Japanese aircraft carrier Unyō

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Career IJN Ensign
Laid down: 14 Dec 1938
Launched: 31 Oct 1939
Commissioned: 31 May 1942
Fate: Sunk by the submarine USS Barb (SS-220), 17 September 1944
General characteristics
Displacement: 17,830 tons standard
19,500 tons max.
Length: 173.7 m waterline
180.4 m overall
Beam: 22.5 m
Draft: 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 (39 km/h)
Range: 6,500 nmi. (12,000 km) at 18 knots
Other sources: 8,500 nmi.
Complement: 850
Armament:

Upon completion as escort carrier:

  • 6 x 120 mm L/45 AA guns (10th Year Type)
  • 4 x 2 25 mm L/60 AA guns (Type 96)

From 1943:

  • 4 x 2 127 mm L/40 AA guns (Type 89)
  • 16 x 25 mm L/60 AA guns (Type 96)

From July 1944:

  • 2 x 2 127 mm L/40 AA guns (Type 89)
  • 64 x 25 mm L/60 AA guns (Type 96)
  • 10 x 13.2 mm L/76 AA machine guns (Type 93)
Armor: 25 mm side belt over machinery spaces and magazines
Aircraft carried: 27

Unyō was a Taiyō-class escort carrier operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy in World War II.

Contents

[edit] Construction and conversion

The Yawata Maru (八幡丸) liner of the shipping line Nippon Yusen, laid down in the Mitsubishi shipyard in Nagasaki in December 1938, launched in October 1939 and commissioned in July 1940, was requisitioned by the Imperial Japanese Navy in October 1941. Between November 25, 1941, and May 31, 1942, Yawata Maru was rebuilt in Kure to an auxiliary aircraft carrier. Her flight deck measured 150 x 23 meters and was equipped with two elevators. She had no island, catapults or arresting gear. On July 31, 1942, she was reclassified as an escort carrier and renamed Unyo (雲鷹, "cloud hawk”).

[edit] Operational history

Unyo was used primarily for flight training and aircraft transport. She often sailed with her sister-ships Taiyō and Chuyo.

On July 10, 1943 she was hit by a single torpedo off Truk, fired by USS Halibut.

On January 19, 1944, while en route to Yokosuka, she was hit and heavily damaged by three torpedoes fired by the USS Haddock. While sheltering at Garapan Anchorage, Saipan on January 23 a follow-up attack by Halibut was driven off. Following repairs, she was back in service by June 1944.

On September 17, 1944, Unyo was struck by two torpedoes fired by the USS Barb. Her crew’s struggle to keep Unyo afloat was not successful. Of the approximately 1,000 persons aboard (crew and passengers), there were 761 rescued.

[edit] Commanding Officers

Chief Equipping Officer - Capt. Keisho Minato - 10 December 1941 - 31 May 1942

Capt. Keisho Minato - 31 May 1942 - 28 January 1943

Capt. Ichiro Aitoku - 28 January 1943 - 14 April 1943

Capt. Ikuya Seki - 14 April 1943 - 1 March 1944

Capt. Shiro Hiratsuka - 1 March 1944 - 1 July 1944

Capt. / RADM* Ikuzo Kimura - 1 July 1944 - 17 September 1944 (KIA)

[edit] Notes and references

v • d • e
Taiyō-class aircraft carrier

Taiyō | Chuyō | Unyō | Kaiyo |
List of ships of the Japanese Navy
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