Dynamic Navigation Room
Automated navigation room with new pilots
The most important factor that enabled the Space Battleship Yamato to reach Iscandar during the Garmillas War was the automatic navigation system.
In 2199, Yamato‘s route from Earth was determined based on data from the automatic navigation room. Initially, it was assumed that the automatic navigation room held a route map provided by Yurisha Iscandar. In reality, however, a comatose Yurisha herself was in this room, and the route information was obtained from her memory. Later, Captain Okita decided to disclose the truth to the crew. Yurisha’s awakening marked the end of her role.
Although the automatic navigation room had become technically unnecessary during the refit, it was preserved anyway. Since the refit budget was limited, some equipment related to the Izumo project was preserved. It is likely that parts that did not conflict with the concept of the refit were left alone.
When Yamato was re-commissioned its automatic navigation room was left in place. Just as the magnetron probe, (another artifact of the Izumo project) proved useful, the automatic navigation room also unexpectedly became an important resource. With the help of Touko Katsuragi, it paved the way to the center of Golem.
Inside the automatic navigation room
The automatic navigation room is accessible via a retractable ladder to its dome-shaped doorway, located at the ceiling of a junction in the ship’s corridors. Inside, an automatic navigation system has been installed to accommodate the target of data acquisition (Yurisha in 2199, and Touko Katsuragi in 2202).
The room is equipped for data acquisition from human input, and although it is dominated by this equipment it appears to also play a role as a life-support system. There are no differences in appearance or structure between 2199 and 2202.
Route Planning Room
Navigation division and related facilities to enable navigation in the vastness of space
Yamato‘s successful voyage to Iscandar during the Garmillas War was no doubt due in part to the automatic navigation room where Yurisha Iscandar slept. However, this was the first time in the history of mankind that an expedition of light-years in length had been attempted. It was natural to assume that the existence of an autonavigation room would not guarantee success, so it was also made possible by the navigation division.
The navigation division is a section that also exists on other Earth vessels, responsible for ship operation, navigation planning and coordination, and space weather observation. Yamato‘s navigation division was unique in that it was assigned to weather observation in outer space and navigation, including warp.
Yamato had a wider range of missions than Earth’s other spacecraft, which had less accumulated knowledge and experience. (It was not until after the Garmillas War that Earth’s space vessels began to appoint navigation divisions similar to Yamato‘s.) As in other sections, the Garmillas War claimed a considerable number of casualties, but key members of the division, such as Chief Navigator Daisuke Shima and Chief Meteorologist Kenjiro Ota, survived the war. They also supported Yamato‘s operations during the Battle of Gatlantis when the ship was short of manpower.
Route Planning Room
This well-known facility run by the navigation division is used for calculating the coordinates of Yamato‘s route. The desk in the center is a chart panel with operating consoles on all sides. (The lower diagram shows the chart panel removed.) There are also terminals for operators to reflect and analyze updated observation data.
In the Battle of Gatlantis, the route to planet Telezart seems to have been decided based on the messages from Teresa and the movement of Gatlantis.
Main Elevator
he “key to vertical movement” inside Yamato
Since Yamato emphasizes manpower, there is frequent movement of personnel within the ship. When on duty, crew members are stationed in their assigned sections. When off-duty, it is common for them to relax in their cabins or common areas for eating, bathing, etc. When moving within the same floor, it is sufficient to walk along the ship’s corridors. Stairs can be used to reach adjacent floors above and below.
The problem is vertical movement across multiple floors. Yamato‘s overall height is 100 meters, and its maximum height is 20 stories tall, so it is not easy to move vertically on human feet. This is especially problematic for the division heads stationed on the first bridge when moving to other floors or off the ship.
Therefore, Yamato is equipped with elevators and lifts that run up and down. Among these, the “key to vertical movement” within the ship is the main elevator that connects the first bridge to the third bridge. (It also stops on each deck between them.) This allows for fast and easy movement between the first and third bridges and each floor smoothly. The main elevator itself has been in place since the ship was first commissioned.
Structure
The two main elevators are arranged in parallel, which reduces congestion and has the advantage of making it easier to divide roles. The elevator shaft seems to be partially curved, but there are guide tires at each apex of the gondola, so it can move without any problem. This structure is also effective when the shaft is bent due to damage.
Ship’s Corridor
Passageways essential for duties and life on board
Although the number of corridors has been greatly reduced compared to that of other naval vessels at sea until around the 21st century, Yamato has a large crew, numbering 999 at the time of her maiden voyage during the Garmillas War. Each crew member not only had his or her own living area (private quarters, mess hall, baths, etc.), but was assigned to different sections of the ship. Therefore, multiple routes of travel are provided inside the Yamato.
