These were basically a copy of Soryu and Hiryu in that Japan could no longer afford to design any new ships. However all ships (except Unryu and Katsurgi) were sunk before they were ever deployed. In general the class is considered a failure. Few ships were completed before V-J day and those that were were sunk soon after they were completed. The ships that survived were scrapped soon after the war's end.


Unryu's Specs

Displacement: 22,400-22,800 tons full load

Dimensions: 731.5 x 72 x 25.5 feet/223 x 22 x 7.8 meters

Extreme Dimensions: 746 x 88.5 x 25.5 feet/227.4 x 27 x 7.8 meters

Propulsion: Steam turbines, 8 boilers, 4 shafts, 152,000 shp, 34 knots (Katsuragi, Aso: 104,000 shp, 32 knots)

Crew: 1595

Armor: 1.8-5.9 inch belt, 1-2.2 inch deck

Armament: 6 dual 5/40 DP, 51+ 25 mm AA

Aircraft: 65

Concept/Program: A final class of fast fleet carriers, but intended for strikes against US convoys, not fleet actions. They were intended to operate with large heavy cruiser screening forces.

Design: Generally similar to Hiryu but with starboard-side islands. Lightly built and intended for mass production. They used cruiser machinery, but two unit received destroyer machinery to speed prodution.

Departure from Service/Disposal: None ever deployed operationally. Many were incomplete at the end of the war; the survivors and hulks were scrapped postwar.

Ships of this class: Unryu, Katsuragi, Amagi, Kasagi, Iso, Ikoma




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