IJN Soryu

The IJN Soryu was an aircraft carrier used by the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. It was the first Japanese fleet carrier which was entirely designed as such, from the keel up, as older ones had been converted from battlecruisers into carriers, such as Hosho and Kaga. Powerful modern machinery and a cruiser-type hull gave her a very high speed.

Soryu was the basis for all subsequent Japanese fleet carriers. It was intended for the attack role, as it was fast and lightly built, with a large air group composed of 63 aircraft. It was laid down in 1934 and was completed three years later in 1937. To carry such large number of aircraft, two hangars were provided. It was also fitted with three elevators. Exhaust gases were vented through two downward-venting stacks on the starboard side.

Below, a photo of the IJN Soryu in 1937.

Operational History

Together with IJN Hiryu, Soryu formed the First Air Fleet's Carrier Division 2. She would see extensive service before her loss early in the war. Both carriers took part in the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Later, her dive bombers would provide fire support to the Japanese invasion of Dutch East Indies, also participating in the devastating attack on Port Darwin, Australia.

In April 1942 IJN Soryu took part in the Japanese raid into the Indian Ocean, attacking Colombo and Trincomalee in Ceylon. Along with Hiryu, she would be sunk during the Battle of Midway on June 4, 1942. She was attacked by US Navy dive bombers and hit by three bombs from USS Yorktown aircraft. As soon as she was hit, the carrier became ablaze as the fire spread quickly from fueled and armed aircraft.

Specifications

Type: fleet carrier

Displacement: 15,900 tons

Length: 227.5 m (746.5 feet)

Beam: 21.3 m (69.9 feet)

Draft: 7.62 m (25 feet)

Propulsion: 4 geared steam turbines, with 4 shafts, fed by 8 boilers, generating 152,000 HP.

Maximum Speed: 34.5 knots

Range: 7,680 nautical miles

Armament: twelve 127mm (5-in) guns; twenty eight 25mm AA guns mounted in double turrets.

Compliment: 1,100 sailors and officers

Below, Soryu aircraft carrier during the last stage of construction