The main elevator runs from the command tower on the upper deck to the third bridge, and lifts can be considered personal elevators. Stairs connect each floor, and internal corridors stretch throughout the interior of the ship. The port and starboard passageways, which run almost the full length of the ship from front to back, are the main passageways.
The basic configuration is that they are connected to the left and right by branch aisles. Most of the ship’s sections are located between these two passages and can be accessed on their respective floors. The standard cross-section is octagonal (see above), but some corridors have a special cross-sectional shape due to layout of equipment on each floor.
Simple transportation
The ship’s gangway is wide enough for people to pass each other, and a large number of people and cargo can pass through it simultaneously. The same is true of the main elevator, although it does not have the same capacity. On the other hand, there is a means of transportation that allows only one person to move at a time, but allows smooth movement between floors. This is the personal elevator called a lift, which allows for high-speed movement. Another advantage is that it occupies only a small area within the floor.
Central Operations Room
For visualization of operations and routes
When a naval vessel conducts a maneuver, it is common practice to inform all crew members of the purpose and details of the maneuver. If this information is not communicated, the crew’s morale will be affected, and the standard of judgment for making necessary decisions is compromised.
Ideally, the entire crew should meet and be briefed on the mission, but there is no space large enough on board a spacecraft. This is especially problematic in Yamato‘s case, with a crew of at least several hundred. (In 2199, there were 999 crew members; in 2202, the number was reduced due to the drastic reduction of living space from the refit). The central operations room was therefore prepared with large screens on the floor and walls.
The heads of each section, and crew members assigned important roles in each operation, are summoned to the central operations room, where the content of the operation is visualized and communicated. Other crew members are informed by broadcasts and their section heads. Tactical maps and route maps are displayed on a screen in each section or video room.
The central operations room has existed since the ship was first commissioned. The structure and specifications of the room did not change during the Battle of Gatlantis.
Technical Analysis Room
Division in charge of technical analysis of alien civilizations
Due to contact with Garmillas and other alien civilizations, Yamato was expected to discover materials and organisms that do not exist in the solar system. The ability to conduct scientific analysis of such objects was required, since knowing the properties of hostile technology would enable development of countermeasures. Analysis of unknown organisms and materials would directly and indirectly benefit Yamato (and thus the global human race).
As a result, the Technical Analysis Office was established under the Technical Division, which is in charge of investigating and analyzing all events and materials related to Yamato‘s navigation, and improving its equipment. During the Garmillas War, it was used to analyze a Garmiloid and other alien technologies and materials. Kaoru Niimi, head of the Technical and Information Division, used the adjoining room as a counseling room.
Although this room remained intact during the refit, it is believed that there were few opportunities to obtain Gatlantis-related technology. Niimi was not able to board the ship, so use of this room in the Gatlantis war seems to have been limited. Nevertheless, it played an important role in the analysis of space fireflies.
Structure (1)
The technical analysis room is located in the central compartment of the hull, directly connected to the main elevator. It even has an entrance for the captain’s elevator. The size of the room is 14m deep and 10m wide, with the analysis section on the main elevator side and the counseling room at the back (bow side). A dedicated terminal for connecting AU09, the analyzer of the “crewmember in charge of analysis,” is also installed.
Structure (2)
There is a circular platform in the center where objects to be analyzed are placed, surrounded by four analysis consoles and a dedicated AU09 console (terminal). A capsule for preservation and analysis of unknown organisms, assuming a humanoid type, is located on the starboard side. The port side features a floor-storable multi-purpose table and a chemical tank. The counseling room is accessible from the forward passage on the starboard side.
Briefing room / Airmen’s standby room / Shower room
Quick-response briefing room and related facilities for the air force
Yamato has a high level of operational capability when commissioned, including a tactical squadron composed of fighter pilots. The size of the squadron is expected to reach dozens of pilots, with Shiro Kato as the squadron commander, Hiroki Shinohara as the deputy commander, and Akira Yamamoto, who transferred from the pursing division during the mission to Iscandar.
The main mission of the air force is combat and reconnaissance by ship-borne aircraft. However, it is not possible to be in constant flight, so the air corps adopted the same rotation system as other sections. They adopted a system where on-duty members are stationed in a waiting area called a “standby room.” (This is common in air/aircraft operating bases and aircraft carriers.) The standby room and associated facilities are located adjacent to Hangar 2 and the fireboat hanger, operational facilities for the Cosmo Tiger II. This provides quick-response readiness for emergencies.
