Ijn Yamashiro.

Описание: *IJN Yamashiro* (山城) was a **Fusō**-class battleship of the **Imperial Japanese Navy**, active during **World War I and II**. Yamashiro is best known for her involvement in the **Battle of Surigao Strait**, part of the Battle of Leyte Gulf in 1944.

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✅ **General Specifications of IJN Yamashiro**:

*Class:* Fusō-class battleship (along with her sister, IJN Fusō)
*Built:* 1913
*Launched:* 3 November 1915
*Fully commissioned:* 31 March 1917
*Length:* About 212 meters
*Displacement:* About 39,000 tons (after modernization)
*Maximum speed:* ± 24.5 knots
*Crew:* About 1,400 men

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🔫 *Armament (after modernization in the 1930s):*

*6 twin 14-inch (356 mm) main gun turrets* → 12 guns in total
*Secondary guns:* 6-inch and 5-inch guns
*Anti-aircraft guns:* Various calibers, including 25 mm
*Torpedo launchers* (limited number)

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🔧 *Modernization:*

In the 1930s, Yamashiro underwent a **major modernization**:

A large and tall "pagoda" superstructure was added
Armor was increased
Engines and turbines were replaced for faster speeds
Anti-aircraft defenses were strengthened

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⚔️ *Role in World War II:*

Although an **old ship**, Yamashiro continued to be used in World War II:

Initially used as a *training and escort ship*
In 1944, she was involved in *Operation Sho-Go* (defense Philippines)

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⚰️ *Battle of Surigao Strait (October 25, 1944):*

Yamashiro is famous for **being the last major warship in history to be sunk in a ship-to-ship battle at night**.

#### Summary of the battle:

Encountered a much larger Allied naval force (battleships, destroyers, torpedo boats, cruisers, and aircraft carriers).
Encountered a barrage of torpedoes and gunfire from US ships.
*Fusō* sank first. Yamashiro **held out**, but eventually **sunk with almost her entire crew**.

It is estimated that out of ±1,636 crew members, **only about 10 survived**.

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🏁 *Additional Facts:*

The name "Yamashiro" comes from **the name of an ancient province in Japan**, Yamashiro Province (around present-day Kyoto).

The Battle of Surigao Strait was the *last part of the era of large battleship combat* — after that, aircraft carriers and aircraft dominated naval warfare.