WW2 Japanese Navy

IJN Kaga (1927) Japan, 1927. Fleet Aircraft Carrier The Kaga, second IJN fleet aircraft carrier IJN Kaga was the third IJN carrier to enter service, converted, as her sister ship Akagi, on a cancelled capital ship of the original 8-8 plan, according to the Washington treaty. But contrary to the former, Kaga was not the … Read more

IJN Akagi (1925) Japan, 1925. Fleet Aircraft Carrier The Akagi, first IJN fleet aircraft carrier: IJN Akagi was the second IJN carrier to enter service, converted, as her sister ship Kaga later, on a cancelled capital from “8-8 plan” due to the Washington treaty limitations. With Kaga, the Zuikaku class, IJN Hiryu and IJN Soryu, … Read more

Heavy Cruisers Nachi, Haguro, Myoko, Ashigara. The Nachi: First true IJN heavy cruisers The heavy cruisers of the Nachi class* were laid down between 1924 and 1925, completed in 1928-29. This represented a brave leap forward in terms of capabilities of the Imperial Japanese Navy, as they reached the very limits of the Washington treaty … Read more

IJN Yamato, Musashi. The last IJN battleships: IJN Yamato, like Bismarck, is the subject of a post-war myth. Mysterious, because classified as highly secretive, it was known only by name by the US secret service in 1941 when she entered service. This ship and her sister, still fascinates the world today, justified an underwater expedition, … Read more

WW2 Japanese Battleships 12 battleships. Introduction: IJN Battleships, from British to Japanese design: IJN Satsuma, one of the last IJN pre-dreadnoughts. As the other ships of her class she was discarded in 1923. When Japan entered war in December 1941 on the side of the axis, its land forces, aviation and navy were already fighting … Read more

Japan, 1919-45. 34 Aircraft Carriers The third giant of carriers: In December 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) possessed the second largest carrier fleet worldwide, with 9 of these in service, IJN Hosho, Kaga, Akagi, Hiryu, Soryu, Ryujo, Shokaku, Zuikaku, and Zuiho. This represented 212 330 tonnes. It must be compared to the Royal Navy’s … Read more

Japan, 1919. Kuma, Tama, Kitakami, Oi, Kiso The five cruisers of the Kuma class were first planned in 1916, but entered into service after WW1, the last one in 1921. Enlarged versions of the Tenryu, they had three more main guns, were more powerful and faster, but only for an increased displacement of 1500 tons, … Read more

Nagato, Mutsu. The last IJN dreadnoughts: The Nagato and Mutsu (長門型戦艦, Nagato-gata senkan) were the first and at the same time of their kind. Built as dreadnoughts, the fourth Imperial Japanese Navy class, they were also the fastest, largest, and best armed, so far, and represented a new generation illustrated by the “6-6 plan”. They … Read more

IJN Yūbari (1923) Japanese light cruiser, 1923 An innovative light cruiser: Hiraga’s IJN Yūbari Yubari in 1923, Sasebo IJN Yūbari (夕張) was not only the very first IJN post-WW1 design, but it was an experimental light cruiser whose idea dated back from 1917 and started in 1922, and when she was completed in 1923 for … Read more