It's April 16, 1945, the Battle of Okinawa. The destroyer USS Laffey is conducting radar patrol so she's the closest ship to the expected enemy attacks. Its mission is to alert the US forces to the arrival of Japanese aircraft. But what t…
It's April 16, 1945, the Battle of Okinawa. The destroyer USS Laffey is conducting radar patrol so she's the closest ship to the expected enemy attacks. Its mission is to alert the US forces to the arrival of Japanese aircraft. But what the crew doesn't know is that on this day they will have to endure the toughest challenge of their lives - during 90 minutes 22 Japanese planes will attack the USS Laffey trying to bomb, strafe and directly collide with her. The chances of survival are slim to none. How could the crew and the ship survive one of the fiercest battles of the war?
Chapters:
00:00 The Japanese tactics
01:49 The Laffey crew can't contact air cover!
03:08 The battle begins
05:12 Double-side attack of the kamikazes
06:33 World of Warships
07:53 KI-43 Val aims for the Laffey's bridge
10:32 These Japanese pilots are unstopabble!
12:32 USS Laffey is wrecked and surrounded
13:23 Commander F. Julian Becton needs a miracle
15:33 Abandon ship? Hell no!
USS LAFFEY (DD-724). Photographed from USS PCE-851, on Okinawa Radar Picket Station Number One. Image provided by Naval History and Heritage Command(NH 78233)
USS LAFFEY (DD-724). Severely Damaged. This view shows exterior damage to the wardroom bulkhead on the starboard side. Image provided by Naval History and Heritage Command(NH 75423)
USS LAFFEY (DD-724 ). Severely Damaged. Here is shown the starboard side view abreast of No. 3 5" gun mount. Image provided by Naval History and Heritage Command(NH 75432)
USS LAFFEY (DD-724). Severely Damaged.This view is of 21 20mm guns on the starboard side, abreast of the bridge. Image provided by Naval History and Heritage Command(NH 75436)
USS LAFFEY (DD-724). Severely Damaged. Here is shown the bomb hole, port side aft. Image provided by Naval History and Heritage Command(NH 75437)
USS LAFFEY (DD-724). Severely Damaged. Here is a view of the port side after the crew's head looking forward. Image provided by Naval History and Heritage Command(NH 75429)
There is a view of a wounded pilot making a landing with his burning plane. Image provided by National Museum of the U.S. Navy (80-G-49697)
Operation Ten-Go, April-June 1945. Photographed by USS Hornet (CV-12). Image provided by National Museum of the U.S. Navy(80-G-331613)
Source: Yarnhub
https://www.youtube.com/@Yarnhub
For more info:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Laffey_(DD-724)
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