Euthanasia and Biomedical Ethics Essays

Euthanasia and Biomedical Ethics Essays Euthanasia and Biomedical Ethics Essay Euthanasia and Biomedical Ethics Essay Question 1 To first do no harm is the Hippocratic Oath often taken by healthcare professionals around the globe; however, the subject of active versus passive euthanasia to allow chronically ill patients the right to die with dignity has sparked moral controversy among world-renowned philosophers for decades. James Rachels, Winston Nesbitt, and Roy W. Perrett are just three philosophers who wrote and spoke openly about the topic of euthanasia and biomedical ethics. Rachels and Perrett were adamant in their belief that the moral distinction between killing (active euthanasia) and allowing to die (passive euthanasia) was nonexistent. Rachels felt strongly that one was no worse than the other and that statements by the American Medical Association to support one method over the other should be eliminated. Perrett agreed and added that death by either commission or omission opposes the preservation of human life. In the example of the bathtub case, Smith and Jones are both two greedy men who stand to gain a large sum of money once their nephew passes away. In Scenario A, Smith decides to drown the child and make it seem like an accident. In Scenario B, Jones sees the child drowning after hitting his head and accidentally falling into the tub but does nothing but stand by and watch. According to the philosophy of Rachels and Perrett, both were irresponsible and morally reprehensible acts, and the end result was the same†¦death. Finally, in numerous published articles Rachels even went on to say that while they can be assessed the same, the act of killing was in fact often more humane than allowing someone to suffer a slow demise due to lack of treatment or failure to render aid. In direct contrast to the aforementioned beliefs, philosopher Winston Nesbitt disagreed with the two men. He argued that killing is indeed worse than allowing one to die. According to Nesbitt, the moral distinction lies within the issues of motive and intent. In the example of the two bathtub scenarios, Nesbitt would agree that both men are liable, but it is Smith (not Jones) who deliberately went into the room with the intent to kill for financial gain. While I have mixed feelings about the legalization of euthanasia, I must agree with Nesbitt; if I were a wealthy woman on my way home with a large sum of money, I would much rather be alone on the elevator with Jones versus Smith who is tantamount to an armed robber who walks into a bank prepared to commit capital murder out of sheer greed. Question 2 Another controversial quote that has been repeated throughout the ages is that all is fair in love and war, but is it really? Many philosophers, both traditional and contemporary, oppose the use of military operations that take the lives of innocent civilians who pose no threat to soldiers or society; two of the most noted are Robert Fullinwider and Lawrence A. Alexander. Fullinwider first spoke on the issue in 1975 when he wrote that there is no justification for killing innocent civilians even in times of war. Fullinwider believed whole-heartedly that some traditional methods of military combat, such as bombing an entire community to kill an intended target, is no different than terrorism that many claim to oppose. His argument is that killing noncombatants who are unarmed and pose no threat should not be looked upon as self-defense. In the gambling scenario of Smith and Jones, Smith finds himself deeply indebted to the mob due to a gambling addiction; the mob knows he owes more than he can pay. The mob then offers Smith a deal. His debt will be cleared, and he and his family will be safe if he kills Jones, an innocent district attorney. Smith may not agree with the killing, but to keep both he and his family safe, he opens fire. The fact, according to Fullinwider, is that this is still not self-defense. Smith has no right to kill Jones, and the mob has no right to kill Smith even though he owes them money. However, when Jones returns fire and kills Smith, he is covered by self-defense because Smith was armed and an immediate threat to his personal safety. Lawrence Alexander’s reformation of self-defense argues that not only is Smith a threat to Jones, but the mob is a more ever-present threat because they ordered the killing. According to his philosophy, if given the opportunity, Jones is morally justified to kill the members of the mob in lieu of Smith since they are promoting a murder under duress. In doing so, not only would Jones save his own life, but Smith and his family would be safe as well. This case is quite controversial. I do not agree that if Smith had killed Jones to save his family it would have been self defense. Smith foolishly agreed to place himself and his family in direct harm in order to feed a gambling addiction; this has nothing to do with killing an innocent man to save himself or his family. Question 3 Perhaps no pro-life subject is more controversial than the issue of abortion. There are as many sides to this issue as there are people. Two philosophers who have published articles defending their stance on abortion are Judith Thompson and Francis J. Beckwith. In her article â€Å"Defense of Abortion† Judith Jarvis Thompson supports a woman’s right to choose and raises the question that even if the fetus is a living human being, how much of a sacrifice is one human required to make in order to save another. Her scenario is that if someone were attached to a famous violinist who would surely die without use of the other person’s body parts for survival, yes it would be kind of them to agree to stay connected for nine months, but it is not his or her moral obligation. She concedes that the pro-life argument is more comprehendible if a woman willing engages in unprotected sex and conceives a baby; she in essence bears some responsibility for the fetus needing her body to stay alive. Thompson believes that the pro-life argument becomes weak in the face of rape cases where the female herself is an innocent victim and had no intention of being violated and becoming a parent. In these cases the female victim should most certainly be given the choice to abort. Francis J. Beckwith countered Thompson with at least four arguments. One, not all moral obligations are voluntary. If two people engage in a voluntary act that they know could very well produce a child, then they should be held accountable for their actions. Two, Beckwith feels that Thompson’s argument is fatal to family morals and that there are some obligations that parents have to offspring that they do not have to a complete stranger or a ‘famous violinist. Third, the case of the violinist was artificial and had nothing to do with the natural attachment or realistic human development. Finally, Francis J. Beckwith believes that abortion is indeed the removal and killing of a living fetus and not just merely withholding of medical treatment. She goes on to state that just as it is illegal to starve a child after birth, so should it be to cut the child off from its source of life beforehand. While both authors have valid points, my personal belief is that _.

Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 39

Case Study - Essay Example Hence, training will make him learn how to stay composed and calm when he faces a stressor, and he will prove to be confident and solemn. Don should also encourage Gary to focus on his strengths and shine his capabilities that he has, through practicing them. 2. It is all about employee development. Employee development is a kind of strategy that employers adopt to increase employees’ knowledge, talents, and expertise in particular areas they work in. It is important for Don to create a balance between Gary’s individual career objectives and organizational milestones, in order to make him achieve employee development. Don should use techniques of training, coaching and empowerment (Ellinger at al.) to enhance Gary’s development as a leader. Employee development activities that Don should use include: (1) stress-coping training courses in work time, (2) work-based development activity in work time, (3) career planning activity in work time or in Gary’s own time, and (4) voluntary learning in Gary’s own time (Birdi, Allan and Warr). All of these development activities will produce beneficial results and commitment to work. If Don is training Gary himself, then the training aids that he can use include: pr esentations, slides, projectors, movies, charts, graphs, flash cards, pictograms, handbooks, manuals, libraries, internet, reading rooms, posters, and enlarged drawings. 3. Certain techniques help employees to bring out their leadership skills and learn new one. For example, teamwork creates such an environment in which employees can learn new leadership skills and competencies (Gallie et al.). This is because the employer distributes tasks on multi-functional basis, requiring different people with different skill sets. This system of work organization requires employees to work on a collaborative platform on

International corporate reporting issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

International corporate reporting issues - Essay Example Literally, the differences in the financial reporting system in varying countries have acted as an obstacle in the integration of national economy with global economy (Verschoor, 2011; Alexander, Britton & Jorissen, 2007). Thus, in order to deal with these challenges, IASB and FASB together have been duly engaged in promoting harmonization of financial reporting systems (Whittington, 2008; Mogul, 2003). Emphasising on these aspects of the international accounting standards, this paper intends to identify and explain the six major qualitative characteristics of accounting information. Furthermore, this paper aims to evaluate the application of these qualitative characteristics by Diageo plc focusing on three particular areas. ... The institutions in the accounting standards namely International Accounting Standard Board (IASB) and Financial Accounting Standard Board (FASB) have been involved in developing conceptual framework for enhancing the financial reporting system. The primary objective of this conceptual framework has been related with identifying the major purpose of financial reporting in business in accordance with the prevailing economic circumstances (Obaidat, 2007). In other words, the conceptual framework developed in accumulation of the principles specified by IASB and FASB deals with establishing objectives and guidelines which are expected to serve as the basis for the preparation of financial accounting and reporting standards. It is worth mentioning that conceptual framework mainly consists of four major items which includes: Objectives related with financial reporting Elements concerning with financial statements Recognition and measurement concepts Qualitative characteristics of accountin g information Additionally qualitative characteristics are considered to be one of the vital components of the conceptual framework that supports decision-usefulness and stewardship. Moreover, there are six primary qualitative characteristics that are considered to be vital for economic as well as business decision making according to the specified guidelines in the international standard (Obaidat, 2007). These six elements of qualitative characteristics have been further explained below in relation to their usefulness in terms of decision making and stewardship. Relevance In order to ensure the obtained accounting information to be relevant to creditors, investors and other interested parties, it has been argued that such accounting information

