


Nisshin
Country | Japan |
Ship Class | Nisshin-class Seaplane Carrier |
Builder | Kure Naval Arsenal |
Laid Down | 1 Nov 1938 |
Launched | 30 Nov 1939 |
Commissioned | 27 Feb 1942 |
Sunk | 22 Jul 1943 |
Displacement | 11,317 tons standard; 12,300 tons full |
Length | 617 feet |
Beam | 65 feet |
Draft | 23 feet |
Machinery | 2 diesel engines |
Power Output | 47,000 shaft horsepower |
Speed | 28 knots |
Range | 11,000nm at ? knots |
Crew | 948 |
Armament | 6x0.50 cal, 18x25mm anti-aircraft, can carry up to 700 mines or 12 midget submarines instead of airc |
Aircraft | 20 |
Contributor: C. Peter Chen
ww2dbaseNisshin was a relatively large and fast ship intended to carry both combat seaplanes and mines. In early 1942 she was modified to be able to carry midget submarines instead of aircraft or mines. She sailed with the Main Body with motor torpedo boats and midget submarines at Battle of Midway, intending to supply these boats to the eventual Midway garrison, but the occupation of that island never took place. During the Guadalcanal campaign she made at least four "Tokyo Express" runs to supply the ground groops on the island of Guadalcalanl, including supplying the troops with their first artillery pieces during the Battle of Cape Esperance on the night of 11 Oct 1942; some of these artillery pieces can still be found on the island today.
ww2dbaseNisshin was sunk off Bougainville on 22 Jul 1943 during a transport mission.
ww2dbaseSource: Naval Historical Center
Last Major Revision: Mar 2006
Nisshin Operational Timeline
27 Feb 1942 | Nisshin was commissioned into service. |
3 Oct 1942 | American SBD and TBF aircraft from Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands attacked and damaged seaplane carrier Nisshin. |
12 Oct 1942 | Yugure and Yura escorted Nisshin and Chitose after Battle of Cape Esperance off Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. |
Photographs
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General Douglas MacArthur at Leyte, 17 Oct 1944