While the Americans' 1,000-pound bombs held fearsome destructive power, as seen in
this one exploding off Yamato's port bow, it was their air-launched torpedoes
that ultimately led to the supership's demise.
American aviators received orders to drop their
torpedoes such that they would penetrate Yamato below the waterline near
her bow and stern where her armor was thinnest. They were also instructed to
concentrate their torpedoes on just one of Yamato's sides, an approach
most likely to cause flooding and eventual sinking. Note the fire in one of the
ship's aft turrets.