Study And Introduction Of Malacca

Study And Introduction Of Malacca There is a popular story about how the Malacca was found by Parameswara when he was hunting and while resting under a tree, one of his dogs cornered a mouse-deer or in malay we called it pelandok The mouse-deer in its defense attacked by dog even force it into the river water. Parameswara decided to name this place as Malacca after saw the bravely of that mouse deer. The name of Malacca was come from the melaka tree that was shading Parameswara. In the history of Malaysia, the Malacca Sultanate was occupies a special position in Malacca. It was the beginning of the new Malay empire and as the birthplace of the Malay Sultanate and historical city. Malacca also became a stage on which the Portuguese, Dutch, British, Japanese played out their roles in the history of Malacca. After Parameswara occupation Malacca, he began noticed that Malacca actually was a strong maritime trading state. After that, Because of its strategic location, it thrived as a center of entreport trade with merchant who came from other places and Malacca starts concentrating their activities around the world such as Pedir and Pasai. China also became a important role in trading network of Malacca. In 1511, Malacca fall to Portuguese and followed by the Dutch in 1641. When the Netherlands was captured during the Napoleonic Wars, Dutch pass the Malacca to British to prevent it falling to French in 1795. After that, during 1818, Malacca was return to Dutch under the treaty of Vienna but later Malacca was exchange by the British for Bangkahulu in Sumatra. From 1826 onwards, Malacca, Penang and Singapore was combine as Straits Settlement by British East India Company and Straits Settlement was under the Straits Settlement administration in Calcutta. After the Dutch occupation the Malacca for over century, Dutch was left many fine buildings marking their heritage. For example, Stadthuys, which is a strikingly pink town hall and it became the oldest Dutch building in Malacca. Another building is red Christ Church which is constructed with pink brick. The most prominent reminders building were the A Famosa and St. Pauls Church in Malacca. After World War II, in 20 February 1956, Our Malaysias first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra was proclamation of Independence of Malaysia. Where is Melaka located in Malaysia Melaka road map via the North-South Highway Malacca is located on the Western Coast of Peninsular Malaysia facing the Straits of Malacca. The state of Malacca is between the states of Negeri Sembilan and Johor. Malacca can be reached by excellent road which is PLUS highway from Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Malacca is serviced by a good network of leading to all the historical places and Malaccas area of around 658 square kilometers and it is divided into three districts which is Melaka Tengah, Jasin and Alor Gajar. The population of Malacca is around 648,000 in year 2001 and comprises of Malays 50%, Chinese 40% and the rest included Indians, Chitty people and Kristang. The major towns of Malacca are Ayer Keroh, Jasin, Merlimau, Pulau Sebang, Masjid Tanah, Alor Gajar, and Malacca Town. Food and beverage in Malacca. There have many famous foods in Malacca; one of the famous foods is baba nyonya style spicy cooking which normally gets served with coconut milk. There are many specialist baba nyonya restaurants in town. The baba-nyonya food not only known to be the best in Malacca, but in the South East Asia region too. Besides that, Malacca also has satay celup which is Satay stick with raw meat dipped in hot bolling satay sauce for cooking. ikan bakar which literally means barbecue fish served in grilled aluminium foil or banana leaf heavily marinated with spices that tingle the senses. Chicken rice ball which is the rice pudding shape like a golf ball and you can dip with chilly and served with chicken. Furthermore, the oyster omelette served in stirs fried egg, spring onions and sweet or spicy paste. In Malacca Portuguese village, there has a few speciality tongue burning dished which is will let your stomach growling whole night after a heavy meal, the dished serving there normally are spicy food. About the beverage, Malacca also have few famous beverage to drink. First is the Cin-Cau, a kind of dark grass jelly drink which has a cooling effect is popularly served at restaurants. ice kacang which is a dessert made of shaved ice with red beans, nuts, jelly and many more. Besides that, cendol is a kind a pandan flavoured jelly served in coconut milk and it has been improvise on the cendol and invented the durian flavoured cendol. The durian cendol is popular with the local tourist but the aroma of durian cendol is a bit pungent for foreign tourist. Another favourite is the Bubur Cha Cha, a sweet dessert made from steamed sweet potatoes, yam, white beans, tapioca jelly in coconut milk. Places of interest in Malacca A Famosa 2011505-A_Famosa-Melaka.jpg A Famosa, or the Famous is among the oldest surviving European architectural remain in Asia during the Portuguese occupation Malacca in 1511. In 1511, a Portuguese fleet arrived under the command of Alfonso de Albequerque and attacked the Malacca. Portuguese was successfully defeated he armies of the native Sultanate and Albequerque order built the fortress around a natural hill near the sea. He believed that Malacca would become an important trading port