ENEMY WARSHIPS SUNK

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24536, 9 April 1945, Page 5

ENEMY WARSHIPS SUNK

Biggest Japanese Battleship

SEA AND AIR ACTION OFF OKINAWA

(N.Z. Press Association-Copyright) (Ret. 8.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, April 7. Six Japanese warships, including their largest battleship, the Yamato, were sunk and 391 aircraft were shot down in a big sea and air battle off Okinawa in the Riukius. American losses were three destroyers and seven aeroplanes. Admiral Nimitz’s communique, reporting the action, says: “The enemy attempted strong counter-attacks against our forces operating in the vicinity of Okinawa yesterday and to-day. A large force of enemy aircraft attacked our ships and shore installations yesterday afternoon and evening. Our fighters destroyed 55 aircraft and flak shot down 61. The enemy pressed attacks with desperation and sank three destroyers and damaged several other destroyers and smaller craft, “Navy aircraft to-day sighted an enemy surface force which left the Inland Sea south of Kyushu and headed into the East China Sea. The force included the large battleship Yamato, which is the most powerful ship left in the Japanese navy, one Agnano class light cruiser, one other small light cruiser or large destroyer and a number of destroyers. “Vice-Admiral Marc Mitscher’s fast carrier task force steamed towards the enemy at high speed and brought his force under air attack. Our carrier aircraft met no air opposition over the Japanese ships* but flak was heavy. Aircraft 50 miles south of Kyushu sank the. Yamato, the light Agnano class cruiser, a small cruiser and three destroyers, and set fire to three destroyers. Three more destroyers escaped.

“The Yamato was hit by at least eight torpedoes ’ and- eight heavy bombs. All the enemy ships were heavily strafed with rockets and machine-gun?. Oor carriers lost seven aircrf.lt.. Their acroplihes shot down SO enemy aircraft.” The Associated Press correspondent on Guam says there is every indication that the aerial attack against the American Fleet in the Riukius is continuing. The total number of Japanese aeroplanes shot down-compares well with any other battle, in the Pacific . - A naval spokesman said that a good 25 per cent, of the remaining. Japanese major naval combat force had been lost or put out of action off Okinawa, leaving t a force that could be handled very easily by *any of the, major task forces. Obviously the Japanese did not like their position in thelnland Sea, which was becoming more uptem able. The fact that they had used very fast ships indicated that they hoped to make a hit and irun raid and then escape.' " •" / ■ v The Associated Press correspondent on Guam says the sunken Japanese ships were probably ■ the last strong force the enemy was able to .muster. • The “New York TimesVqorrcsponaent on Okinawa says the Japanese had the best chance to use 1 their air force