Dark Seas | Japan's Sunken Timebomb That Nearly Changed WW2 @DarkDocsSeas | Uploaded October 2024 | Updated October 2024, 7 hours ago.
On December 19, 1944, the East China Sea churned with violence. Japan's newest aircraft carrier, Unryū, struggled against the sea, her hull punctured by an American torpedo. On her first combat mission, transporting a secret weapon to Luzon, she now fought for survival.
Despite the hit, Unryū remained steady, thanks to Captain Kaname Konishi’s command, keeping the ship's list to just 3 degrees.
Nearby, USS Redfish lurked beneath the waves. Commander McGregor peered through his periscope, knowing he needed a second salvo to finish the carrier. But then, destroyer Hinoki passed astern, perfectly lined up with Redfish's rear tubes.
Unable to resist, McGregor fired. But Hinoki neatly evaded, leaving him with empty tubes and a still-floating carrier in range. The skipper cursed his hasty decision, knowing it could have cost him his prize, but quickly refocused on the ship.
As his crew frantically reloaded a single torpedo, McGregor knew this was his last chance. At 1,100 yards, he gave the order to fire.
It would take forty-five agonizing seconds to see if they had sealed the fate of Unryū, one of the Empire’s last working aircraft carriers.
On December 19, 1944, the East China Sea churned with violence. Japan's newest aircraft carrier, Unryū, struggled against the sea, her hull punctured by an American torpedo. On her first combat mission, transporting a secret weapon to Luzon, she now fought for survival.
Despite the hit, Unryū remained steady, thanks to Captain Kaname Konishi’s command, keeping the ship's list to just 3 degrees.
Nearby, USS Redfish lurked beneath the waves. Commander McGregor peered through his periscope, knowing he needed a second salvo to finish the carrier. But then, destroyer Hinoki passed astern, perfectly lined up with Redfish's rear tubes.
Unable to resist, McGregor fired. But Hinoki neatly evaded, leaving him with empty tubes and a still-floating carrier in range. The skipper cursed his hasty decision, knowing it could have cost him his prize, but quickly refocused on the ship.
As his crew frantically reloaded a single torpedo, McGregor knew this was his last chance. At 1,100 yards, he gave the order to fire.
It would take forty-five agonizing seconds to see if they had sealed the fate of Unryū, one of the Empire’s last working aircraft carriers.
