Japanese aircraft carrier Unryū
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| Career |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | Unryū (雲龍) |
| Operator: | Imperial Japanese Navy |
| Builder: | Yokosuka Navy Yard |
| Laid down: | 1 August 1942 |
| Launched: | 25 September 1943 |
| Commissioned: | 6 August 1944 |
| Fate: | Torpedoed and sunk by the submarine USS Redfish on December 19, 1944. |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Unryū-class aircraft carrier |
| Displacement: | 17,150 tons |
| Propulsion: | Turbine engines |
| Speed: | 28 knots |
| Complement: | 1,600 |
| Armament: | 16 × 5 inch anti-aircraft guns 47 mm guns |
| Aircraft carried: | 57(+8). On her only major voyage a small number of Yokosuka D4Y and A6M Zeros were embarked. |
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.
[edit] Commanding Officers
Chief Equipping Officer - Capt. Kaname Konishi - 15 April 1944 - 6 August 1944
Capt. / RADM* Kaname Konishi - 6 August 1944 - 19 December 1944 (KIA)
[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 at position . 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.
[edit] See also
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