HIJMS YAMATO at Samar #1

National Archives Photograph

from the Naval Historical Center Online Library

"At 0644, just before the order to form circular formation was issued, four masts, apparently destroyers, were suddenly spotted bearing 060° to port, 37 kilometers from YAMATO...This was followed by the sighting of three carriers, three cruisers, and two destroyers.

It was a surprise encounter since no situation reports had been received since the previous night, and although we had long considered various measures for such an event, the ships, I thought, were extremely slow in reacting because of their lack of enemy information. Measures taken by the fleet headquarters, too, occasionally seemed lacking in promptness. At any rate at 0658 Battleship Division 1 opened fire with its forward guns at a range of 31 kilometers..."

VADM Matome Ugaki, IJN
Commander Battleship Division ONE
HIJMS YAMATO

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