Japan's Soryu class fleet aircraft carriers

Photos

Design

As part of the Second Reinforcement Program of 1934 the Navy wanted a carrier design that future designs would be based on.²

Soryu was designed based on experience with the Ryujo.^1,2 The Soryu was the first Japanese carrier to be designed from the keep up.^4,5 The design for the Soryu was still under the London Naval Treaty restrictions however when the Hiryu was to be built it wasn't.^1,2,6

The Hiryu's forecastle deck was one level higher than Soryu's.^1,2,3 After the 4th Fleet suffered storm damage it was decided to build Hiryu with a stronger hull and beam to improve stability.^5,6

Hangars

There were three elevators serving the two hangars on the Soryu and the Hiryu.^3,4,5,6

The upper hangar was 520' long and the lower 420'.⁶

Bridge

Hiryu's bridge was on the port side near the middle of the deck and Soryu's was on the starboard side more forward.^1,2,4,5,6 Hiryu's placement caused problems with air currents and reduced the area for aircraft landing.^1,2,4,5

The funnels on the Soryu were just in back of the bridge and went horizontally and then downward.^2,3,5

Ships

IJN Hiryu (flying dragon⁵)

• Manufacturer: Yokosuka Navy Yard^1,2,3,5,6
• July 8, 1936: Laid down.^5,6
• November 16, 1937: Launched^1,2,3,5,6
• July 5, 1939: Commissioned^2,3,5,6
• 1939 - June 1942: Member of Carrier Division 2.^2,4,5
• 1939: China.⁶
• December 6, 1941: Pearl Harbor attack.^2,4,5,6
• December 21, 1941: Supported attack on Wake Island.^2,4,5,6
• January 24 - 25, 1942: Attack on Ambon.²
• February 1942⁶, February 19, 1942: Darwin.^2,4
• March 1, 1942: Java.²
• March 3, 1942: Tjilatjap.²
• March 1942⁶, March 26 - April 22, 1942: Indian Ocean operations.^2,5,6 Helped sink HMS Cornwall, HMS Dorsetshire, and HMS Hermes.⁶
• April 5, 1942: Colombo^2,4
• April 9, 1942: Trincomalee^2,4
• June 4, 1942: Attacks on USS Yorktown.²
• June 5, 1942: Sunk at Battle of Midway.^2,3,5,6

IJN Soryu (deep blue dragon⁵)

• Manufacturer: Kure Navy Yard^1,2,3,5,6
• November 20, 1934: Laid down.^5,6
• December 21, 1935⁶, December 23, 1935: Launched^1,2,3,5,6
• January 29, 1937⁶, December 29, 1937: Commissioned^2,3,5,6
• 1939 - June 1942: Member of Carrier Division 2.^2,4,5
• 1939: China.⁶
• December 6, 1941: Pearl Harbor attack.^2,4,5,6
• December 21, 1941: Supported attack on Wake Island.^2,4,5,6
• January 24 - 25, 1942: Attack on Ambon.²
• February 1942⁶, February 19, 1942: Darwin.^2,4,6
• March 1, 1942: Java.² Sank USS Pecos.²
• March 3, 1942: Tjilatjap.²
• March 1942⁶, March 26 - April 22, 1942: Indian Ocean operations.^2,5,6 Helped sink HMS Cornwall, HMS Dorsetshire, and HMS Hermes.⁶
• April 5, 1942: Colombo^2,4
• April 9, 1942: Trincomalee^2,4
• June 4, 1942, June 6, 1942²: Sunk at Battle of Midway.^2,3,5,6

Usage

Pearl Harbor

The Soryu carried 18 fighters, 18 bombers, and 18 torpedo bombers for the attack on Pearl Harbor.²

Battle of Midway

The Hiryu and Soryu made up the 2nd Carrier Division and were sunk at the Battle of Midway.¹ The Soryu carried 21 fighters, 21 bombers, and 21 torpedo bombers,²

The Hiryu was set on fire by aircraft from the USS Yorktown and USS Enterprise on June 4, 1942.^2,4,5,6 She was scuttled the next day by the Kazegumo², Makigumo⁶, and Yugumo².

The Soryu was set on fire by aircraft from the USS Yorktown and later blew up on June 4, 1942.^2,4,5,6

 

Specifications