U.S. Navy
| Tonnage | 11,262 tons standard displacement |
| Dimensions | 601'3" by 59'2" by 21'5" 183.26m by 18.03m by 6.53m |
| Maximum speed | 28 knots |
| Complement | 785 |
| Aircraft | 590'6" (180m) flight deck 2 elevators 30 aircraft |
| Armament | 4x2 5"/40
dual-purpose guns 2x2 25mm AA guns |
| Machinery |
2-shaft geared turbine (52,000
shp) 4 Kampon boilers |
| Bunkerage | 2600 tons fuel oil |
| Range | 7800 nautical miles (14,000 km) at 18 knots |
| Modification | In
1943 the Zuiho
had its antiaircraft armament
increased by 6x3 25mm guns. In 1944 the armament was again increased by 20 25mm guns and 6x28 antiaircraft rocket launchers. |
The Zuihos were
completed in 1940 and 1942 as
conversions from Tsurigisaki (Shoho) and Takasaki
(Zuiho), which had originally been constructed as 9500-ton submarine
tenders as part of the Japanese "shadow program".
These submarine tenders were designed for rapid conversion to either
light carriers or oilers as needed.
Takasaki was never completed
as a submarine tender, being reconstructed while still on the ways as a
light carrier.
The Zuihos
were
undistinguished ships,
with small air groups, only modest speed, and no island. The ships
retained their 350' seaplane hangars, but replaced their original
diesel machinery with destroyer
machinery. The flight decks narrowed considerably at their forward
ends, giving them a distinctive pointed shape.
| Sunk by aircraft 1944-10-25 off Cape Engano | ||
|
Completed 1942-1 (Nagasaki) |
Sunk by aircraft 1942-5-7 off Woodlark Island |
References
Jentschura, Jung, and Mickel (1977)
The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia © 2007, 2009 by Kent G. Budge. Index
