What-If ....Yamato had survived the war?

[anj4de]

Hello everybody

I was reading a bit on Yamato after I saw a documentary about her on Youtube the other day and since I like what-if subjects here is my suggestion...or shall we call it brain fart?

Yamato did not sail to rescue Okinawa but did fall into Allied hands at the war's end. For the same reason the emperor of Japan was left in power, Yamato was not used as a target during the A-bomb test but was mothballed in Bremerton. After Japan was becoming a solid democratic and trust worthy partner (late 50ties?), Yamato was returned to Japan. Now there were 3 options crossing my mind...

1. Most likely...she became a museum ship and is one still today

2. The Japaneese Navy put her back on duty and modernized her...she since serves as flag ship and is still on active duty...maybe now (2015) in a similar status as the USS Constitution. Up to what stage would she have been modernized? Maybe mid 90ties? How could she have looked?

3. She became a space ship...

The most interesting discussion point I guess would be No.2...if that is worth a discussion at all?

cheers
Uwe

[ozpirate]

OK I'll bite.
If she survived the war and was handed back to japan and if it was allowed and possible, I would say that there might have been made into a carrier like Shinnano was.
Ok I know I will be shot down so go for it.

[thomastmcc]

more than likely taken or given as war reparations like the yukikaze given to china she was eventually scrapped even though there was a japanese outcry ? trying to get the ship back as a musuem ship etc ..

[jasonfreeland]

I strongly suspect she would have been an operation crossroads target.

[GMG4RWF]

I strongly suspect she would have been an operation crossroads target.

While the temptation for the US would have been unresistible, he states that it does not happen. I have been thinking on these lines myself. I was thinking perhaps either Yamato (or Musashi) returns from Leyte (Samar or the Sibuyan Sea) to Brunei (or Hong Kong, Singapore or other port taken from the Commonwealth) possibly with some moderate but repairable damage. when she/they arrive it is decided that there is not adequate fuel for them to return to Home waters and they languish there for the rest of the war (as with Takao) they end the war in British/French/neutral hands instead of US hands. The Allie/Neutral plans to scrap, but can't get her to an appropriate (large enough) port. After much negotiation Japan secures a return of "their" ship. This would be a plausible "survived" scenario.
The ship/s may also "flee" to Vladivostok before the Russians jump in. this gives a plausible Russian upgrade. (these can also be used for any IJN ship surviving) I thought of a viable US upgrade (as CAG or CLG mods). Retain main turrets, replace center-line 15.5cm triples with Mk11 twin Tartars, strip all 25mms replace upper 12.7cm/40 twins with Mk33 3"/50s, replace lower 12.7/cm/40s with Mk-16 or Mk-42 5"/54s or replace (original side 15.5cm triples - Musashi) with Mk-4 twin Terrier launchers. 4-6 Additional Mk-33s mounted around superstructure in-place of 25mms + 2 additional on fantail with Sea-planes/catapults replaced with helo deck. New ('50-'60s) B/S = 9 (3x3) 46cm, 3 (3x1) Mk-16/42 5"/54, 4 (2x2) Mk-11 Tartar, 14 (7x2) 3"/50. or 9 (3x3) 46cm, 2 (1x2) Mk-4 Terrier, 4 (2x2) Mk-11 Tartar, 14 (7x2) 3"/50.

[GMG4RWF]

The Russian Mods have a much wider variety available (this is what I came up with). An initial (50s) mod: replace the upper 127mm/40s with 45mm/78 SM-7 or 57mm/81 ZIF-75 Quad mounts (possible 2-4 on superstructure sponsons � 8-10 total), some of the remaining 25mm Hotchkiss with the Russian 25 mm/79 2M-8 over/under mounts (rest removed). The lower 127mm/40s with either 6x2 Russian 100mm/70 CM-5 or (also with original side 155mm triples � Musashi) 2x1 SSN-1 Scrubbers (1 each side) or {2x2 SAN-1 Goas (1 each side) & 2-4x1 SSN-2 Styx}. Later (depending on time of rebuild): replace centerline 155mm triples with 2x2 SAN-4s, 1 each, replace 45/57mm Quad mounts on 127mm upper sponsons with 6x {either 57mm/75 AK-725 (ZIF-72), 76.2mm/59 AK-726 or 100mm/70 AK-100s}. Remaining 45/57mm Quads & 25 mm 2M-8s with (fewer) 30 mm/63 AK-230 twin or 30 mm/54 AK-630 gatling turrets. Replace 6x2 100 mm/70 CM-5 (if applicable) with either 6x{57mm AK-725 (ZIF-72), 76.2mm AK-726 or 100mm AK-100 or 130mm/70 AK-130} or (as with SAN/SSM-1s) {2x2 SAN-3 Goblets or 2x6 SAN-6 Grumbles} and {2X3 SSN-9 Siren or 2X4 SSN-22 Sunburn or 4X2 SSN-12 Sandbox}, possibly replace aft turret with SSN-19 Shipwrecks