World War II Database

Unryu, the lead ship of her class of aircraft carriers, was built upon a lighter design of the Soryu-class fleet carriers. She was commissioned in Aug 1944 with Captain Kaname Konishi in command as a part of the 1st Carrier Division of the Third Fleet. On 17 Dec 1944, she left Kure with 30 Ohka suicide rocket craft onboard, bound for Manila. On 19 Dec, she was found by American submarine Redfish. Redfish launched four bow torpedoes, and one of them hit Unryu under the bridge at 1635. Unryu and her escorts fired their guns in the direction where the torpedo originated. At 1650, another torpedo struck on the starboard side, under the forward elevator. The Ohka and aviation fuel were ignited, starting a fire in the lower deck hangar. The order to abandon ship was given, but the ship sank very quickly. 1,238 men were lost, including Konishi. The 147 survivors were picked up by destroyer Shigure, which brought them back to Sasebo on 22 Dec 1944.

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