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Ryuho file photo [5703]

Ryuho

CountryJapan
Ship ClassRyuho-class Aircraft Carrier
BuilderYokosuka Naval Arsenal
Laid Down12 Apr 1933
Launched16 Nov 1933
Commissioned1 Nov 1942
Decommissioned30 Nov 1945
Displacement16,700 tons standard
Length708 feet
Beam64 feet
Draft22 feet
Machinery4 Kampon water-tube boilers, 2 geared steam turbines, 2 shafts
Power Output52,000 shaft horsepower
Speed26 knots
Range8,000nm at 18 knots
Crew989
Armament1942: 4x2x12.7cm dual-purpose guns, 10x3x25mm anti-aircraft guns, 6 depth charges; 1945: 4x2x12.7cm dual-purpose guns, 10x3x25mm anti-aircraft guns, 4x2x25mm anti-aircraft guns, 23x25mm anti-aircraft guns, 6x13mm anti-aircraft guns, 6 depth charges, 6x12cm rocket launchers
Aircraft30 operational, 0 in reserve
Converted to Light Carrier30 Nov 1942

Contributor:

ww2dbaseIn Dec 1941, submarine depot ship Taigei was decommissioned and drydocked at the Yokosuka Naval Shipyard, Japan, undergoing a conversion to become an aircraft carrier. In Apr 1942, she was the only ship to become damaged by the Doolittle Raiders (500-pound bomb on the bow, plus several incendiary bomb hits). When the ship re-emerged on 30 Nov 1942, the carrier was re-christened Ryuho. The newly converted carrier joined the 3rd Fleet. In Dec 1942, she ferried 20 light bombers with their crews from Japan to Truk. At 0910 hours on 12 Dec, she was hit by a torpedo on the starboard side from the American submarine Drum, forcing her to spend time at Yokosuka for repairs. On 13 Mar 1943, she began a series of ferrying missions between various Japanese bases in from Singapore to the Central Pacific Ocean. In May 1944, she joined the Combined Fleet at Tawi Tawi, Philippine Islands. In the following month, she participated in the Battle of the Philippine Sea, launching aircraft against US Navy Task Force 58 and nearly lost all of them. At 0610 hours on the next day, 20 Jun, her group was attacked by TBF Avenger torpedo bombers from the carrier USS Enterprise, damaging her from near misses. Deprived of most of her aircraft after the battle, she returned to Japan for patrol and training missions. On 25 Oct 1944, she returned to ferrying duty by transporting aircraft from Sasebo, Japan to Keelung, Taiwan. Between 7 and 15 Nov, she was briefly the flagship of Admiral Jisaburo Ozawa. On 31 Dec 1944, she set sail for Taiwan once again with a load of 58 Ohka special attack aircraft, accompanied by 9 empty oil tankers bound for Singapore, escorted by destroyers Hamakaze, Isokaze, Yukikaze, Shigure, and Hatakaze. After successfully disembarking the aircraft, she was found by 12 American TBF Avenger aircraft, but none scored a hit while Ryuho's anti-aircraft guns shot down one of the torpedo bombers. She departed for Japan on 12 Jan with Isokaze in escort, arriving at Kure, Japan on 18 Jan. This was to be the last Japanese carrier mission outside Japanese waters.

ww2dbaseOn 19 Mar, Ryuho was attacked near Kure, receiving three 500-pound bomb hits and two 140-millimeter rocket hits. Her flight deck was severely damaged between her two elevators, the No. 1 boiler was punctured, the stern settled two meters into the water, and a fire broke out. 20 were killed and 30 were wounded in the attack. She made it to Kure on 1 Apr, but since Japan no longer had aircraft to operate from carriers, it was decided that she was not to be repaired. After the war, she was scrapped in 1946.

ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia.

Last Major Revision: Mar 2009

Aircraft Carrier Ryuho Interactive Map

Photographs

Japanese submarine depot ship Taigei, Kure, Japan, spring 1935; she was later converted to light carrier RyuhoJapanese carrier Ryuho, 1942
See all 4 photographs of Aircraft Carrier Ryuho