between Portugal and China. At this time Portuguese also establishing others outposts such as China, Goa, India and Macau to create a friendly ports for ships heading to China or returning home to Portugal. Ayer Keroh Air Keroh is lies about 15kn from Malacca town and it is a tourist complex with hotels, Mini Asean, Mini Malaysia, crocodile farm, a reptile park, butterfly farm, aquarium, zoo, golf resort, and recreational forest. Bukit China burial ground Bukit China is situated southeast of Malacca Town; there are more than 12,500 graves on Bukit China and approximately 20 Muslim tombs. The existence of the Muslim tombs has made this more special and unique. The oldest tomb in Bukit China is a double burial which is more than three centuries old. The oldest tomb is Mr. Mrs Huang Wei-Hung was built in the second year of Tian Hee of Ming Dynasty (1622). In 1933, Cheng Hoon temple had undertaken to repair it because of the weather had taken a heavy toll on that tomb. In 2001, the tomb was again restored and a stone inscription was erected to mark it. Bukit ChinaBukit China During the British occupation Malacca, British had several times try to acquire Bukit China for development purposes, road widening and land reclamation. But Cheng Hoon Temple had have authorized strongly opposed these attempts because the hill is responsible by them. At the end Cheng Hoon Temple managed to preserve Bukit China with the support of the general public. The reasons of Cheng Hoon Temple preserve it because Bukit China is the place where early traders from China were buried. Many if the Chinese traders came to this country with high expectations for success in trade and it was stated o the stone steles. But unfortunately, some traders died before fulfilling their ambitions. Since the Chinese traders families did not travel with them, so there was nobody to pray for their souls. As such, prayers were initiated by the Chinese Kapitans for them. However, Bukit China were always hampered by heavy rainfalls and strong winds because there was no proper shelter. Cheng Hong Teng s Temple Cheng Hoon Tengs Temple This site is dedicated to the vision of Cheng Hoon Tengs founders and the determination of its devotees to preserve their unique bastion of culture and heritage. Cheng Hoon Tengs Temple is a premier historical monument and it remains the finest of Chinese temples in Malaysia. The temple ranks among the most significant in Southeast Asia, being central to the spiritual aspirations of the Chinese community in historic Malacca. Christ Church Christ Church Christ Church situated near Jalan Laksamana and Jalan Gereja in Malacca city. In 1753, Christ Church was built by Dutch to commemorate a century of their rule. It was reputed as the oldest protestant church in Malaysia and now is an Anglican Church. The beams of the Church were constructed from cutting and carving from a single tree and have no joints. The building shows the ingenuity of the Dutch architectural world. The hand-made pews dated back some 200 years. The altar is a beautiful piece of the Last Supper done in glazed tiles. Gadek Hot Spring Gadek Hot Spring Gadek Hot Spring was located in District of Alor Gajar, 30 km away from Malacca. It was believed that local villagers discovered the hot spring in the forest after watching some English soldiers settled around the spring. After the war, visitors from far and wide discovered that the hot spring had strong healing elements unlike many that they had encountered before. Today visitors can enjoy the spa pool or the Soak In Pool for those seeking therapeutic cure for skin ailments. Gadek Hot Spring was an ideal spot for family outing. Hang Jebats Mausoleum Hang Jebats Mausoleum Hang Jebat was the champion of justice who died a tragic death. Hang Jebat was unceremoniously killed by Hang Tuah in a duel of honour that lasted 3 days and 3 nights. He ran amuck after suffering a fatal wound from Hang Tuahs dagger Keris Taming Sari. In the name of justice to avenge the Sultans hasty punishment against Hang Tuah for a crime he didnt commit. Hang Jebat was accused by Hang Tuah of derhaka (contumacy). The duel between two of Malaccas most prominent knights has left a permanent question as to the moral behind Hang Jebats aberrant reaction against authority and the conventions by which Hang Tuah exercised his conduct as a loyal subject of the Sultan. Jonker Street Jonker Street Jalan Hang Jebat, as known as Jonker Street, is known worldwide among famous antique collectors as one of the best places to hunt and bargain for antiques. It was A definite haven for antique collectors and bargain hunters. Authentic artifacts and relics. some dating as far back as 300 years, can be found among a host of interesting collectibles, each with its own history and mystery. Melakas Sultanate Palace Melakas Sultanate Palace Malacca Sultanate Palace is an exquisite piece of Malay architecture and is a replica of the original 15th century palace of Malaccas extinct Sultanate. The palace is built based on sketches found in the ancient Sejarah Melayu (Malay Annals). This wooden replica of the Sultans palace houses the Malacca Cultural Museum. Facing the palace is the Historic City Memorial Garden. An intriguing monument to commemorate the declaration of Malacca as a Historic City is the showpiece of this garden. The monument is topped with a replica of a Malay royal headdress, a symbol of Malaysians allegiance to the throne.

