Final US Naval Bombardment of WW2

On August 9th, 1945, the US Navy conducted what would be the final naval bombardment of World War 2. The battleships South Dakota, Indiana, and Massachusetts were joined by 4 heavy cruisers and 10 destroyers to bombarded the Japanese ironworks at Kamaishi. The task force opened fire on the ironworks and docks just before 1 PM and continued to pound away for almost two hours. The ships made 4 passes across Kamaishi harbor and fired a total of 803 16 inch shells and 1,383 8 inch shells. It was during this engagement that USS Massachusetts fired what is believed to be the last 16 inch shell fired in combat during World War 2, and the sounds of this bombardment were broadcast live on radio in the United States via a radio relay on board the US battleship Iowa.

#unitedstatesnavy #history #navalhistory #pacificwar #usnavy #worldwar2 #battleship #cruiser #destroyer #worldofwarships #worldofwarshipslegends

[racketyjack]

Imagine being on the receiving end of all that.

[tonyanderson-lngl]

"Y'all like iron? Have some iron on us! No, no, it's free, we ain't gonna need it any more."

[ericgrace]

No point in taking all those shells home.

[paulprovenzano]

File this one under:
“When the shit you start
finally comes to your door.”

[paulshanahan]

The amount of high explosives fired by the 16 inch guns alone was more than 1, 600, 600 pounds.

[danor]

I wonder what is was like in the US hearing this on the radio back then.

[daveweiss]

Crazy that they broadcast it live over the radio... I wonder if there is audio of it available anywhere?

[oceanhome]

Yes and consider the time Zone difference Too !

[JamesNulph]

I was hoping to hear what 10 destroyers were involved. I later served on the C.F. Adam’s DDG-2.

[michaelcahill]

USS Massachusetts also fired the FIRST 16” shells of WWII

[FuzzyWuzzy]

I can not imagine anything being much more terrifying than being on the receiving end of that.

[Off-roading]

Interesting fact USS Massachusetts fired the first 16 inch shells of the US navy in WW2 and combat records and eye witnesses say she was the last to fire on this day this means she fired the first and last 16 inch rounds of WW2

[graff]

The Awesome 8 and 16 inch Panche of the United States Navy was delivered to the Japanese Ironworks on their mainland.

[SJSTS]

I toured the Massachusetts, it's now a museum in Fall River, Ma. Quite a ship and testament to the US Navy

[dalehood]

I went aboard the USS IOWA. It is docked in San Pedro in southern California. Definitely a trip of a lifetime experience.

[covercalls]

After that bondarment there wasn't much left to fire at. It gives you an idea of the domance of the US Navy ships and planes at time as the IJN was a no show.

[ddvette]

Remember Pearl Harbor? Just in case you don’t, incoming.

[Anlushac]

Bad enough when B-29's coming over dropping dozens of 500lb he bombs, then the US brings Battleships with 16in or 406mm guns firing he shells weighing about 2, 200lbs. Thais like 806 x 2, 000lb bombs falling on that factory.

[nofrackingzone]

A 16 inch shell weighs 2, 375 pounds if they fired 803 that means the total weight of the 16 inch shell was 1, 907, 125 pounds.

An 8 inch shell weighed 335 pounds, at 1, 383 rounds fired the total weight of munitions expended was 463, 305 pounds. The total weight of the combined barrage
2, 370, 430 pounds. There could not have been anything left of the steelworks afterwards.

A major goal of the attacks was to provoke the Japanese military into committing some of its reserve force of aircraft into battle. However, the Japanese did not attempt to attack the Allied bombardment forces, and none of the involved warships suffered any damage.

[thomasanderson]

According to my father who served on the Maryland, after Pearl it was sent to Bremerton for repairs and retro fitted with the first 16" guns.