayed. The complete No. 4 turret is displayed at Eta Jima. A 140mm gun turret is dispalayed at Yasukuni Jinja. One of the main guns is displayed outdoors at the Tokyo Maritime Science Museum.
References
Japanese book on the Mutsu salvage, 1971
