SORYU

Soryu was one of the first third generation aircraft carriers within the Kaigun, (Imperial Japanese Navy). It entered service on December 29, 1937 and was the first Japanese aircraft carrier to have a small command tower since its conception, in this case to starboard. Usually another ship is assigned to its same class, the Hiryu, but due to several notable differences the Hiryu is considered a class in itself. Soryu had a rectangular flight deck of 216.8 x 26.0 meters and three lifts. One lift was located in the bow, on the ship’s axis, and two were in the second half of the ship, a little diverted to starboard. At the beginning of WWII, its embarked wing consisted of 54 aircraft and that was formed by 18 “Zero” fighters, 18 “Val” dive bombers and 18 “Kate” torpedo bombers. In the early stages of War, Soryu and Hiryu ships formed the 2nd Aircraft Carriers Naval Division commanded by Admiral Yamaguchi. She participated in the attack on Pearl Harbor and was sunk on June 4, 1942 during the Battle of Midway after being hit by three bombs.

SORYU gallery and more info

Información adicional

Ficha Completa
Country of origin

Japan

Builder

Kure Naval Arsenal

Type

Aircraft carrier

Entered service

1937

Complement

1,100

Displacement, (full load)

20,500 tonnes

Dimensions (length x beam x draught)

227.52 x 21.33 x 7.61 meters

Flight deck, (length x width)

216.80 x 26.00 meters

Armour, (maximum)

Steel: Belt: 45mm – Armoured deck: 25mm

Machinery

8 x Kampon water tube boilers – 4 steam geared turbines

Power, (total)

153,000 shp

Shafts - Screws

4 shafts – 4 screws

Speed

34 knots (63 km/h)

Bunkerage

3,670 tonnes of fuel oil

Range

7,750 n. miles (14,337 km) at 18 knots

Aircraft

57 operational aircrafts and 15 in reserve

Main guns

12 x 127mm Type 89 dual-purpose guns in double mounts

AA guns

14 x 25 mm Type 96 twin guns