Japanese aircraft carrier Chuyo
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| Career |  |
|---|---|
| Laid down: | 9 May 1938 |
| Launched: | 20 May 1939 |
| Commissioned (as carrier): | 25 Nov 1942 |
| Fate: | Sunk by the submarine USS Sailfish December 4th 1943 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 17,830 tons standard 19,500 tons max. |
| Length: | 173.7 m waterline 180.4 m overall |
| Beam: | 22.5 m |
| Draught: | 7.74 m |
| Propulsion: | 4 Kampon water-tube boilers 2 Kampon geared steam turbines 25,200 shp (18,522 kW) 2 shafts, 1 rudder |
| Speed: | 21 knots |
| Range: | 6,500 nmi. (12,000 km) at 18 knots Other sources: 8,500 nmi. |
| Complement: | 850 |
| Armament: | Upon completion as escort carrier:
From August 1943:
|
| Armor: | 25 mm side belt over machinery spaces and magazines |
| Aircraft: | 27 |
Chuyo was a Taiyō class escort carrier operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy in World War II.
[edit] Construction and Conversion
The Nitta Maru (新田丸) liner of the shipping line Nippon Yusen, laid down in the Mitsubishi shipyard in Nagasaki in May 1938, launched in May 1939 and commissioned on March 23rd 1940, was requisitioned for the transportation of military stores and personnel in February 1941. Nitta Maru completed a few such voyages, including the transportation of American Prisoners of War from Wake Island to Japan.
After the Battle of Midway, it was decided to convert her to an escort aircraft carrier. The conversion took place in Kure between July 1st and September 25th 1942. She was renamed Chuyo (冲鷹,"high seas falcon").
Her flight deck measured 150x23 meters and was equipped with 2 elevators. She had no island, catapults or arresting gear.
[edit] Operational History
Chuyo was used primarily for flight training and aircraft transport. She often sailed with her sisterships Taiyō and Unyo.
On December 4th 1943, Chuyo and Unyo were sailing from Truk to Yokosuka, carrying the prisoners of war the Japanese took from the submarine USS Sculpin, when Chuyo was hit by a torpedo fired by USS Sailfish. During the next few hours, the submarine attacked the damaged carrier two more times. After taking a total of four of five torpedoes, Chuyo sank quickly, taking about 1250 people with her, including 20 out of the 21 prisoners of war she had carried.
[edit] Notes and references
- Dr. Bak József et al (1984): Hadihajók. Típuskönyv.
Zrínyi Katonai Kiadó. ISBN 963-326-326-3
- Imperial Japanese Navy Page
- Carriers of World War Two
- [1]
- Naval Weapons of the World
- Warship.get.pl
- [2]
| Taiyō-class aircraft carrier |
| List of ships of the Japanese Navy |
