Lewin of Greenwich Naval History & Forum

A nice beam view of HIRYU on her trials........ DFO

HIRYU fitting out in 1939. DFO

Another view of HIRYU fitting out in 1939. DFO

HIRYU: beginning and end; note elevator thrown against her island! Also, a model of the wreck before she sank.......... DFO

Fleet Carrier Hiryū pictured close to completion at Yokosuka Naval Arsenal on March 20th 1939, she was built to a modified Sōryū design.Her aircraft supported the Japanese invasion of French Indochina in mid-1940. She took part in the attack on Pearl Harbor and the Battle of Wake Island. During the first few months of the Pacific War, she supported the conquest of the Dutch East Indies in January 1942. The following month, her aircraft bombed Darwin and continued to assist in the Dutch East Indies campaign. In April, Hiryū's aircraft helped sink two British Heavy Cruisers and several merchant ships during the Indian Ocean Raid...After a brief refit, Hiryū and three other Fleet Carriers of the First Air Fleet (Kido Butai) participated in the Battle of Midway in June 1942. After bombarding American forces on the atoll, the Carriers were attacked by aircraft from Midway and the carriers USS Enterprise, Hornet, and Yorktown. Dive bombers from Yorktown and Enterprise crippled Hiryū and set her afire. She was scuttled the following day after it became clear that she could not be salvaged. The loss of Hiryū and three other IJN carriers at Midway was a crucial strategic defeat for Japan and contributed significantly to the Allies' ultimate victory in the Pacific.

Here is a pretty nice low starboard view of HIRYU......... DFO

Fleet Carrier Hiryū pictured fitting out at Yokosuka Naval Arsenal on March 20th 1939.

That is RYUJO being built. She was the only IJN carrier with twin angled funnels AND 3 pairs of twin 5" forward, as built. During her mods the 5" fit was dropped to only 8 5" twins. Here are 2 pics showing as modified versus as built ...... One can see that the aft most twin 5" on each beam was removed.

Also, 2 bow views showing the as built low bow vs. modified higher bow for better sea keeping! Mislabeled photos can be confusing.

Finally a 3 view drawing of RYUJO as built, note the different spacing of the twin 5" on each beam. DFO

Fleet Carrier Hiryū pictured on sea trials off Tateyama on June 21st 1939. She took part in the attack on Pearl Harbor and the Battle of Wake Island. During the first few months of the Pacific War, she supported the conquest of the Dutch East Indies in January 1942. The following month, her aircraft bombed Darwin, and continued to assist in the Dutch East Indies campaign. In April, Hiryū's aircraft helped sink two British Heavy Cruisers and several merchant ships during the Indian Ocean Raid.
After a brief refit, Hiryū and three other Fleet Carriers of the First Air Fleet (Kido Butai) participated in the Battle of Midway in June 1942. After bombarding American forces on the atoll, the Carriers were attacked by aircraft from Midway and Carriers USS Enterprise, Hornet, and Yorktown. Dive bombers from Yorktown and Enterprise crippled Hiryū and set her afire. She was scuttled the following day after it became clear that she could not be salvaged.