IJN Shokaku

History

Shokaku (or "Flying Crane") is the lead ship of the Imperial Japanese Navy's (IJN) two-person aircraft carrier class, including her sister ship Zuikaku ("Lucky Crane"). Cranes have long been considered symbols of beauty and longevity in Japanese culture, and these descriptions rarely translate to military-minded aircraft carriers, but the implications here are understandable. Construction of the Shokaku began in December 1937 at the Yokosuka Naval Shipyard and was carried out in secrecy to conceal the ship's dimensions and specifications from world naval military observers.

After the end of World War I hostilities, world powers joined together to sign the Washington Naval Treaty, which was designed to limit the construction of large, heavily armed capital ships. Signatories included Germany and Imperial Japan, who would soon try to circumvent treaty rules and build their massive and powerful war machines.

Japan developed a master plan to expand its sphere of influence in the east, and built many new warships as required by the Japanese Navy's fleet replenishment plan. The plan included the construction of two of the world's largest battleships, the IJN Yamato and the IJN Musashi.

Shokaku's design is based on the best architectural concept, with information from the experience of the Akagi, Kaga and Soryu classes in blue water battles. Both Shokaku carriers are built to comparable specifications, with a displacement of approximately 25,675 tons and an expected top speed of 34.2 knots. The stage is powered by the most powerful engine ever installed on an IJN carrier, with 4 Kanpon geared turbines and 8 boilers, which together generate 160,000 shaft horsepower.

Shokakus are 90 feet longer and have 50 percent more displacement, essentially making them larger versions of the Soryu and Hiryu carrier classes. The Feihe will be piloted by 1,660 officers and soldiers.

Shokaku became the most advanced aircraft carrier of the Japanese Navy and one of the best aircraft carriers in the world. Not only did their engineers understand the need for additional aircraft storage space, but they also needed to get them into service quickly. Three lifts were incorporated into the deck design to facilitate the movement of fighter jets up and down from the hangar deck to the flight deck, allowing the aircraft to be quickly switched (refueled and reloaded) and launched.

Comfortable living quarters have been built throughout Feihe in order to maintain the morale of the hard-working crew.

To defend against surface ships and incoming enemy aircraft, Shokaku was equipped with 8 twin-seaters with 16 x 5" guns and 36 x 25 mm anti-aircraft guns. By 1944, 96 x 25 mm anti-aircraft guns were added. Defensive armor Includes 6.5" for magazine slot protection and 3.9" for deck.

Machine area gets 5.1" armor protection. For air strikes, Shokaku can carry up to 84 aircraft, including 18 Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" "Fighters, 27 Aichi D3A "Vall" dive bombers and 27 Nakajima B5N "Kate" torpedo planes over the two hangars. World War II ushered in the era of aircraft carriers, and these floating islands are now ready to fight the enemy.

Dive bombers and torpedo bombers provided air cover, the latter attacking surface ships or land-based targets directly as needed.

Construction of both carriers was delayed for some time due to changes to the hopper arrangement after completion. The funnel runs along the starboard side of the ship, just behind the island's superstructure. In addition, the surviving crew of the ill-fated Japanese navy aircraft carrier Kaga, which went missing in the Battle of Midway, said the fire on board had increased and spread uncontrollably because of the air space around the fuel tanks. To counteract this design flaw of the new beams, the air spaces are filled with concrete.

Xiang Pavilion was launched on June 1, 1939, and was officially completed and officially commissioned on August 8, 1941.

On April 10, 5 months ago, the Japanese Navy created its first air fleet - Kido Butai, or "Mobile Force". It consisted of the entire Japanese fleet and light aircraft carriers, supported by 474 aircraft, 2 battleships, 3 cruisers, 9 destroyers, 8 tankers, 23 submarines and 4 small submarines.

This historic military move was a new concept in naval aviation that essentially became the first tactical carrier task force. After completing their "shock" cruise, Shokaku and her sister ship Zuikaku joined Kido Taketai's other carriers - Akagi, Kaga, Soryu and Hiryu.

The carrier group, under the leadership of Admiral Yamamoto, is training for the upcoming raid that will bring the United States into World War II - the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Japanese authorities believe the country is ready for all-out war. In 1941, their naval power was far greater than that of any other nation, with 10 aircraft carriers and 1,500 highly trained and experienced pilots.

In addition to first-class surface ships, submarines, and aircraft, they also had the best carrier-based fighter jets of the day, the Mitsubishi A6M Zero, and the equally skilled Nakajima B5N Kate torpedo.

Attack on Pearl Harbor

In September 1941, Shokaku was dispatched to patrol the Kobe Kure area with the First Air Fleet in her home waters. Her first captain, Yokogawa Ichibei, continued to train his crew until they were called to Takeya Kido for duty. On November 26, 1941, Shokaku and five other aircraft carriers and their Japanese contingent support ships departed Japan in radio silence, sailed for twelve days at sea, and arrived at Oahu, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941 About 200 miles off the coast - ready to target and destroy with U.S. carrier forces stationed there. She joined her other airlines in launching a total of 408 aircraft - 360 for two waves of attacks on ports and 48 Zeros for the air CAP (Combat Air Patrol) task force.

After the planes recovered from the second wave of attacks, fleet commander Admiral Nagumo decided not to launch the third wave, as it turned out that the US aircraft carrier was not at Pearl Harbor at the time and a full Japanese navy was needed now more than ever fleet. The total war began with an impressive victory for Japan - and Shokaku played their part.

Take Tai's fleet, led by Shokaku, retreated across the Pacific towards Japan. On December 23, 1941, Shokaku, along with porters Akagi and Kaga, was assigned to home waters by Japan's Shijimashima. On January 8, 1942, Matsuzuru was ordered to the Pacific Base at Truk Lagoon, the main anchorage of the Japanese Navy in the Pacific Ocean.