The Life of Nelle Harper Lee Essay -- Biography Biographies Essays

The Life of Nelle Harper Lee On April 28, 1926 in Monroeville, Alabama, Nelle Harper Lee was born to Amasa Coleman Lee and Frances Finch Lee. Along with her siblings, Alice, Louise, and Edwin, Harper was educated in Monroeville Public Schools before going on to attend Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Alabama. After a year at Huntingdon, Lee decided to follow in the footsteps of her father and began studying law at the University of Alabama in 1945 [2]. She left there to study abroad at Oxford University, Wellington Court in England [4]. After returning to the United States, she continued her education at the University of Alabama. However, in 1950, six months prior to completing her law degree, Lee moved to New York hoping to begin a career as a writer. During this time, she worked as a reservation clerk with Eastern Airlines and British Overseas Airways. She also worked in Holcombe, Kansas, as a research assistant for Truman Capote's novel In Cold Blood [6]. In 1957, Lee submitted a manuscript to JB Lippincott Company, which consisted of two essays and three short stories. She was advised to re-write her work perhaps by expanding one of the short stories into a novel. For the next two and a half years, Lee revised the work under the supervision of her editor, Tay Hohoff [6]. Finally, in 1960, Harper Lee's first and only book, To Kill a Mockingbird, was published. The story, which is set in a small Alabama town during the 1930's, is narrated by Scout, a six year old girl. She tells the events surrounding a court case in which her father, Atticus Finch, defends a black man, Tom Robinson, who has been wrongly accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a white woman [4]. The novel was extremely successful, selling over fifteen millio... ....ca/Culture/HarperLee/bio.html>. 3. "Harper Lee: A Biography." Elysium. 24 Sept. 2000. (Accessed 1 Oct. 2000) . 4. Liukkonen, Petri. "Calendar of Authors." Pegasos. 1999. (Accessed 1 Oct. 2000) . 5. Montgomery, Leigh. "Harper Lee Still Prizes Privacy Over Publicity." The Christian Science Monitor. 11 Sept. 1997. (Accessed 1 Oct. 2000) . 6. Sigelman, Katherine. "ClassicNotes on Harper Lee." Classicnotes by GradeSaver. 6 Feb. 2000. (Accessed 1 Oct. 2000) . Note: Picture of Harper Lee courtesy of the Chebucto Community Net. .

