Anatomy of Yamato
5. Anti-Aircraft Guns
When first outfitted in 1941, Yamato had only 24 small
anti-aircraft machine guns. By April 1945, anticipating an onslaught
of Allied planes, the Imperial Navy armed Yamato with more
than 150 machine guns, most in triple-mounted turrets. The majority
of the guns shot 220 rounds per minute, but a few stationed at the
tower bridge fired at twice this rate. Unlike the heavier artillery,
the machine guns could tilt at 90-degree angles to aim at planes
directly overhead. But the crews manning these guns were among the
most vulnerable to direct enemy fire.