The base has five runways, a deep lagoon for warships, a torpedo boat station, submarine shelters, a communications/radar center, troop facilities and shore guns, making the base as important to the Japanese Navy as Pearl Harbor was to the U.S. Navy Sex.

Shokaku uses Truk as a base when performing missions upon request. A US aircraft carrier is understood to be heading to the Marshall Islands to attack Japanese installations and local shipping.

Shokaku and a destroyer protection force (comprising Shiranui, Kasumi, and Urakaze) are sent to counterattack. The U.S. forces retreated when challenged, pursued by Shokaku and her destroyers. The Americans eventually escaped, and Shokaku headed to a Japanese-held fort on Palau Island.

After returning to Truk, she was recalled to her home waters and reached Yokosuka in February 1942. At this point, she was assigned to the main body of the attacking force until 15 March.

Battle of the Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean Raid was a naval operation by the Imperial Japanese Navy's Fast Carrier Strike Force from late March to 10 April 1942. The operation targeted British shipping lanes and bases across the Indian Ocean. Along with the aircraft carriers Akagi, Zuikaku, Soryu, and Hiryu, Shokaku was assigned to the 5th Division of the First Air Fleet and launched an air raid on British forces in Colombo on 5 April 1942. Two British cruisers, HMS Cornwall and HMS Dorsetshire, were found at sea and sunk by IJN carrier forces.

British troops in Trincomalee, Ceylon, received radio communications about the attack and were concerned about the carrier HMS Hermes, which was undergoing repairs in port. It was decided to launch the Hermes using an umbrella consisting of the frigate HMS Hollyhock, the destroyer HMAS Vampire and two tankers. For some reason, the Hermes Luftwaffe remained ashore. On 9 April, the British squadron was attacked by 70 Japanese dive bombers from the 5th Japanese Navy carrier, including aircraft from Shokaku, causing the Hermes to sink after being hit by no less than 40 bombs. She soon sank with her brave crew.

IJN aircraft also sank the frigate Hollyhock, the destroyer HMAS Vampire and two tankers. If the 814th Squadron of the Royal Navy was on the Hermes at the time, perhaps some of the Japanese attack aircraft could have been repelled - but the battle was a major victory for the British fleet.

Battle of the Coral Sea

Shokaku has been transferred to Truk to prepare for the upcoming Coral Sea sortie, an action code known as "Operation MO". It was a joint army and navy operation to invade Port Moresby, New Guinea, and capture Tulagi as an important seaplane base. Covered by the light carrier Shoho, the fleet consisted of 3 heavy cruisers, 14 destroyers, and several support ships, protecting 12 transports that could accommodate 5,500 Japanese assault troops. The capture of Moresby could lead to Allied airstrikes in the area and, perhaps more importantly, a possible future attack on Australian territory in preparation for a land invasion of the county. The carrier strike force, consisting of the aircraft carriers Zuikaku and Shokaku, two heavy cruisers and six destroyers, set sail from Truk on 1 May as additional cover for the fleet.

However, the U.S. Navy and its specially trained code-breaking team soon deconstructed the Japanese J25 naval code. As a result, the Americans were warned of Japan's intentions and were aware of the impending action against Port Moresby.

Admiral Chester Nimitz dispatched the fleet aircraft carriers USS Yorktown (CV-5) and USS Lexington (CV-2) to the Coral Sea to protect Port Moresby. The US aircraft carrier is patrolled by 9 cruisers, 13 destroyers, a seaplane supply vessel and a refueling vessel.

On May 8, 1942, aircraft from both sides encountered hostile carrier forces, beginning the first carrier battle in naval history known as the "Battle of the Coral Sea." The small Japanese carrier Shoho sank along with a destroyer, and six small IJN ships suffered significant damage. Fleet carrier Shokaku was attacked by American dive bombers, each of which hit the carrier with 454kg bombs. Two other dive bombers missed her, and Lexington's TBD hit Shokaku with 11 torpedoes. Shokaku, however; the carrier's cockpit was severely damaged in action, and 223 crew members were killed or injuredher captain understood with pain that Shokaku was unable to carry out further aircraft operations. Captain Takatsugu Jojima asked IJN Takagi headquarters for permission to withdraw from the battle.

Confirming the order to Songhe, Songhe then retreated to its own waters under the cover of two destroyers. Combat losses and damage to Japan totaled one light carrier, one destroyer, and three small warships, and one fleet carrier, one destroyer, two small warships, and one damaged transport aircraft. In total, Japan Airlines lost 92 aircraft, with a total of 966 pilots, crew and IJN sailors killed in action.

The aircraft carrier war has arrived.

On May 8, 1942, the aircraft carrier USS Lexington caught fire due to a leaking fuel line due to bomb damage and was sunk by an American destroyer. Most of her pilots, air and ship crews were rescued by reasonable fire fighting tactics and enough time to get these people onboard available destroyers.

The planes were transferred to other airlines for reuse. These well-trained personnel and sturdy aircraft were then reassigned to other carriers to fight another day. Losses suffered by the U.S. Navy along with "Lady Lex" included a destroyer, a tanker that was mistaken for an aircraft carrier, and damage to the USS Yorktown.

A total of 69 American aircraft were killed in action, and 656 sailors were killed.

The outcome of the battle was in favor of the Japanese, but in retrospect, the Japanese lost 90 crew members, while the American carrier lost 35 crew members. In scale, the Japanese losses sounded relatively small, but the long and difficult training procedures for these pilots and crews slowed down fleet replacement. Instead, U.S. aircrews are busy in a sort of "assembly line" schedule in training camps across the country.

The brief battle of the Coral Sea also helped the U.S. Navy hone tactics and defensive strategies for the upcoming battle.