Ogre to Slay, Outsource It to Chinese Essay

David Barbosas brilliantly engages his audience with a catchy title that urges the reader to complete the piece to understand what it is that he is discussing. â€Å"Ogre to Slay? Outsource It to Chinese† is eye-catching and its content and is very thought-provoking and well researched. His preparation for the article includes him finding sources in China, who are engaged in illegal outsourcing of computer game players and contributing to what the Chinese government are attempting to halt, what they call â€Å"internet addiction†. Not only does Barbosas find these valuable sources for information and quote them, he also cites workers in these gaming factories. The effort of his research and concise conclusions to an interesting technological issue makes this piece very well put together and easily readable and understandable to a diverse audience. Barbosas says that this is an issue that spans from â€Å"Seoul to San Francisco† and he is very eloquent in his comparison between the affluent gamers, who are willing to pay Chinese workers to complete initial rounds of computer games and the gamers, themselves, who work 12 hour days, 7 days a week for a mere $250 a month. He does well, also, in showing the change of contrast from what has in history been a clear line between fantasy and reality to illustrate how these lines have blurred. He makes the point of outlining the beginning of the changes in the virtual world of gaming, when gamers began playing others worldwide a few years ago and then when they began becoming so enmeshed with their avatars (or characters that they create), that they pay others to essentially baby-sit them, as the Chinese do or use virtual currency to buy components, such as weapons to help their avatars. Barbosas does well in explaining the complex and intricate world of virtual gaming to even readers, who have no familiarity of the subject. He simultaneously delves into explaining this strange new world while vividly describing the Chinese workers behind the scenes or, more accurately, behind the screens. He paints an interesting picture of what he refers to as, â€Å"virtual sweatshops†. There gamers are playing in dark basements, surrounding by posters of the games they play. These Chinese farmers make up an estimated 40-50% of the gamers involved worldwide in these popular games and it is believed that 1 in 4 internet users in China use their online connection for gaming. In addition to the other staggering statistics Barbosas integrates into his commentary, he integrates what those involved in gaming have to say and what experts share on this issue. One conclusion by an American professor is that this illustrates how the time of Americans is valued more over the time of persons in countries, such as China. In contrast, one owner of a â€Å"sweatshop† believes that if these gamers were not working for him that they would be going back to hard farm work with smaller wages or on the streets. In conclusion, Barbosas shows his journalistic talent in this piece. His research, illustrated by interview citations and statistics, demonstrate his expertise in this strange, technological world. He presents many trends in the world of gaming, in reality versus fantasy, and in the currency involved in these questionable online enterprises. His work is easily readable by a wide audience and his lead-in to the article with it’s catchy title definitely lives up to the interest that title holds.

