Yamato's Last Voyage
After a dozen torpedo hits, even the Yamato's 1,000 watertight compartments couldn't save her, and her lower decks rapidly began to flood. A Curtiss Helldiver bomber like the one seen at right photographed the destruction. At this point, after just a few hours of battle, most of the American pilots returned to their carriers, knowing Yamato's injuries were fatal. In all, Yamato took 12 bomb and seven torpedo hits within two hours of battle.