Shokaku

Shokaku was a leading aircraft carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. The lead ship of her class, she was commissioned in August 1941 and formed, with her sister ship Zuikaku, the core of the Kido Butai, the Japanese carrier forces. Renowned for her speed, protection, and large air group, she participated in most major carrier battles of the Pacific War before being sunk in June 1944.

Design and construction

The *Shokaku*-class carriers were designed under the constraints of the now-abrogated Second London Naval Treaty, incorporating lessons from earlier carriers like Akagi and Kaga. Constructed at the Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, her design emphasized a balanced combination of offensive air power, high speed, and substantial armor protection, including a sophisticated torpedo bulge system. She featured a large, single hangar deck serviced by two elevators and was armed with the new Type 89 dual-purpose guns and later, numerous 25 mm anti-aircraft guns. Her machinery plant, developing 160,000 shaft horsepower, was among the most powerful installed in any warship of the era, enabling a top speed exceeding 34 knots.

Service history

Following her commissioning, *Shokaku* was assigned to the Fifth Carrier Division alongside *Zuikaku* and began intensive training in the Seto Inland Sea. She served as the flagship for Rear Admiral Chuichi Hara during the opening months of the war. Her combat debut was the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, where her air group targeted Hickam Field and other military installations on Oahu. In early 1942, she supported operations across the southern front, including the invasion of Rabaul and the destructive Indian Ocean raid against Royal Navy bases in Ceylon and British India.

Battle of the Coral Sea

During the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942, *Shokaku* and *Zuikaku* formed the backbone of the Japanese invasion force aimed at Port Moresby. On 8 May, in history's first carrier duel where opposing ships never sighted each other, her aircraft severely damaged the American carrier USS *Lexington* and hit USS *Yorktown*. However, *Shokaku* herself was struck by three bombs from SBD Dauntless dive bombers from *Yorktown* and *Lexington*, causing serious flight deck damage and heavy casualties. While she survived, the damage and aircraft losses prevented her participation in the subsequent Battle of Midway.

Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands

After repairs, *Shokaku* returned to the Solomon Islands campaign, engaging in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons before the climactic Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands in October 1942. There, her air group again attacked *USS Hornet (CV-8)*, contributing to its sinking. In return, she was subjected to a concentrated assault by American aircraft from USS *Enterprise* and *Hornet*. *Shokaku* was hit by four to six bombs from Scouting Squadron Ten and Bombing Squadron Ten, starting massive fires and forcing her withdrawal from the battle. Her robust damage control, however, allowed her to escape sinking.

Loss at the Battle of the Philippine Sea

Following a lengthy refit, *Shokaku* was part of the First Mobile Fleet under Vice Admiral Jisaburo Ozawa during the Battle of the Philippine Sea in June 1944. On 19 June, while launching aircraft for strikes against the United States Fifth Fleet under Admiral Raymond Spruance, she was stalked by the American submarine USS *Cavalla*. *Cavalla* fired a spread of six torpedoes, with three or four striking *Shokaku*'s starboard side. The hits ignited aviation fuel vapors from her damaged fueling system, triggering uncontrollable fires and secondary explosions. She sank quickly by the bow, taking down Captain Hiroshi Matsubara and approximately 1,272 of her crew.

Category:Aircraft carriers of the Imperial Japanese Navy Category:Shokaku-class aircraft carriers Category:World War II aircraft carriers of Japan Category:Ships sunk by American submarines