New video sheds light on sinking of Musashi

MANILA, Philippines - Debris scattered over a large area at the bottom of Sibuyan Sea off Romblon province indicate that the massive Japanese World War II battleship Musashi was blown up into pieces in an undersea explosion 70 years ago.

Sponsored by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, the research team analyzing a live feed from an unmanned underwater probe yesterday said they believe the Musashi suffered at least one explosion while descending in the 1,000-meter-deep sea.

Except for an initial series of partial photos and images of the vessel, yesterday’s more than two-hour feed was the first detailed images showing the current status of the ship.

The exploration was done with the use of a state-of-the-art Remote Operated Vehicle.

The Musashi sank on Oct. 24 1944 in the Sibuyan Sea during the battle of Leyte, losing half of its 2,400 crew. It was last seen disappearing into the water in one piece.

“The wreck is actually very damaged,” said David Mearns, a marine scientist on the Musashi research team. “It appears she suffered at least one, if not two, magazine explosions which would have sheared off the bow and the stern, and its entire middle section of its super-structure.”

The footage showed sections of the ship that used to be an air-combat platform. The debris scattered in areas approximately 800 meters (2,600 feet) by 500 meters (1,640 feet), according to the research team.

The feed also showed holes in the bow area, apparently made by US torpedo attacks before the Musashi sank, a torn off propeller, as well as gun turrets and catapults that were broken off. The ship’s stern was upside down.

The research team was the first to successfully locate the ship, just ahead of the 70th anniversary of the war’s end later this year. The 863-feet-long vessel was the second of the Imperial Japanese Navy’s colossal Yamato-class heavy battleships.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is securing Allen’s luxury yacht M/Y Octopus that is being used in the Musashi exploration.

PCG spokesman Commander Armand Balilo yesterday said the PCG sent out a team since Allen’s team reported finding the sunken warship.

“We are providing security (to the M/Y Octopus) not because there is a threat, but just to avoid possible instances that there be curious onlookers who might disrupt their exploration activities,” Balilo explained. – AP, Evelyn Macairan