IJN Chiyoda

1938 BATTLE OF MIDWAY WORLD WAR 2

• 1 IJN Chiyoda Story
• 2 IJN Chiyoda Specification
  • 2.1 Basic
  • 2.2 Roles
  • 2.3 Dimensions
  • 2.4 Weight
  • 2.5 Performance
  • 2.6 Performance
  • 2.7 Armor
  • 2.8 Wing

IJN Chiyoda Story

IJN Chiyoda began service with the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) as part of the two-person Chitose-class aircraft carrier group, tendered as a dedicated seaplane. She was ordered in 1934 and built at the Wu Naval Arsenal, where the keel was laid on 14 December 1936.

It was launched on November 19, 1937 and officially commissioned on December 15, 1938.

During the Second Sino-Japanese War (July 1937-September 1945) and the early days of the Pacific Campaign of World War II (1939-1945), Chiyoda managed to hold on to her seaplane tendering role. However, after the devastating loss of four aircraft carriers in the Battle of Midway (June 4-7, 1942), Chiyoda was ordered to rebuild as a dedicated fleet light carrier.

Modifications made to increase the total number of aircraft on board from 24 seaplanes to 30 fighters. A pair of deck lifts have been added to facilitate moving the aircraft from below deck to the flight deck.

The bridge structure moves forward while the engine exhaust port moves along the starboard side. Defensive armament has been increased from 4 x 12.7mm machine guns and 12 x 25mm cannons to 8 x 12.7mm machine guns and up to 48 x 25mm cannons. Propulsion comes from 2 geared steam turbines producing 56,000 horsepower and propelling the 2 shafts to a speed of nearly 29 knots.

Dimensions include a length of 631.6 feet, a beam of 68.3 feet and a draft of 24.6 feet.

Refit work continued from 1942 to 1944, and the ship was returned to service as a light fleet carrier on 21 December 1943.

Her first operational focus in her new role is to provide support in Kwajalein and the Mariana Islands. She then took part in the naval battle of the Philippine Sea on June 19, 1944, and damaged her with a bomb, and was forced to perform repairs in Kure in July.

She was killed in the Battle of Leyte Gulf on October 25, 1944, when the warship was hit by several direct hits from U.S. Navy guns, aerial bombs, and torpedoes. 1,470 crew members went down with the crippled Chiyoda.

IJN Chiyoda was removed from the Naval Register on 20 December 1944.

IJN Chiyoda Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Weight

Performance

Performance

Armor

Wing