Battleship Yamato's lucky escape

23rd October 1944: As the Japanese Navy approach a major engagement with the US Navy, the largest warships ever built become targets

A colourised image of the IJN battleship Yamato during sea trials in 1941. She and her sister ship, Musashi, were the largest battleships ever built.

The United States was now ashore in the Philippines, and Japan was compelled to respond. There was no room for caution as the American move threatened to cut off Japanese access to Southeast Asia - and acce…