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| IJN Nagato Class Battleship 725' 2" x 113' 6" x 31' 2" 42,850 Tons 8 x 16" main guns 20 x 5.5" guns 98 x 25mm AA 3 x aircraft  IJN 1943   Justin Taylan 2003  Tom Burchill 2004 |
Ship History Built by Yokosuka Navy Yard at Yokosuka. Laid down June 1, 1918 as a Nagato Class Battleship. Launched May 31, 1920 as Mutsu. Commissioned October 24, 1921 in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN). During 1934 and 1936 refitted and modernized. Wartime History Between January 18, 1942 to January 19, 1942 Mutsu and Yamato conduct gunnery trails in the Inland Sea. During June 1942 participates in the Battle of Midway. Sinking History On June 8, 1943 Mutsu suffers an internal magazine explosion, capsized then sank off Hashirajima in Hiroshima Bay at roughly Lat 34°05'N, Long 132°20'E. The exact cause of the explosion was never determined, but was probably due to the accidental detonation of a cordite charge. Of the crew of 1,471 a total of 1,121 were killed with only 350 survivors. While sinking the gun turrets remained in place. Shipwreck During 1949, a salvage attempt was attempted but failed. Between 1970–1978, salvage operations recovered items include part of the bow, the anchors, screws, rudder, main guns, the complete no. 4 turret plus personal effects of the crew. Overseen by Yagi, a salvage diver who during the Pacific War was aboard Hakki Maru. The salvage crane used had a 1,500 ton lift capability. The intact No. 4 turret had to be freed with explosive charges then fell onto the sea floor, 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 has many recovered artifacts that are restored and displayed. The complete No. 4 turret is displayed at Eta Jima. A 140mm Naval Gun Type 3 (1914) gun in a turret is displayed in Yūshūkan (Yasukuni Museum) at Yasukuni Jinja. One of the main guns is displayed outdoors at the Tokyo Maritime Science Museum. References Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) U.S. Navy at War Final Official Report to the Secretary of the Navy page 49 Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) Japanese Naval and Merchant Shipping Losses During World War II by All Causes page 6 IJN Mutsu: Tabular Record of Movement The Battleship Mutsu (accessed via WayBack Machine July 11, 2011) Japanese book on the Mutsu salvage, 1971 Contribute
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