Imperial Japanese Navy
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Imperial Japanese Navy
Oh my! It seems the world's THIRD most powerful Navy, in late 1941 has been neglected.....
Therefore let's have a few pictures of their carriers to start with, as they LAUNCHED the Pacific War.
The AKAGI, KAGA were both converted from capital ships while HIRYU and SORYU were quite small due to the Naval Treaty. ZUIKAKU and sister SHOKAKU formed the backbone of IJN carriers after Midway. They were about equal to the USN YORKTOWN class. DFO
Therefore let's have a few pictures of their carriers to start with, as they LAUNCHED the Pacific War.
The AKAGI, KAGA were both converted from capital ships while HIRYU and SORYU were quite small due to the Naval Treaty. ZUIKAKU and sister SHOKAKU formed the backbone of IJN carriers after Midway. They were about equal to the USN YORKTOWN class. DFO
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Re: Imperial Japanese Navy
I'll try loading 2 pics of SHOKAKU's here; didn't load on previous post.......DFO
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Re: Imperial Japanese Navy
The IJN rapidly-early on-reinforced their carrier force by adding conversions of both liners and auxiliary warships. While not as "good" as purpose built carriers, these units did serve the IJN well. Probably the 2 most useful were the liner conversions that resulted in the JUNYO and HIYO.
Despite changing out engines these 2 maxed out at 26 knots. The RNs mostly post-war CVLs were only capable of 25 knots, but served very capably. Although the pair did not have catapults, unlike the RN cvls, the aircraft of the era could fly from them without problems. Given the way the IJN treated their seamen and pilots the JUNYO/HIYO did not have the crème of IJN carrier pilots, but despite that...served well. They were also fairly distinctive because of their angled funnel. Only the monster SHINANO and hurricane bow TAIHO had similar stacks. All other IJN carriers had deck level funnels that exhausted down and out.
The JUNYO-damaged-was one of the few surviving CVs they had. She was scrapped post war. DFO
Despite changing out engines these 2 maxed out at 26 knots. The RNs mostly post-war CVLs were only capable of 25 knots, but served very capably. Although the pair did not have catapults, unlike the RN cvls, the aircraft of the era could fly from them without problems. Given the way the IJN treated their seamen and pilots the JUNYO/HIYO did not have the crème of IJN carrier pilots, but despite that...served well. They were also fairly distinctive because of their angled funnel. Only the monster SHINANO and hurricane bow TAIHO had similar stacks. All other IJN carriers had deck level funnels that exhausted down and out.
The JUNYO-damaged-was one of the few surviving CVs they had. She was scrapped post war. DFO
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Re: Imperial Japanese Navy
The IJNs' cruisers were effective ships. In particular the Treaty heavy cruisers they built. However, starting with the NACHI class they tended to be considerably in excess of the 10,000 ton limit Three of the classes carried 10-8", including the MOGAMIs after their "conversion" from "8500 ton" light cruisers with 15-6.1". Their final completed class was the TONE and CHIKUMA with 8-8". All carried the guns in twin turrets.
The shot of TONE shows the reason for only 8-8", all bow mounted. These 2 CAs were with the Pearl Harbor attack force; their seaplanes were used to scout. They scouted at Midway, too. There the reports came in a bit late.....DFO
The shot of TONE shows the reason for only 8-8", all bow mounted. These 2 CAs were with the Pearl Harbor attack force; their seaplanes were used to scout. They scouted at Midway, too. There the reports came in a bit late.....DFO
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Re: Imperial Japanese Navy
The IJNs' light cruisers were mostly "old"; basically evolved WW1 designs. They only built 4 AGANOs and the OYODO in WW2. They were quite small compared to WW2 USN and RN CLs tho. Only 6-6.1" on them, but the OYODO carried her 6 forward in 2 recycled MOGAMI class triple turrets. Her stern was for seaplanes and a large catapult. Later her hanger was used for comm purposes as she became what we would now call command ship. DFO
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- ivorthediver
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Re: Imperial Japanese Navy
Thank you for such a detailed description of their type and use Dennis and more to the point the photo's , all of which we are very grateful for you sharing with us all
"What Ever Floats your Boat"
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Re: Imperial Japanese Navy
The first IJN heavys were the 2 AOBAs and 2 FURATAKAs. Originally FURATAKA carried 6 single 7.9' When modernized they, like AOBAs carried 3 twin 8". None survived the war, altho AOBA was a bombed out hulk in a Japanese harbor. The others were lost at sea.
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Re: Imperial Japanese Navy
Dipping further back into IJN history there was the pre-dreadnought ASAHI. She fought in the Russo-Japanese War and after WW1 she was disarmed to become a repair ship. She was in China in the late 30s and was sunk in 1942 by a USN submarine.
Can anyone ID that twin gun turret mounted on her A barbette when she was a repair ship?? Possibly a twin 5.5"??? DFO
Can anyone ID that twin gun turret mounted on her A barbette when she was a repair ship?? Possibly a twin 5.5"??? DFO
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- ivorthediver
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Re: Imperial Japanese Navy
Could be but can't find any source to check Dennis.....sorry
"What Ever Floats your Boat"
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Re: Imperial Japanese Navy
Lead Ship,Dreadnought Battleship IJNS Kawachi pictured c1913,she was built at Yokosuka Naval Arsenal in 1910.During World War I she bombarded German fortifications at Tsingtao during the Battle of Tsingtao in 1914, but saw no other combat. She sank in 1918 after an explosion in her ammunition magazine with the loss of over 600 officers and crewmen.
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