The standby room is also equipped with a briefing room and shower room for the air force, suggesting that it was more privileged than other sections. The physical strain of having to endure the intense maneuvering and the mental burden of carrying out missions away from the ship, even in space, earns them preferential treatment since the nature of their mission is different from other divisions.
Standby Room
This is a so-called “waiting room,” an antechamber for airmen on standby duty. Off-duty personnel often gather here, and Captain Kato and Vice-Captain Shinohara were often seen here. (Since Cosmo Tiger 1 was operated from Hangar 3, Yamamoto was often on standby there.) During the Gatlantis campaign, a team meeting regarding onboard spying was held here.
Shower Room
This facility, for the exclusive use of the air crew, is attached to the standby room. The large G-forces exerted during high maneuvers can be physically and mentally taxing on those wearing airtight suits and helmets, constrained in a narrow cockpit. Therefore, refreshment facilities such as shower rooms are welcomed by pilots.
Video Room / Large Dining Room
Facilities for long-term living on the ship
The original “Izumo Project” was designed for the escape of humans from Earth and the exploration of habitable celestial bodies. After shifting to the Yamato Project, the ship aimed instead for Iscandar. Yamato was designed for a very long voyage with no certainty that it would even find a planet where it could make a port of call. Naturally, the crew would be forced to live aboard the ship for an extended length of time, which necessitated the need for mental care, so facilities necessary for normal life and entertainment were installed.
This trend did not change during the refit, where the living space was reduced. Most of the facilities on the inner levels were retained. The main dining room provides food, which is essential for human life. The video room, a recreational space, was also part of these facilities. In ordinary civilian life, eating and watching movies is commonplace. But in the closed environment of long-term living on board the ship, these facilities were one of the few things to look forward to.
They also played a major role in socializing with other crew members and providing mental care. The “normal” things are extremely important in shipboard life. Because this is understood, the refit of the ship’s inner layers was relatively small-scale.
Video room
The video room (above right) is a theater-type facility, and its main purpose is for entertainment. It can also be used for briefings, but in terms of functionality, it is inferior to the central operation room and the air force briefing room. During the Battle of Gatlantis, Yuki Mori, who lost her memory, was given video materials from the Garmillas War (in which she was abducted by the Garmillas army).
Large dining room
This room is located adjacent to the officer’s living quarters (on the inner level below the second main gun turret). The O.M.C.S. (Organic Material Cycle System) is a food supply system that automatically provides a wide variety of food. Most of the crew, regardless of whether they are officers, soldiers, or civilians, eat their meals here.
Officer’s Room
Recreation facilities essential in a closed environment
As previously mentioned, Yamato‘s crew was assigned to a voyage of nearly a year during the Garmillas War, forcing them to live aboard the ship for extended periods of time. It is only natural that the crew should be provided with food, clothing, and shelter to cope with the long voyage, but this is not enough.
The mental health of the crew is also important. Recreation facilities and facilities for the crew to socialize are also indispensable. Examples of such facilities are the DJ booth where [YRA Radio Yamato] was broadcast during the Garmillas War, a video room that functions as a theater, and a training room for exercise. These were available to all crew members, but it is not uncommon for some of the facilities to be divided according to position or section. A typical example is the officer’s room, which is used only by crew members of officer class and above.
During the Garmillas War, the officers’ room was known to have been a place of relaxation for the captain and other senior officers of each section. However, during the Gatlantis War, with the participation of the Space Cavalry and others, common spaces such as the port observation deck and elevator hall were used more frequently.
This space does not contain any special equipment; only a table and chairs, a drink server, and a terminal for entertainment. It is not much different in function from an observation room or elevator hall, and has no windows for outside viewing, making it of little practical use. However, this space is also used for consultations on Yamato‘s operations and strategy, and for private conversations among officers. It is safe to assume that an officer’s room would be most suitable since secrets are unlikely to be leaked.
Private and double rooms
The difference between the treatment of officers and enlisted men is clearly shown by their respective rooms. Officers are provided with a private room, while others have a double room. The size of these rooms is the same. This is not surprising, considering that officers have greater responsibilities and fewer replacements. It seems that there were no major complaints from NCOs about this during the Battle of Gatlantis.