Ryuho Operational Timeline

12 Apr 1933 The keel of submarine tender Taigei was laid down.
16 Nov 1933 Submarine tender Taigei was commissioned into service.
31 Mar 1934 Submarine tender Taigei was commissioned into service.
20 Dec 1941 Submarine tender Taigei was assigned to the Japanese Navy Kure Naval District as Reserve Ship No. 3, and was taken out of service for conversion under the supervision of Captain Tatsuo Kiyama.
18 Apr 1942 Submarine tender Taigei was lightly damaged by US air attack at Yokosuka, Japan; 7 casualties were recorded.
23 Apr 1942 Captain Shinshiro Soma was named the commanding officer of submarine tender Taigei.
20 Oct 1942 Submarine tender Taigei was assigned to the Japanese Navy Maizuru Naval District as Reserve Ship No. 1.
1 Nov 1942 Captain Yoshio Kamei was named the commanding officer of submarine tender Taigei.
30 Nov 1942 Submarine tender Taigei completed her conversion work and was recommissioned into service as light aircraft carrier Ryuho with Captain Nobishiro Soma in command.
11 Dec 1942 Light carrier Ryuho departed Yokosuka, Japan for Truk, Caroline Islands, escorted by destroyer Tokitsukaze. She had on board 20 light bombers and their pilots.
12 Dec 1942 Light carrier Ryuho was attacked by US submarine USS Drum 160 mlies east of Hachijojima, Japan at 0910 hours, suffering one torpedo hit on the starboard side, which forced her to return to Japan for repairs.
14 Dec 1942 Light carrier Ryuho arrived at Yokosuka, Japan.
16 Dec 1942 Light carrier Ryuho entered the drydock at Yokosuka, Japan for repairs.
10 Feb 1943 Light carrier Ryuho completed her repairs and exited the drydock at Yokosuka, Japan.
19 Mar 1943 Light carrier Ryuho departed Yokosuka, Japan for the Oita, Japan region of the Inland Sea.
20 Mar 1943 Light carrier Ryuho arrived in the Inland Sea in Japanese waters.
11 Jun 1943 Light carrier Ryuho departed Hashirajima, Japan for Yokosuka, Japan to embark the air group of carrier Hiyo, which was damaged in action on the previous day.
12 Jun 1943 Light carrier Ryuho was transferred from the 3rd Force of the Mobile Force Training Force to Carrier Division 2 of the 3rd Fleet.
13 Jun 1943 Light carrier Ryuho arrived at Yokosuka, Japan.
16 Jun 1943 Ryuho, Yugure, Yukikaze, and Ariake departed Yokosuka, Japan at 1100 hours.
21 Jun 1943 Ryuho, Yukikaze, Naka, and Yugure arrived at Truk, Caroline Islands. Yugure would begin a period of maintenance and refitting at Truk.
10 Jul 1943 Light carrier Ryuho was assigned to the Main Unit of the Mobile Force of Carrier Division 2 of the Third Fleet.
19 Jul 1943 Light carrier Ryuho departed Truk, Caroline Islands for Kure, Japan.
24 Jul 1943 Light carrier Ryuho arrived at Kure, Japan and was assigned to the Maintenance Force of the Mobile Force of Carrier Division 2 of the Third Fleet.
30 Aug 1943 Light carrier Ryuho disembarked the air group originally from carrier Hiyo as Hiyo's repairs were completed.
2 Sep 1943 Light carrier Ryuho was assigned to the Standby Force of the Mobile Force of Carrier Division 2 of the Third Fleet.
22 Sep 1943 Light carrier Ryuho entered the drydocks at Kure, Japan.
27 Sep 1943 Light carrier Ryuho exited the drydocks at Kure, Japan.
6 Oct 1943 Light carrier Ryuho departed Kure, Japan.
10 Oct 1943 Light carrier Ryuho arrived at Saeki, Japan.
11 Oct 1943 Light carrier Ryuho departed Saeki, Japan for Singapore.
15 Oct 1943 Light carrier Ryuho arrived at Sama (now Sanya), Hainan, China.
16 Oct 1943 Light carrier Ryuho departed Sama (now Sanya), Hainan, China.
19 Oct 1943 Light carrier Ryuho arrived at Seletar, Singapore.
26 Oct 1943 Light carrier Ryuho departed Singapore.
30 Oct 1943 Light carrier Ryuho arrived at Sama (now Sanya), Hainan, China.
1 Nov 1943 Light carrier Ryuho departed Sama (now Sanya), Hainan, China.
5 Nov 1943 Light carrier Ryuho arrived at Kure, Japan.
25 Nov 1943 Light carrier Ryuho departed the Inland Sea in Japanese Wars for Tairajima, Bonin Islands.
