Hiryū

Armor Model

Overview

Following the London Naval Conference, Japan gained the opportunity to build two additional aircraft carriers. In terms of architecture, these ships became the prototypes for nearly all subsequent large Japanese aircraft carriers. They featured a continuous flight deck, a two-level hangar, a small island superstructure, three aircraft elevators, and downward-angled funnels. The design combined high speed with powerful anti-aircraft armament and a strong air group. The hull form and power plant were based on the design of heavy cruisers. The aircraft carrier Hiryū was built in Yokosuka. In 1940, the ship supported the invasion of Indochina, and in 1941, it participated in the attack on Pearl Harbor. In the spring of 1942, the carrier took part in the Indian Ocean raid. During the Battle of Midway Atoll, on June 4, 1942, Hiryū was attacked by dive bombers from American aircraft carriers, sustained several bomb hits, and caught fire. The crew abandoned the ship during the night, and it sank the following day.