NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Taiyo

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
春日丸 [Kasuga Maru], 8.1942 - 大鷹 [Taiyo]			Mitsubishi, Nagasaki // Sasebo K K	6.1.1940	19.9.1940	15.9.1941	sunk 18.8.1944
八幡丸 [Yawata Maru], 8.1942 - 雲鷹 [Unyo]			Mitsubishi, Nagasaki // Kure K K	14.12.1938	31.10.1939	7.1940 // 31.5.1942	sunk 16.9.1944
冲鷹 [Chuyo] (ex-新田丸 [Nitta Maru])		750	Mitsubishi, Nagasaki // Kure K K	9.5.1938	20.5.1939	3.1940 // 25.11.1942	sunk 4.12.1943

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	17830
Displacement full, t	20000
Length, m	168.0 pp 173.7 wl 180.2 oa
Breadth, m	22.7 wl 23.5 fd
Draught, m	Taiyo: 8.00 Unyo, Chuyo: 7.74
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 sets Mitsubishi geared steam turbines, 4 boilers
Power, h. p.	25200
Max speed, kts	21
Fuel, t	oil 2250
Endurance, nm(kts)	6500(18)
Armament	Taiyo: 6 x 1 - 120/45 10-shiki, 2 x 2 - 25/60 96-shiki, 2 DCR(8), 27 aircraft (A5M, A6M fighters, D1A, D3A diving bombers, B5N torpedo bombers) Unyo: 4 x 2 - 127/40 89-shiki, 2 x 2 - 25/60 96-shiki, 2 DCR(8), 30 aircraft (A6M fighters, D3A diving bombers, B5N torpedo bombers) Chuyo: 4 x 2 - 127/40 89-shiki, 2 x 2 - 25/60 96-shiki, 2 DCR(8), 30 aircraft (A6M fighters, D3A, D4Y diving bombers, B5N torpedo bombers)
Complement	Taiyo: 747 Unyo, Chuyo: 850

Air group

Year	Fighters	torpedo bombers
1942	11 A6M2	16 B5N

Standard scale images

Graphics

Aircraft facilities

 (fd - 3,807 or 4,042m², ha ? m² / ? m³): Flight deck: 162.0(Taiyo, Unyo) or 172.0(Chuyo)x23.5 m. There was hangar (91.5x?x?m). There were 2 lifts (12.0x13.0m). Aircraft fuel stowage: ?.          

Project history

Former fast passenger liners of NYK Line Kasugava Maru, Yawata Maru and Nitta Maru (17100BRT, 22.2kts). Two latter were completed in 1940, but next year have been requisitioned and transferred to Kure N Yd for reconstruction. Kasugava Maru was received by Navy incomplete; her conversion to carrier was conducted on Sasebo N Yd.

First escort aircraft carriers of Japanese Navy had simplified construction. The hull under upper deck and machinery almost have not undergone changes. Instead of the sheared superstructures the flight deck was fitted, lower there was arranged a single-level hangar. Ships were supposed to be used mainly as aircraft transports.

Modernizations

summer 1943, Taiyo, Unyo: - 2 x 2 - 25/60; + 8 x 3 - 25/60 96-shiki, 1-shiki 2-go radar

7/1943, Chuyo: + 6 x 3 - 25/60 96-shiki, 5 x 1 - 13.2/76, 1-shiki 2-go radar

5/1944, Taiyo: flight deck was lengthened to 172.0 m; - 6 x 1 - 120/45; + 4 x 2 - 127/40 89-shiki, 4 x 3 - 25/60 96-shiki, 28 x 1 - 25/60 96-shiki, 5 x 2 - 13.2/76

8/1944, Unyo: flight deck was lengthened to 172.0 m; + 4 x 3 - 25/60 96-shiki, 28 x 1 - 25/60 96-shiki, 5 x 2 - 13.2/76

Naval service

Taiyo 28.9.1942 was damaged by a torpedo from American submarine Trout and repaired one month. 24.9.1943 she was again damaged by American submarine Cabrilla and repaired till January, 1944. 18.8.1944 NW off Luzon she was torpedoed and sunk by American submarine Rasher.

Unyo 19.1.1944 was damaged by two torpedoes from American submarine Haddock and repaired till August, 1944. 16.9.1944 in South China Sea she received 2-3 torpedo hits from American submarine Barb and in the morning 17.9.1944 foundered.

Chuyo in the evening 3.12.1943 in 260nm SE off Yokosuka has received torpedo hit from American submarine Sailfish, in the morning 4.12.1943 as result of two consecutive submarine attacks (received 2-4 more torpedoes) Chuyo has sunk.