29 Nov 1943 Light carrier Ryuho arrived at Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands.
30 Nov 1943 Light carrier Ryuho departed Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands.
3 Dec 1943 Light carrier Ryuho arrived at Singapore.
11 Dec 1943 Light carrier Ryuho departed Singapore.
14 Dec 1943 Light carrier Ryuho arrived at Tarakan, Dutch Borneo. Later on the same day, she departed for the Palau Islands.
18 Dec 1943 Light carrier Ryuho arrived at the Palau Islands.
19 Dec 1943 Light carrier Ryuho departed Palau Islands.
22 Dec 1943 Light carrier Ryuho arrived at Truk, Caroline Islands.
27 Dec 1943 Light carrier Ryuho departed Truk, Caroline Islands.
29 Dec 1943 Light carrier Ryuho arrived at Saipan, Mariana Islands. Later on the same day she departed for Japan.
2 Jan 1944 Light carrier Ryuho arrived at Kure, Japan.
17 Jan 1944 Light carrier Ryuho entered the drydocks at Innoshima, Hiroshima, Japan.
28 Jan 1944 Light carrier Ryuho exited the drydocks at Innoshima, Hiroshima, Japan and moved to Kure, Japan.
16 Mar 1944 Captain Yoshi Matsuura was named the commanding officer of light carrier Ryuho.
30 Mar 1944 Light carrier Ryuho departed the Inland Sea in Japanese waters.
1 Apr 1944 Light carrier Ryuho arrived at Saipan, Mariana Islands.
3 Apr 1944 Light carrier Ryuho departed Saipan, Mariana Islands.
8 Apr 1944 Light carrier Ryuho arrived at Kure, Japan.
22 Apr 1944 Light carrier Ryuho departed Kure, Japan for Taira, Bonin Islands.
27 Apr 1944 Light carrier Ryuho arrived at Kure, Japan.
29 Apr 1944 Light carrier Ryuho departed Kure, Japan for Iwakuni, Japan.
11 May 1944 Light carrier Ryuho departed Saeki, Japan for Tawi-Tawi, Mindanao, Philippine Islands.
16 May 1944 Light carrier Ryuho arrived at Tawi-Tawi, Mindanao, Philippine Islands.
13 Jun 1944 Light carrier Ryuho departed Tawi-Tawi, Mindanao, Philippine Islands.
14 Jun 1944 Light carrier Ryuho arrived at Guimaras, Philippine Islands.
15 Jun 1944 Light carrier Ryuho departed Guimaras, Philippine Islands to join what would become the Battle of the Philippine Sea.
20 Jun 1944 Light carrier Ryuho was slightly damaged by US TBF aircraft at 1810 hours during the Battle of the Philippine Sea.
22 Jun 1944 Light carrier Ryuho arrived at Okinawa, Japan.
23 Jun 1944 Light carrier Ryuho departed Okinawa, Japan.
24 Jun 1944 Light carrier Ryuho arrived at Hashirajima, Japan.
3 Jul 1944 Light carrier Ryuho arrived at Kure, Japan.
10 Jul 1944 Light carrier Ryuho was transferred from Carrier Division 2 to Carrier Division 1 within the 3rd Fleet.
11 Jul 1944 Light carrier Ryuho entered the drydocks at Kure, Japan.
20 Jul 1944 Light carrier Ryuho completed her flight deck repairs and exited the drydocks at Kure, Japan.
10 Aug 1944 Light carrier Ryuho was assigned to Carrier Division 4 of the 3rd Fleet.
13 Aug 1944 Light carrier Ryuho departed Kure, Japan and arrived at Hashirajima, Japan.
22 Aug 1944 Light carrier Ryuho departed Hashirajima, Japan for Yashima, Japan.
26 Aug 1944 Light carrier Ryuho arrived at Hashirajima, Japan and was transferred from Carrier Division 1 to Carrier Division 4 within the 3rd Fleet.
10 Sep 1944 Light carrier Ryuho departed Hashirajima, Japan for Yashima, Japan.
29 Sep 1944 Light carrier Ryuho arrived at Hashirajima, Japan.
25 Oct 1944 Light carrier Ryuho departed Sasebo, Japan.
27 Oct 1944 Light carrier Ryuho arrived at Kirun (now Keelung), Taiwan and disembarked aviation materials.
30 Oct 1944 Light carrier Ryuho departed Kirun (now Keelung), Taiwan.
2 Nov 1944 Light carrier Ryuho arrived at Kure, Japan.
6 Nov 1944 Light carrier Ryuho departed Kure, Japan, arriving at Otake, Japan later on the same day.
7 Nov 1944 Light carrier Ryuho departed Otake, Japan and arrived at Kure, Japan later on the same day. Upon arrival at Kure, she was made the flagship of Admiral Jisaburo Ozawa.
11 Nov 1944 Light carrier Ryuho departed Kure, Japan and arrived at Uji, Japan later on the same day.
