Ship:Unfailing Devotion Collection

Unfailing Devotion On April 1, 1945, American forces began landing on the islands of Okinawa, and the defenders lacked sufficient strength to repel the invading troops successfully. The Japanese command decided to resort to a tactic of conducting massive air raids against the landing forces. At the same time, a group of Japanese ships led by Yamato, the largest battleship in the world, was ordered to break through to Okinawa, provide artillery support, and divert enemy aircraft to ease the task for Japanese pilots. This attack, involving Yamato, was doomed to fail from the outset, but the Imperial Japanese Navy leadership believed that the battleship must not fall into enemy hands and should perish in battle, like the noble samurai of the past.

Final Sortie

U.S. Aircraft Launch the Attack

The destruction of Yamato was of paramount importance, as the battleship's firepower could pose a serious threat to the landing troops. Thus, American forces could not allow the Japanese task force to reach Okinawa. The forces concentrated by the U.S. Navy command for the attack were capable of destroying an entire fleet. Against one battleship, a cruiser, and eight destroyers, the U.S. Navy assembled eleven aircraft carriers, six of the newest South Dakota and Iowa-class battleships, eleven cruisers, and several dozen destroyers.

On the morning of April 7, U.S. reconnaissance aircraft spotted the Japanese fleet. One by one, Grumman F6F Hellcat and Vought F4U Corsair fighters, Curtiss SB2C Helldiver dive bombers, and Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bombers began taking off from carrier decks. Nearly 400 aircraft surged toward the Japanese formation.

Japanese 2nd Fleet Heading for the Final Battle

The Japanese 2nd Fleet, led by Yamato, embarked on its final sortie on April 6, 1945. The night passed quietly, and at the dawn of April 7, the fleet's commander, Vice Admiral Itō, ordered the ships to form a defensive formation to repel the aircraft attack. Yamato took position at the center of the formation, while the destroyers encircled her, each spaced roughly 1.5 km apart. Cruiser Yahagi led the formation, advancing at a speed of 20 knots.

The fleet's first loss was destroyer Asashimo. The ship experienced engine trouble, began to fall behind, and soon turned back. The rest of the task force continued on its course toward the enemy landing troops. It was in this formation that the 2nd Fleet was spotted by American reconnaissance aircraft shortly before it entered its final battle.

Carrier-Borne Aircraft Attack

The 2nd Fleet had no air cover, and the few available Japanese planes from nearby airfields could not counter the American aircraft, which dominated the skies without opposition. AA fire from the Japanese ships also failed to disrupt the concentrated aerial assault.

The American pilots launched a powerful torpedo and bomb strike against the formation. Aircraft that had already dropped their payloads continued to strafe the ships with gunfire, aiming to overwhelm the enemy's air defenses through sheer numbers. During the first wave alone, Yamato was hit by both bombs and torpedoes, while Yahagi was immobilized by a successful strike to the engine room. Forty minutes after the first wave, the second one followed, and half an hour after that came the third, which put an end to any lingering hopes the Japanese might have had to turn the tide of war.

Yamato's Final Moments

The Japanese sailors knew they were heading to their deaths, yet they were prepared to fulfill their duty to the very end. On April 7, 1945, at 14:20, Yamato capsized after being struck by 20 torpedoes and aerial bombs. Three minutes later, a massive explosion erupted through the ship as the main battery magazines detonated. It was so powerful that it tore the ship in two, sending a mushroom-shaped cloud more than 6 km into the sky. The explosion, visible and audible from over 200 km away, stands as one of the largest non-nuclear man-made explosions in human history.

Vice Admiral Seiichi Itō, commander of the task force, and Kōsaku Aruga, Yamato's captain, refused to abandon the ship. Of the battleship's crew of over 3,000, fewer than 300 sailors and officers survived.

Reward

Completing this sub-collection provides the following reward:
Yamato Kai Commemorative Flag

• On April 6–7, Japanese battleship Yamato, accompanied by a light cruiser and destroyer escort, departed on her final mission. Coordinated with kamikaze air attacks, the operation aimed to disrupt the landings of American forces on Okinawa. Intercepted by U.S. carrier-based aircraft, Yamato was sunk during a massive air assault involving 386 planes. The attack also resulted in the loss of the light cruiser and four destroyers from the Japanese escort group.

Final Reward

Seasoned Commander

Nation	Name	Unique Traits
	Kōsaku Aruga Hashidate with 10 skill points
			Emergency Repair Specialist (enhanced skill for battleships) reduces cooldown of Damage Control Party and Repair Party −4% (normally −3%).