This photo shows some of the carnage on decks already caused by bombs and strafing, in addition to the smoke from the Yamato's own guns.

Even more amazing, we see smoke rising from a bomb explosion at the lower front of the main tower, port side. Two open AA machine gun emplacements used to be there. As described by Ensign Yoshida in the following quote from his book, this was his classmate, Ensign Takada's post.Thus it appears that this photo was snapped just seconds after the direct hit that took Takada's life as Yoshida raced back towards the rear of the bridge from the ruined radar room.

Make sure that you click on "View Full-Size Image" as this is a large photo.

Yoshida:

"A wave of sound comes smashing toward me from astern. My legs tremble ominously..For shame. I have duties on the bridge. This isn't the place for me to die...

Head down, with one hand touching the handrail, I make a mad dash. My eyes see nothing at all.

The ship is steaming at full speed, and wind stirred up by her forward motion surges along the whole passageway.

Just as I start to scramble up the ladder at the base of the main tower, my eyes go taut - perhaps because my whole body is so keyed up: no sign of that machine-gun mount, Ensign Takada's post.

Heartsick, I turn my head and stare with wide-open eyes: a great gouged-out spot, and clouds of white smoke boiling up out of it - that is all.

People, guns, mount - in one instant wiped out without a trace?

Ensign Takada. Forgive me.

A moment ago, you shouted encouragement to me through the rain of bullets, but I was caught up in the danger to my men and did not respond. I ran on past without even a word of reply.

That you have met such a cruel death - is it because I was remiss in encouraging you?

You who were a good man and true, so adept at keeping everyone else's glass full. You of the white teeth, who often broke into a loud laugh.

With eyes squeezed shut, I race up the ladder...

I report immediately to the division officer. The air search radar, a crucial weapon of our defense against planes, has thus been destroyed at the start of the battle....

Lieutenant Usubuchi (in charge of the aft secondary guns) is killed by a direct hit.

The young warrior who was both wise and courageous leaves behind not one bit of flesh, not one drop of blood.

He hoped by dying to awaken new life. His body, offered up in the cause of a genuine national rebirth, has disappeared into thin air."

Yoshida Mitsuru, "Requiem for Battleship Yamato"