12 Nov 1944 Light carrier Ryuho departed Uji, Japan and arrived at Kure, Japan later on the same day.
15 Nov 1944 Light carrier Ryuho disembarked Admiral Jisaburo Ozawa and was relieved of duty as the admiral's flagship. As the Mobile Fleet was disbanded, she was transferred to Carrier Division 1 of the Combined Fleet.
21 Nov 1944 Light carrier Ryuho departed Kure, Japan and arrived at Matsuyama, Japan later on the same day.
13 Dec 1944 Light carrier Ryuho received orders to embark Ohka weapons for delivery to Taiwan and Philippine Islands.
28 Dec 1944 Light carrier Ryuho departed Kure, Japan for Moji, Japan.
31 Dec 1944 Light carrier Ryuho departed Moji, Japan with convoy HI-87 with 58 Ohka weapons on board.
9 Jan 1945 Light carrier Ryuho, sailing with Japanese convoy HI-87, came under air attack off Taiwan and claimed to have enaged 12 US TBF aircraft and shot down 1.
12 Jan 1945 Light carrier Ryuho departed for Japan.
18 Jan 1945 Light carrier Ryuho arrived at Kure, Japan at 0930 hours.
20 Jan 1945 Captain Chojuro Takahashi was named the commanding officer of light carrier Ryuho.
19 Mar 1945 Light carrier Ryuho was damaged by three bombs and two rockets delivered by US aircraft at Kure, Japan between 0720 and 0905 hours. 20 were killed and 30 were wounded. Her flight deck and boiler room were damaged, and a gash on the port side caused her to settle in six feet of water on the aft side.
31 Mar 1945 Light carrier Ryuho's anti-aircraft weapons fired on attacking US aircraft at Kure, Japan.
1 Apr 1945 Light carrier Ryuho entered the drydocks at Kure, Japan for repairs; the repair would be halted shortly after as the damage was judged to be too extensive.
20 Apr 1945 Light carrier Ryuho was transferred from Carrier Division 1 of the 2nd Fleet to the Japanese Navy Kure Naval District Force as Reserve Ship No. 4.
24 Apr 1945 Light carrier Ryuho was attacked by US aircraft at Etajima near Kure, Japan, receiving no damage.
28 Apr 1945 Captain Chojuro Takahashi was relieved as the commanding officer of light carrier Ryuho; Captain Hojima was assigned to oversee the damaged carrier until the end of the war. On the same day, the carrier was attacked by US aircraft at Etajima near Kure, Japan, receiving no damage.
24 Jul 1945 British TF 37 launched 416 sorties, 261 of which were sent against the Japanese home islands and 155 were for defensive patrols; escort carrier Kaiyo was damaged by British carrier planes. On the same day, American TF 38 launched 600 aircraft against Kure, Nagoya, Osaka, and Miho, sinking battleship-carrier Hyuga, heavy cruiser Tone, and target ship Settsu, and damaging carrier Ryuho, carrier Amagi, battleship-carrier Ise, battleship Haruna, heavy cruiser Aoba, light cruiser Oyodo, transport Kiyokawa Maru; the Aichi aircraft factories at Nagoya were seriously damaged.
30 Nov 1945 Light carrier Ryuho was removed from the Japanese Navy List.




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Visitor Submitted Comments

1. Anonymous says:
5 Aug 2012 12:12:07 PM

I am interested in the aircraft carrier Ryuho. In her first conversion, she had a shorter flight deck. Later it was extended. Did this take place before or after the Turkey Shoot? If you know, can you list your sources as well? Thank you.

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More on Ryuho
Personnel:
» Ozawa, Jisaburo

Event(s) Participated:
» Mariana Islands Campaign and the Great Turkey Shoot

Document(s):
» Japanese Aircraft Carrier Functions
» Japanese Aircraft Carrier Operational Status By Month
» Japanese Aircraft Carrier Specifications
» Japanese Aircraft Carrier Time Operational

Partner Sites Content:
» Ryuho Tabular Record of Movement

Aircraft Carrier Ryuho Photo Gallery
Japanese submarine depot ship Taigei, Kure, Japan, spring 1935; she was later converted to light carrier RyuhoJapanese carrier Ryuho, 1942
See all 4 photographs of Aircraft Carrier Ryuho


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