Japanese Battleship Yamato in World War II

One of the largest battleships ever built, Yamato entered service with the Imperial Japanese Navy in December 1941. The battleship and its sister, Musashi, were the only battleships ever constructed with 18.1 guns. Though incredibly powerful, Yamato suffered from a relatively low top speed as its engines were underpowered. Taking part in several campaigns during World War II, the battleship was ultimately sacrificed during the Allied invasion of Okinawa. Ordered south as part of Operation Ten-Go, Yamato was to break through the Allied fleet and beach itself on the island to serve as an artillery battery. While steaming to Okinawa, the battleship was attacked by Allied aircraft and sunk. Design Naval architects in Japan began work on the Yamato-class of battleships in 1934, with Keiji Fukuda serving as the chief designer. Following Japans 1936 withdrawal from the Washington Naval Treaty, which forbade new battleship construction before 1937, Fukudas plans were submitted for approval. Initially meant to be 68,000-ton behemoths, the design of the Yamato-class followed the Japanese philosophy of creating ships that were bigger and superior to those likely to be produced by other nations. For the ships primary armament, 18.1 (460 mm) guns were selected as it was believed that no US ship with similar guns would be capable of transiting the Panama Canal. Originally conceived as a class of five ships, only two Yamatos were completed as battleships while a third, Shinano, was converted to an aircraft carrier during building. With the approval of Fukudas design, plans quietly moved forward to expand and specially prepare a dry dock at the Kure Naval Dockyards for construction of the first ship. Veiled in secrecy, Yamato was laid down on November 4, 1937. Early Issues In order to prevent foreign nations from learning the actual size of the ship, Yamatos design and cost were compartmentalized with few knowing the true scope of the project. In order to accommodate the massive 18.1 guns, Yamato featured an extremely wide beam which made the ship very stable even in high seas. Though the ships hull design, which featured a bulbous bow and a semi-transom stern, was tested extensively, Yamato was unable to achieve speeds higher than 27 knots making it unable to keep up with most Japanese cruisers and aircraft carriers. This slow speed was largely due to the vessel being underpowered. In addition, this issue led to high levels of fuel consumption as the boilers struggled to produce enough power. Launched with no fanfare on August 8, 1940, Yamato was completed and commissioned on December 16, 1941, shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor and the beginning of World War II in the Pacific. Entering service, Yamato and its sister Musashi became the largest and most powerful battleships ever built.  Commanded by Captain Gihachi Takayanagi, the new ship joined the 1st Battleship Division. Fast Facts: Japanese Battleship Yamato Overview Nation: JapanType: BattleshipShipyard: Kure Naval DockyardLaid Down: November 4, 1937Launched: August 8, 1940Commissioned: December 16, 1941Fate: Sunk in action, April 7, 1945 Specifications Displacement: 72,800 tonnesLength: 862 ft. 6 in. (overall)Beam: 127 ft.Draft:: 36 ft.Propulsion: 12 Kampon boilers, driving 4 steam turbines and 4 propellersSpeed: 27 knotsRange: 7,145 miles at 16 knotsComplement: 2,767 men Armament (1945) Guns 9 x 18.1 in. (3 turrets with 3 guns each)6 x 6.1 in.24 x 5 in.162 x 25 mm anti-aircraft4 x 13.2 mm anti-aircraft Aircraft 7 aircraft using 2 catapults Operational History On February 12, 1942, two months after its commissioning, Yamato became the flagship of the Japanese Combined Fleet led by Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto. That May, Yamato sailed as part of Yamamotos Main Body in support of the attack on Midway. Following the Japanese defeat at the Battle of Midway, the battleship moved to the anchorage at Truk Atoll arriving in August 1942. The ship remained at Truk for much of the next year largely due to its slow speed, high fuel consumption, and a lack of ammunition for shore bombardment. In May 1943, Yamato sailed to Kure and had its secondary armament altered and new Type-22 search radars added. Returning to Truk that December, Yamato was damaged by a torpedo from USS Skate en route. Yamato and Musashi at Truk, 1943. Public Domain After repairs were completed in April 1944, Yamato joined the fleet during the Battle of the Philippine Sea that June. During the Japanese defeat, the battleship served as an escort in  Vice Admiral Jisaburo Ozawas Mobile Fleet. In October, Yamato fired its main guns for the first time in battle during the American victory at Leyte Gulf. Though hit by two bombs in the Sibuyan Sea, the battleship aided in sinking an escort carrier and several destroyers off Samar. The following month, Yamato returned to Japan to have its anti-aircraft armament further enhanced. After this upgrade was completed, Yamato was attacked by US aircraft with little effect while sailing in the Inland Sea on March 19, 1945. With the Allied invasion of Okinawa on April 1, 1945, Japanese planners devised Operation Ten-Go. Essentially a suicide mission, they directed  Vice Admiral Seiichi Ito to sail Yamato south and attack the Allied invasion fleet before beaching itself on Okinawa as a massive gun battery. Once the ship was destroyed, the crew was to join the islands defenders. Operation Ten-Go Departing Japan on April 6, 1945, Yamatos officers understood that it was to be the vessels last voyage. As a result, they permitted the crew to indulge in saki that evening. Sailing with an escort of eight destroyers and one light cruiser, Yamato possessed no air cover to protect it as it approached Okinawa. Spotted by Allied submarines as it exited the Inland Sea, Yamatos position was fixed by US PBY Catalina scout planes the next morning. Japanese battleship Yamato blows up, following massive attacks by U.S. Navy carrier planes north of Okinawa, 7 April 1945. An escorting destroyer is at left. Photographed from a USS Yorktown (CV-10) plane. US Naval History and Heritage Command Attacking in three waves, SB2C Helldiver dive bombers  pummeled the battleship with bombs and rockets while TBF Avenger torpedo bombers assaulted Yamatos port side. Taking multiple hits, the battleships situation deteriorated when its water damage-control station was destroyed.  This prevented the crew from counter-flooding specially designed spaces on the starboard side to keep the vessel from listing. At 1:33 PM, Ito directed the starboard boiler and engine rooms flooded in an effort to right Yamato. This action killed several hundred crewmen working in those spaces and cut the battleships speed to ten knots. At 2:02 PM, the admiral elected to cancel the mission and ordered the crew to abandon ship. Three minutes later, Yamato started to capsize. Around 2:20 PM, the battleship rolled over and began sink before being torn open by a massive explosion. Of the ships crew of 2,778, only 280 were rescued. The US Navy lost ten aircraft and twelve airmen in the attack.