Broadside observation decks
Used as a hot spring for relaxation and a waiting area for civilians
On either side of Yamato‘s hull there is a compartment called the “Broadside Observation Deck.” Observers may be assigned there if optical observation is not possible elsewhere, but these compartments are mainly used as a “resting place” for recreation purposes. Despite its size (17m wide x 4m high), it is not equipped with military equipment, but with sofas, window counters, a stage, and several large displays. It is easy to imagine that this space was designed as a recreational facility.
Recreational facilities may seem unnecessary for a combat ship, but Yamato was designed for long voyages, forcing the crew to live on board for extended periods. An observation deck that provides a view outside of the ship is beneficial to the crew’s mental health. The reason similar facilities are not found on the newer Andromeda and Dreadnought class vessels may be that they are not designed for long voyages away from the solar system.
Yamato opened an observation deck to the civilians rescued on Planet 11. In addition to protecting military secrets, it can be assumed that the decision was made with mental health benefits in mind.
Observation deck structure
The broadside observation decks are not directly related to combat, but are still integrated with the hull of the ship, protected by a strong armor estimated to be several dozen centimeters thick. The fact that the windows can be closed with armored shutters, like the captain’s quarters atop the bridge structure, also contributes to Yamato‘s overall defensive capability.
Their structural strength is also extremely high; when Andromeda rescued Yamato, a rocket anchor was shot into the windows of the observation decks, and Yamato was towed without any problem.
Observation deck, large public bath
Broadside observation deck with two-tiered structure
Only the upper section functions purely as an observation deck. The lower part is used as a large public bath. (The Andromeda class, the Dreadnought class, and the destroyers that entered service after the Garmillas War had similar structures, but these were used for short torpedo tubes and shipboard aircraft operations.)
Yamato‘s observation decks are not directly related to the ship’s navigation or combat operations, but are essential to the health of the crew. The upper observation deck is the only compartment with direct visibility to the outside of the ship, as well as one of the few areas that can be used by the general crew. It serves as both a recreational facility and a kind of mental health facility.
During the Battle of Gatlantis, the space cavalry and evacuees, who were not accustomed to living on ships, made heavy use of these decks. It goes without saying that the large public bath in the lower section is important for crew hygiene. It is natural that they prevent the outbreak and spread of diseases, but they also have a significance for mental health.
Large public bath (1)
The lower section of the observation deck is a bathing facility divided into men’s and women’s baths according to the port and starboard sides. They contain not only bathtubs for large numbers of people, but also sauna and massage corners. Since the floor itself is different from the observation deck, access to the upper and lower floors requires the use of elevators, lifts, and stairs.
Large public bath (2)
Yamato‘s large baths are on a scale not seen on other vessels, suggesting that the ship was designed for long voyages. Since the crew was expected to live on board for nearly a year, their physical and mental health was extremely important. One of the facilities that could satisfy both of these needs at the same time was a large bath (the same could be said of the mess hall).
Medical Compartment
Where the “lives” of the crew are taken care of
Large ships built for long-term voyages have medical compartments to manage the injuries and health of crew members. It is only natural that a so-called “infirmary” would be established. In the case of manpower-oriented vessels such as Yamato, the importance of such a medical room is even higher. (In the Gatlantis campaign, living quarters were reduced when the ship launched as an emergency measure. The total number of crew members was less than during the Garmillas war, but there were still hundreds of people on board).
Yamato‘s medical quarters were placed under the control of the medical division, led by chief medical officer Sakezo Sado. The structure, consisting of treatment rooms, operating rooms, and wards, is basically the same as during the Garmillas War. Although not very large, it is equipped with all the necessary facilities and medicines. It is also located next to Sado’s private office and close to the main elevator, making it excellent for quick response in case of emergency.
However, a shortage of manpower during the Battle of Gatlantis was unavoidable. Yuki Mori boarded the ship in secret at the time of departure. After the battle on Planet Stravase, Sado was assisted by Touko Katsuragi for a while. However, after Mori and Katsuragi left, Sado’s workload became heavier. He was sometimes seen dozing off in the treatment room.
CT scanner
Yamato‘s medical section includes an operating room with a surgical fluid tank, a medical drone, a medical micro-machine, and other advanced facilities and equipment. The CT scanner in the procedure room is a technology that has existed for 200 years, but improvements have been made in safety and resolution. It is also pointed out that this technology may be different from old CT technology.
Medical section integrated with Sado’s private quarters
During the Gatlantis War that followed the Garmillas War, the core of Yamato‘s operations was the old crew. The heads of each division, with the exception of the captain, had not changed since the ship’s return to Earth in 2200. The same is true of the medical division, which is responsible for crew health and medical care. Chief medical officer Sakezo Sado was on board at the time of the ship’s departure.
