Aircraft Carriers: IJNS Hosho

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Brian James
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Aircraft Carriers: IJNS Hosho

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IJNS Hosho pictured at Yokosuka,on September 22nd 1924..She was the world's first commissioned ship that was designed and built as an Aircraft Carrier.
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designeraccd
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Re: Aircraft Carriers: IJNS Hosho

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The little HOSHO managed to survive WW2, but then she was not a front line carrier. Mostly she served in a training role during the war. She briefly sported a small island after first being taken into the IJN. DFO
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ivorthediver
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Re: Aircraft Carriers: IJNS Hosho

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Fascinating to see how rapidly they developed once their true worth was displayed don't you think Dennis , great shots , thanks for sharing them with us .
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designeraccd
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Re: Aircraft Carriers: IJNS Hosho

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I collected them when I built a new model of HOSHO to replace the one I built decades ago. Decided to build her WITH the small island. :) Many more pictures available compared to the handful, plus drawings from the 43-44 JFS. The info from back then was less than accurate, even for the old, small HOSHO. DFO
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ivorthediver
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Re: Aircraft Carriers: IJNS Hosho

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A congested bit of jungle shoreline there Dennis , or is this more evidence of the IJN habit of superimposing backgrounds to confuse others who may be looking for information on ships / design /movements... :?:
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Brian James
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Re: Aircraft Carriers: IJNS Hosho

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IJNS Hōshō pictured fitting out at Asano Shipbuilding Company Shipyards,Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama on December 20th 1921.
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designeraccd
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Re: Aircraft Carriers: IJNS Hosho

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Here she is post Midway! :o DFO
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Brian James
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Re: Aircraft Carriers: IJNS Hosho

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Fleet Carrier Hōshō pictured at Yokosuka Naval Arsenal on September 22nd 1924..After Hōshō was commissioned, experienced aircrews requested changes, and the ship was modified by the Shipyard at Yokosuka from June 6th to August 20th 1924. The island, tripod mast, and aircraft crane were removed since they partially obstructed the flight deck and obscured pilot visibility. The forward part of the flight deck was made horizontal, and the 8 cm AA guns were moved forward, close to the position of the former island and out of the way of landing operations. Another reason for removal of the island was that the IJN found that it was too small and cramped to be of effective use in controlling air operations or conning the ship. After the island was removed, the Carrier's flight operations were controlled from a platform extending from the side of the flight deck, a design that would be repeated in subsequent Japanese Aircraft Carriers. She was then assigned to the 1st Fleet until November 15th 1924....She was turned over to Allied forces at the time of the surrender of Japan on September 2nd 1945 and was stricken from the navy list on October 5th. Hōshō then served as a repatriation transport to retrieve Japanese servicemen and civilians stationed overseas and return them to Japan. In October and November 1945, accompanied by the Cruiser Kashima, she carried 700 passengers from Wotje Atoll, 311 from Jaluit Atoll, and an undocumented number from Enewetak Atoll to Uraga, Kanagawa. In December 1945, Hōshō's overhanging flight deck at the bow was cut off to improve visibility from the bridge and her hangars were modified to carry more passengers. Thereafter, she undertook more repatriation missions beginning with one to Wewak on January 5th 1946 and subsequent trips to China. In total, the Carrier made nine repatriation trips before August 15th 1946 and transported about 40,000 passengers. Hōshō was transferred to the Home Ministry on August 31st for disposal. She was scrapped in Osaka from September 2nd 1946 to May 1st 1947 by the Kyōwa Shipbuilding Company.
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Brian James
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Re: Aircraft Carriers: IJNS Hosho

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Fleet Carrier Hōshō pictured on sea trials off Yokosuka Naval Arsenal on November 30th 1922...She was the world's first commissioned ship that was built as an Aircraft Carrier from the keel up...Hōshō was laid down at Asano Shipbuilding Company Shipyard in Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, on December 16th 1920. She was launched on November 13th 1921 and towed to Yokosuka Naval Arsenal for completion on January 10th 1922. Hōshō was delayed by repeated design changes and late deliveries of equipment, pushing the commissioning date from March to December 27th 1922. She was commissioned lacking much of her aviation equipment, and did not begin landing trials until February 22nd 1923. The first landings were made by British aviators under contract, who were quickly replaced by Japanese pilots trained by the British Aviation Mission. After Hōshō was commissioned, experienced aircrews requested changes, and the ship was modified by the Shipyard from June 6th to August 20th 1924. The island, tripod mast, and aircraft crane were removed since they partially obstructed the flight deck and obscured pilot visibility. The forward part of the flight deck was made horizontal, and the 8 cm AA guns were moved forward, close to the position of the former island and out of the way of landing operations. Another reason for removal of the island was that the IJN found that it was too small and cramped to be of effective use in controlling air operations or conning the ship. After her island was removed, the Carrier's flight operations were controlled from a platform extending from the side of the flight deck, a design that would be repeated in subsequent Japanese Aircraft Carriers. She was then assigned to the 1st Fleet until November 15th 1924.
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Brian James
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Re: Aircraft Carriers: IJNS Hosho

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Fleet Carrier Hōshō pictured post her modifications refit after her commissioning..She was commissioned lacking much of her aviation equipment, and did not begin landing trials until February 22nd 1923. The first landings were made by British aviators under contract, who were quickly replaced by Japanese pilots trained by the British Aviation Mission. After Hōshō was commissioned, experienced aircrews requested changes, and the ship was modified by the shipyard from June 6th to August 20th 1924. The island, tripod mast, and aircraft crane were removed since they partially obstructed the flight deck and obscured pilot visibility. The forward part of the flight deck was made horizontal, and the 8 cm AA guns were moved forward, close to the position of the former island and out of the way of landing operations. Another reason for removal of the island was that the IJN found that it was too small and cramped to be of effective use in controlling air operations or conning the ship. After the island was removed, the Carrier's flight operations were controlled from a platform extending from the side of the flight deck, a design that would be repeated in subsequent Japanese Aircraft Carriers. The ship was then assigned to the 1st Fleet until November 15th 1924.
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