Sinking the Supership

Student Handout

Battleship Yamato

The Yamato was the largest battleship ever built. Its sinking marked the end of gunboat diplomacy and the emergence of the aircraft carrier as the primary weapon at sea. From national symbol to the vehicle of the largest kamikaze attack, the Yamato has held great meaning for Japanese ever since its sinking in 1945, even as its history has remained shrouded in mystery. Learn more about this mighty ship in this activity.

Procedure

1. Read your question set. As you watch the video, take notes on the questions you have been assigned.

2. After watching the program, meet with your team members who have been assigned the same questions. Together, come up with an answer for each question that you all agree on. Write these answers down on a new sheet of paper. Work with your team members to answer all your questions.

3. Work together as a team to divide the questions so that each team member is assigned at least one question to present to the class.

4. Share answers to your team's questions with the class.

Questions

Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.

1. Who took part in the search for the Yamato? What was the significance of locating the Imperial Crest?

2. When did the American fleet learn the location of the Yamato? How was it able to determine the Yamato's exact location?

3. How did American forces coordinate an air assault on the Yamato?

4. Why did thousands of men drown on the Yamato?

5. Why were battleships important components of any fleet?

6. What steps did the Japanese take to ensure secrecy when building the Yamato?

7. What was unique about the Yamato compared to other battleships?

8. Why were American battleships limited in width?

9. Why were hydrodynamics an issue for the Yamato?

10. What is a bulbous bow? What benefits does this shape provide?

11. How did Japanese victories in 1941 lead to the demise of the Yamato?

12. Why was the Yamato not committed to the Battle of Midway?

13. What were kamikaze attacks?

14. Why was the kamikaze strategy used during the final stages of the war?

15. What indicated that the Yamato's final mission was a kamikaze operation?

16. Why did the Yamato finally go into battle?

17. Why did American bombers attack only on one side of the Yamato?

18. How do naval historians believe the Yamato sank?

19. How many crew members survived? How were they rescued?

20. Why did the Japanese navy refuse to announce the sinking of the Yamato?