| The following was a follow-up comment on a submarine BBS by Ron Smith, a WWII Submarine veteran -- USS SEAL SS-183. It gives further insight into this particular sinking. More information about SHINANO can be found via the IMPERIAL JAPANESE NAVY website. Sid H. |
| "I think very few people know the
significance of the sinking of SHINANO.
My reference is 'The Rise and Fall of the (Imperial) Japanese Navy' by Itaki Ito. Ito was attached to the governing Military bosses of Japan, led by Tojo, as a 'spin doctor' in today's verbiage. Ito said that most of the people in Japan KNEW they were losing the war. The SHINANO was to be their 'secret weapon' --- a ship so big and powerful it would 'save Japan'. It was highly publicized in Japan as their key to turning the tide of the war. When she was sunk by an AMERICAN SUBMARINE, and almost easily, the Japanese high command had 'egg all over their faces', they never did tell the Japanese people, knowing that the loss would further demoralize the Japanese people. A very important event in WWll. It wasn't long after that they began asking for a surrender treaty." Ron "Warshot" Smith
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