×
Aircraft / Aviation Vehicles & Artillery Small Arms Warships & Submarines Military Ranks Military Pay Scale (2024) Special Forces

IJN Shoho


Converted Light Carrier


Imperial Japan | 1941



"IJN Shoho was the second of two warships constructed to the Zuiho-class standard - these formed form existing seaplane tenders."

Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one sea-going vessel design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for IJN Shoho.
4 x Boilers feeding 2 x Geared steam turbines developing 52,000 horsepower and driving 2 x Shafts astern.
Propulsion
28.0 kts
32.2 mph
Surface Speed
7,821 nm
9,000 miles | 14,484 km
Range
Structure
The bow-to-stern, port-to-starboard physical qualities of IJN Shoho.
785
Personnel
Complement
674.1 ft
205.47 meters
O/A Length
59.7 ft
18.20 meters
Beam
21.6 ft
6.58 meters
Draught
11,265
tons
Displacement
Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of IJN Shoho.
8 x 127mm /40 caliber Type 89 Anti-Aircraft (AA) guns in four twin-gunned mountings.
8 x 25mm Type 96 AA guns in four twin-gunned mountings.
Air Arm
Available supported fixed-wing / rotary-wing aircraft featured in the design of IJN Shoho.
Up to 30 combat aircraft of various makes and models.
Ships-in-Class (2)
Notable series variants as part of the IJN Shoho family line as relating to the Zuiho-class group.
IJN Zuiho; IJN Shoho
Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 01/25/2018 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) light carrier Shoho was one of two warships constructed to the Zuiho-class standard (the other being lead ship herself, Zuiho, detailed elsewhere on this site). The pair was formed from the existing hulls of seaplane tenders themselves designed to fulfill an IJN requirement of the mid-1930s. In 1940, work began on Zuiho, which was built from Takasaki, and Shoho, built upon the framework of incomplete Tsurugizaki.

The original diesel propulsion scheme was given up in favor of a geared steam turbine pairing and these were fed by four boiler units. All told, the scheme produced 52,000 horsepower and was used to drive 2 x shafts under the stern. The new warship could make headway at 28 knots and reach out to 7,800 nautical miles.

Aboard was a crew of 785 and armament included 8 x 127mm Type 89 Anti-Aircraft (AA) guns in four twin-gunned installations and 8 x 25mm Type 96 AA guns in a similar arrangement. The vessel was set up to support up to thirty warplanes. Over the hull of the ship (which lacked a traditional island superstructure) was set a flattop, straight-through flight deck serviced by a pair of elevators (for access to the hangar) and two catapults for launching the aircraft.

Dimensions included an overall length of 674.1 feet, a beam of 59.7 feet and a draught of 21.6 feet. Displacement was 11,262 long tons.

As the submarine tender Tsurugizaki, she operated from 1939 into 1940 with the Combined Fleet during what became the early part of the war - a period of focus for the Japanese expansion in the Pacific. Her turn at conversion arrived in December of 1940 when the process began and she was brought back online in 1942 as a light carrier built around speed and storage space (little armor protection was had on the vessel in order to keep her light). Her first taste of action was in April of 1942 as part of the invasion force at Port Moresby during Operation Mo - the Japanese attempt to claim Australian New Guinea.

Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.


This set the stage for the Battle of Coral Sea which spanned May 4th until May 8th, 1942. The Japanese invasion was eventually repelled in what was marked as a Japanese tactical victory but an Allied strategic one. On May 6th, 1942, as part of the battle, IJN Shoho was making her way to the scene when she came to the attention of a flight of Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers south of Bougainville. They attacked but caused minimal damage to the carrier.

However, misinformation led the Japanese Navy's attention away from American Task Force 17. On May 7th, TF 17, having sighted Shoho, responded with an air attack initially launched by the carrier USS Lexington. The first round revealed little but USS Yorktown's contribution in a second wave managed a pair of direct hits from 1,000 aerial bombs to the deck of Shoho. With restricted movement and a reduction in speed, Shoho could do little more than serve as a tempting target for further strikes. A combination of bombs and torpedoes wracked the light carrier which caused massive flames to erupt.

With the attack now over, the abandon ship signal was given. Shoho then rolled over to her side and began to sink. Of the 834 that were about her decks during the battle, just 255 or so were rescued from their fate. In what became the first carrier-versus-carrier battle in naval history, the Japanese Navy was on the losing side as the American Navy claimed the victory. 1942 also proved very critical for the IJN going forward as the Battle of Midway (June 4th - 7th) claimed a further four of its aircraft carriers - losses that would never - and could never - be replaced.

Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.
Operators
Global operator(s) of the IJN Shoho. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national naval warfare listing.
National flag of modern Japan

[ Imperial Japan ]
1 / 1
Image of the IJN Shoho
IJN Shoho shown from starboard side; Image from the Public Domain.

Going Further...
IJN Shoho Converted Light Carrier appears in the following collections:
HOME
NAVAL WARFARE INDEX
WARSHIPS BY COUNTRY
SHIPBUILDERS
COMPARE WARSHIPS
SHIPS BY CONFLICT
SHIPS BY TYPE
SHIPS BY DECADE
WWII NAVAL WARFARE
Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies

2024 Military Pay Scale Military Ranks of the World U.S. Department of Defense Dictionary Conversion Calculators Military Alphabet Code Military Map Symbols Breakdown U.S. 5-Star Generals List WWII Weapons by Country

The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org (World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft), WDMMW.org (World Directory of Modern Military Warships), SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane, and MilitaryRibbons.info, cataloguing military medals and ribbons. Special Interest: RailRoad Junction, the locomotive encyclopedia.


©2024 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2003-2024 (21yrs)