Aviation Naval Warfare Land Systems Small Arms By Flag By Year By Tag

IJN Shoho

1941 WORLD WAR 2

IJN Shoho Story

The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) light carrier Shoho is one of two ships built to Zuiho-class standards (the other being the main ship, Zuiho, described elsewhere on this page). The pair were self-formed from existing seaplane tender hulls to meet IJN requirements in the mid-1930s.

In 1940, Zuiho based on Takasaki and Shoho based on Tsuruzaki started work.

The original diesel propulsion scheme was abandoned in favor of a paired pair of geared steam turbines, which were powered by four boiler units. All in all, the scheme produced 52,000 horsepower to drive 2 axles under the stern.

The new warship can travel at 28 knots and travel up to 7,800 nautical miles.

With a crew of 785 on board, armament consists of 8 x 127mm Type 89 (AA) anti-aircraft guns and 8 x 25mm Type 96 anti-aircraft guns, mounted in four twin-gun installations. The ship was set up to support up to thirty fighter jets.

Above the hull (without the traditional island superstructure) is a continuous flat-topped flight deck served by two lifts (for hangar access) and two catapults for launching aircraft.

Dimensions include 674.1 ft overall length, 59.7 ft beam and 21.6 ft draft. Displacement is 11,262 long tons.

As submarine supplier Tsuruzaki, she fought with the Combined Fleet from 1939 to 1940 in the early days of the war - a period at the heart of Japan's expansion in the Pacific. It was her turn when trials began in December 1940, and she returned to service in 1942 as a light carrier built around speed and storage space (with little armor protection on board to keep her light).

She saw her first action in April 1942, as part of an invasion force in Port Moresby, during a Japanese attempt to claim Australian New Guinea.

This set the stage for the Battle of the Coral Sea, 4-8 May 1942. The Japanese invasion was eventually repelled and was described as a tactical victory for Japan, but a strategic victory for the Allies. On May 6, 1942, IJN Shoho was on her way to the scene as part of the battle when she spotted Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers flying south of Bougainville.

They attacked, but did little damage to the wielder.

However, the misinformation diverted the attention of the Japanese Navy from the U.S. Task Force 17. On May 7, after seeing Shoho, TF 17 responded with an airstrike initially launched by the USS Lexington. The first round was barely revealed, but USS Yorktown's contribution in the second wave managed to hit 1,000 air bombs directly on the Shoho deck. With limited movement and reduced speed, Shoho can only serve as a tempting target for further attacks.

A combination of bombs and torpedoes destroyed the light carrier, causing the fire to break out.

Now that the attack is over, the signal to abandon ship has been given. Shoho then rolled over to her and started sinking. Of the 834 men on her deck during the battle, only about 255 survived. In the first carrier battle in naval history, the Japanese Navy was on the losing side while the U.S.

Navy was victorious. 1942 also proved critical to the future of the IJN, as the Battle of Midway (June 4-7) claimed the loss of four additional aircraft carrierslosses that could never be recoveredand could never be.