Japanese aircraft carrier Unryū

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The Japanese aircraft carrier Unryū (雲龍) was a fleet aircraft carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy which served during World War II. The name Unryū means literally "cloud dragon", and bears the allusion "Heavenward Bound Dragon Riding the Clouds".

The name vessel of the Unryū class, the Unryū was a lightly built carrier design based on the Hiryū class.

1 Build
2 Specification
3 Command
4 Final voyage
5 See also

[edit] Build

Built at: Yokosuka Navy Yard
Laid down: August 1, 1942
Launched: September 25, 1943
Completed: August 6, 1944

[edit] Specification

Length:
Width:
Displacement: 17,150 tons
Speed: 28 knots
Power: Turbine engines
Armament: 16 5 inch A.A. guns; 47 mm guns

Capacity: 65 aircraft. On her only major voyage a small number of Yokosuka D4Y "Judys" and A6M Zeros were embarked.

Crew: Normal manning 1,600

[edit] Command

Commanding Officer: Captain Kaname Konishi
Assigned to the Imperial Japanese Navy Third Fleet, 1st Carrier Division on August 6, 1944.

[edit] Final voyage

On December 13, 1944 Unryū loaded 30 "Ōhka" suicide rockets of the Thunder-Gods Corps for transport to Manila.

On December 17, 1944 Unryū departed Kure, Hiroshima escorted by Shigure, Hinoki, and Momi under the overall command of Captain Konishi. Unryū was bound for Mindoro and Manila in the Philippines on her maiden sea voyage to confront the US invasion forces in the Luzon landings.

On December 19, 1944, Unryū was torpedoed and sunk by the submarine USS Redfish. Redfish fired four bow torpedoes, one of which hit under the bridge on the starboard side at 16:35, stopping the carrier dead in the water. Unryū engaged with all her starboard side guns. A second torpedo struck at 16:50 on the starboard side, under the forward elevator setting off the Ohka bombs and aviation fuel stored in the lower deck hangar.

Once the boiler rooms flooded, the ship listed to 30 degrees and the order to abandon ship was given. With a 90 degree list, the ship sank to the bed of the East China Sea in just seven minutes. Casualties were great: Captain Kaname Konishi and 1,238 officers and men lost their lives. Only one officer and 146 men survived and were rescued by the escort destroyer Shigure, which returned to Sasebo, Nagasaki on 22 December.