Zuiho file photo [5701]

Zuiho

CountryJapan
Ship ClassZuiho-class Light Carrier
BuilderYokosuka Naval Arsenal
Laid Down20 Jun 1935
Launched19 Jun 1936
Commissioned27 Dec 1940
Sunk25 Oct 1944
Displacement11,443 tons standard; 13,950 tons full
Length674 feet
Beam60 feet
Draft21 feet
Machinery4 water-tube boilers, 2 geared steam turbines, 2 shafts
Power Output52,000 shaft horsepower
Speed28 knots
Range7,800nm at 18 knots
Crew785
Armament8x100mm (pre-1934), 4x100mm (post-1934), 56,x25mm anti-aircraft
Aircraft30 operational, 0 in reserve

Contributor:

ww2dbaseWhen Zuiho and her sister ship Shoho were laid down, they were of a flexible design that could eventually be completed as a light carrier, an oil tanker, or a submarine tender. She was originally launched in 1934 as the oil tanker Takasaki, but was converted to a light carrier in 1941. She was assigned to Carrier Division 3 in Jan 1941 and participated in the Japanese southward expansion in the opening chapters of the Pacific War at the end of that year. In Jun 1942, she carried 12 Zero fighters and 11 D3A dive bombers and sailed with the support fleet during the Midway operation, but did not engage in combat. In Oct 1942, with Carrier Division 1, she participated in the Battle of Santa Cruz and suffered serious flight deck damage by carrier Enterprise's aircraft. In early 1943, she supported the evacuation of Guadalcanal. In Feb 1944, she participated in the Battle of the Philippine Sea. In Oct 1944, during the Battle off Cape EngaƱo as a part of Jisaburo Ozawa's decoy fleet, the first wave of American attacks damaged her flight deck, but damage control crew quickly repaired the ship to working condition. However, she was eventually sunk by subsequent waves of American attacks in the same battle.

ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia.

Last Major Revision: Mar 2007

Light Carrier Zuiho Interactive Map

Photographs

Carrier Zuiho at Yokosuka, Japan, 28 Dec 1940Carrier Zuiho damaged during Battle off Cape EngaƱo, 25 Oct 1944; note battleship camouflage; as seen on page 68 of US Navy War Photographs

Zuiho Operational Timeline

27 Dec 1940 Zuiho was commissioned into service.
26 Oct 1942 At the Battle of Santa Cruz Islands, US forces achieved victory but saw USS Enterprise, USS South Dakota, and USS San Juan damaged. Aircraft carrier USS Hornet (Yorktown-class) was badly damaged from aerial bombs and torpedoes and then finally hit by three Type 93 torpedoes launched from Japanese destroyers Akigumo and Makigumo which caused her to sink 30 minutes later. On the Japanese side, carriers Shokaku and Zuiho were damaged by dive bombers from USS Hornet and USS Enterprise, respectively.
26 Oct 1942 Kumano screened the carriers Shokaku, Zuikaku, and Zuiho in the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands.
28 Feb 1943 Yugure took on ground support crews of carrier Zuiho and departed Wewak, Australian New Guinea at 1200 hours.
2 Mar 1943 Yugure arrived at Truk, Caroline Islands at 1300 hours and unloaded support crews of carrier Zuiho.




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Visitor Submitted Comments

1. Anonymous in Kanazawa says:
23 May 2011 10:20:01 PM

Errata point out.
Zuiho fitted with large caliber AA in 12.7cm (5") 2 x4 guns. Not 10 cm (4") AA guns.

Only *** carriers fitted with 10 cm AA guns is Taiho.

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Search WW2DB
More on Zuiho
Personnel:
» Kondo, Masaichi
» Minami, Yoshimi

Event(s) Participated:
» Invasion of the Philippine Islands
» Battle of Midway and the Aleutian Islands
» Solomon Islands Campaign
» Mariana Islands Campaign and the Great Turkey Shoot
» Philippines Campaign, Phase 1, the Leyte Campaign

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:
» Zuiho Tabular Record of Movement

Light Carrier Zuiho Photo Gallery
Carrier Zuiho at Yokosuka, Japan, 28 Dec 1940
See all 2 photographs of Light Carrier Zuiho


Famous WW2 Quote
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