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Naval History and Heritage Command

National Museum of the U.S. Navy

<p>NMUSN:&nbsp; WWII:&nbsp; Pacific:&nbsp; Bombardment of Japan: Naval Gunfire Support</p>

Aerial and Naval Gunfire Bombardment of the Home Islands

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Aerial and Naval Gunfire Bombardment of the Home Islands

Strikes upon the Japanese Home Islands began on July 14, 1945, despite typhoons that seemed to plague Task Force 38.    The first islands attacked were Honshu and Hokkaido islands.   Manufacturing plants and traveling systems became targets and soon attacks were accomplished on the Aomori-Hokodate ferry system, the Hitachi, Kamaishi, and Wanishi factory plants, as well as the naval shipyard at Yokosuka.   Amongst the Japanese naval ships destroyed while moorred or close to shore were:  aircraft carriers Amagi, Katsuragi, and Ryuho; the battleships Harunna, Ise, Nagato, and Hyuga; and the cruisers Aoba, Kitagami, and Tone.   At this point, Japanese naval forces were eliminated as any fighting force.   During the later part of July, Japanese naval seaplane bases were attacked at Shionomisaski, Tokyo, and the north part of Honshu island.  Of note, one of the last engagements of World War II occurred while Task Force aircraft were approaching Tokyo on August 15.  Though recalled due to the cease fire, six Grumman F6F "Hellcat" fighter aircraft were attacked by 15-20 Japanese planes.  In the ensuing wild fight, the Hellcats shot down nine of the enemy.

Image:  80-G-K-6035:  Bombardment of Kamaishi, Japan, July 14, 1945.  USS Indiana (BB-58) fires a salvo from her forward 16/45 guns.  Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.