The medical division, led by Sado, is set up in close proximity to the main elevator. Various considerations were made, including centralizing treatment rooms, operating rooms, and patient rooms in one location. The special feature of this facility is that the private office of Dr. Sado is also located in the same section, which sets it apart from other divisions. Considering the fact that the private rooms and shared rooms of the other members of the medical division are in other areas, this must be considered a special situation.
This arrangement makes it easier to respond to crew members who come in for emergency or mental health issues. The latter is especially important in light of the absence of Kaoru Niimi, who was in charge of mental health during the Garmillas War.
Medical section facilities
In addition to the surgical fluid tanks, which are mainly used for delicate surgical operations, Yamato‘s medical section has a number of facilities and equipment for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. This is only natural considering the nature of the medical section. It is possible to perform everything from routine exams to surgical procedures in this section. It seems that some of the new equipment needed was manufactured in Yamato‘s onboard factory.
Wave barrier control room
An important part of the wave barrier control room is the wave barrier repeater located to the rear of the bridge tower. The wave barrier oscillation system is attached to the eight-missile launch tower, also known as the chimney launcher. The wave coil installation compartment is on the side, and the wave barrier control room is in the third bridge.
However, the wave barrier control room is not a section where personnel are permanently stationed, but is used to deal with any problems with the system. Normally, the wave barrier is controlled from the first or third bridge.
Detention Room / Security Division Station
The security division and solitary confinement cells play a part in maintaining order on the ship
Yamato, which is designed for long voyages, has a security division that is responsible for the ship’s security and police aspects. This division is the so-called Military Police (MP), the equivalent of police in general society. On conventional space vessels, it is composed of members of the tactical division and Space Cavalry. On Yamato, it is an independent division.
During the Garmillas War, the division was headed by Shinya Ito, a former intelligence officer (who died during the voyage). Considering that the division is usually headed by a former member of the police force, this was an unusual arrangement due to the influence of the Izumo Project faction. The security division continued to exist at the time of the ship’s departure in 2202.
The Izumo Project faction weakened as Earth recovered. Toru Hoshina, who succeeded Ito, was unable to board the ship, and the security division diminished due to the presence of the Space Cavalry. (Hoshina was not a member of the Izumo Project, which was succeeded by the “G Project”).
Though the on-board surveillance systems and the detention center for those who violate military regulations were controlled by the security division, it seems that they were not actively managed in 2202. As a result, prisoners were able to enter and leave the detention center relatively freely.
Security guard station
When Yamato launched against the will of the military, the security division was complicit in the “mutiny,” and half-abandoned its original mission. As a result, the security personnel who re-boarded Yamato reduced the number of crew members assigned to security and policing, instead supporting other sections that were short on personnel. It was against this background that the detention center was short-staffed. The guard station, which also served an observation post, did not seem to be used much either.
Broadcast Room
Inherited in the refit
Yamato‘s refit was carried out at the time of her re-commissioning, and the interior of the ship was reorganized to include a significant reduction in living space, the creation of new on-board factory facilities in the extra space created by this reduction, and an increase in spare materials. This modification was directly related to the reduction in the number of crew members. Nevertheless, Yamato remains a manpower-oriented space battleship, which is different from the new labor-saving Wave Gunships (Andromeda class, Dreadnought class, etc.).
One of the interior facilities that illustrates this trend is the ship’s broadcast room. Established during the Garmillas War, it was used to transmit the ship’s radio program, “YRA Radio Yamato,” which played a role in the crew’s mental care during the year-long interstellar voyage.
The broadcast room was retained during the rift. Yuria Misaki (now Hoshina), who was the personality of “YRA Radio Yamato” during the Garmillas War, was not able to board the ship in 2202, so there are no known cases of its use for radio broadcasting. On the planet Stravase, it was used by Touko Katsuragi to eavesdrop on a conversation on the first bridge. Of course, this was not a legitimate use.
Operator booth
Yamato‘s onboard broadcast room is divided into an operator booth and a DJ booth. The operator booth (shown above right) can be called the command section of the broadcast room, responsible for giving instructions to the DJ booth and checking the audio quality. It was the booth Touko Katsuragi used for eavesdropping.
DJ booth
This is the area where DJs and personalities transmit information during shipboard broadcasts. It can also be used for private communications, since it is difficult for audio to leak outside the room. During the Garmillas War, it was mainly used by Yuria Misaki and AU-09 (Analyzer) for their “YRA Radio Yamato” broadcasts. It did not seem to be used during the Gatlantis War.