IJN Ships -- Some Less Well-Known Photos

[Brian James]

Lead Ship, Fleet Carrier Shōkaku pictured on completion at Yokosuka Naval Arsenal on August 23rd 1941...Along with her sister ship Zuikaku, she took part in several key naval battles during the war, including the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands before being torpedoed and sunk by Gato Class Submarine USS Cavalla on June 19th 1944 at the Battle of the Philippine Sea.

[Brian James]

16th Naval Fleet Review pictured from Akagi, (with Emperor Hirohito aboard), off Yokohama Naval Arsenal on August 25th 1933.

[Brian James]

Seaplane Tender Chitose pictured during her Carrier conversion at Sasebo Naval Arsenal on August 31st 1943....Chitose began conversion to a Light Aircraft Carrier at Sasebo Naval Arsenal on January 26th 1943. She was recommissioned on November 1st 1943 and moved to Kure on December 17th 1943. After final fitting out, she was completed as an Aircraft Carrier on January 1st 1944. She was sunk by aircraft from Task Force 38 on October 25th 1944.

[designeraccd]

ABUKUMA gassing up on the way to Pearl Harbor.......... DFO

[Brian James]

Hatsuharu Class Destroyer Hatsushimu pictured under repair at Yokosuka Naval Arsenal on September 2nd 1943...Hatsushimo returned to northern waters from January 1943, continuing patrols and resupply transport missions to the Aleutians. On March 26th, she participated in the Battle of the Komandorski Islands as part of the IJN 5th Fleet, and unsuccessfully engaged USN forces at long range with torpedoes. She withdrew together with Nachi and Maya to Yokosuka at the end of March.
Hatsushimo rejoined the IJN 5th Fleet in northern waters in mid-May, escorting convoys between Paramushiro and Ōminato to late June. In July, she participated in the evacuation of the Aleutians as part of a screening force consisting of the destroyers Wakaba, Naganami, Shimakaze and Samidare . On July 26th, Hatsushimo rammed Wakaba in the stern and was rammed in turn by Naganami during heavy fog, suffering moderate damage. On her return to Yokosuka for a months of repairs in September, a Type 22 radar was installed, her 'X' turret was removed, and additional 25 mm anti-aircraft guns were added. She was able to return to active duty in mid-October, when she escorted the Aircraft Carriers Ryūhō and Chitose to Singapore and back. In February 1945 Hatsushimo escorted the Battleships Ise and Hyūga from Singapore back to Kure during Operation Kita. While at Kure, yet more 25-mm anti-aircraft guns were installed. In April 1945, Hatsushimo was part of the escort for the Battleship Yamato during her final Operation Ten-Go. She was not hit during the mission, and rescued survivors from Yamato, Yahagi and Hamakaze.
She was subsequently reassigned to Maizuru for use as a training and guard vessels. On July 30th 1945, Hatsushimo struck an air dropped naval mine while under attack from USN aircraft from TF38 at Miyazu Bay, forcing her crew to beach her. The attack killed 17 crewmen. Hatsushimo was the 129th and last Destroyer of the Imperial Japanese Navy to be lost during the war.

[Brian James]

IJN No 1 Class Landing Ship No 9 pictured at Kure Naval Arsenal on September 3rd 1944.

[Brian James]

September 1908 at Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, following a three year refit the former Russian Protected Cruiser Pallada pictured after being commissioned into the IJN as Training Ship Tsugaru.

[Brian James]

IJN Fleet pictured anchored at Kure Naval Arsenal in early September 1919....Yamashiro, Fusō, Hyūga and Ise from the left in the front row, Haruna, Hiei, and Kirishima from the left in the back row.

[Brian James]

Lead Ship, Heavy Cruiser Myōkō pictured on surrendering to RN units in September 1945 at Seletar, Singapore, alongside are the two German built Type IXD2 Submarines I-501 and I-502.

[Brian James]

Surviving IJN Submarines pictured at Kure Naval Arsenal in mid September 1945..From top center, I-159, I-158, I-157, I-366, I-367,｜I-36, I-47, From upper right, Ha-101 type I-53 and I-58.