Color Pics of Hōshō, Akagi, and Kaga. (Image heavy)

[Doomlock]

Hi guys! So here's the deal, across the IJN CV's I have well over 50 pics. So I'm breaking them up by chronological order, starting with the first three aircraft carriers of the IJN, Hōshō, Akagi, and Kaga. A new poll will be set up after the final post on the carriers, and voting can start anew then. As always the pics come from here: http://blog.livedoor.jp/irootoko_jr/

Let's get this show on the seas!

 

 

 

We begin with the first purpose built aircraft carrier launched and commissioned into service, Hōshō, seen here in December, 1922. The HMS Hermes was close behind, taking the first purpose built aircraft carrier laid down, but was not commissioned until 1924.

 

A far more different look to Hōshō than we are used to seeing her in WoWs as it was only a few years later that she was majorly overhauled.

 

Here's a more familiar look that we're used to for Hōshō, as her bridge has been removed.

 

And here we see Hōshō's final configuration with her funnels having a rotating function turning them to the starboard side making it easier on the aircraft taking off and landing on the deck.

 

We now move on to the Red Castle herself, Akagi, flagship of the First Carrier Division consisting of herself, Kaga, Sōryū, and Hiryū. This picture was taken during her sea trials at Iyonada on June 17, 1927. You can see the triple flight deck design Akagi and Kaga had in their early life here, it's shown in better detail later.

 

June, 1929. Akagi is seen here fitting out at Kure Naval Yard giving an excellent starboard beam view. Now bear in mind that Akagi is the sister of Amagi, the T8 battlecruiser....

 

Now look at that comparison. On the bottom is Nagato and on top, Akagi. Now this image gives a great size comparison between the Nagato-class and the Amagi-class. Now if only there was one with Akagi alongside Kaga, we could see how the Tosa-class stacked up to the Amagi-class.

 

Akagi steaming off Osaka on October 15, 1934. Her deck is loaded with Mitsubishi B1M and B2M biplane bombers.

 

Although Kirishima is the focus of the picture, in the background is Akagi in her wartime configuration, April 27, 1939, at Sukumo Bay.

 

And here we see an overhead view of Akagi in 1941, not too long after her reconstruction. Her battlecruiser heritage allows her to steam at a top speed of 31.5 knots.

 

December, 1941, Akagi steams in the South Pacific, not more than a week away from Pearl Harbor. Behind her, Kaga, Sōryū, Hiryū, Shōkaku, and Zuikaku follow along as the Kido Butai (Mobile Force; better read as Striking Force) make their way into history. Hanging from her rigging we see the infamous Zulu flag, the top flag is the flag of the Vice Admiral of the IJN (Akagi was Isoroku Yamamoto's flagship and at the time his rank was Vice Admiral), and the two underneath are the Naval ensigns of the IJN, better known as the Rising Sun flag. The two AA gun mounts are two dual  12 cm/45 10th Year Type naval guns.

 

Slight jump back in time. Crewmen gather on Akagi's flight deck at Hitokappu Bay, Kuriles in November 1941, in preparation for the Attack on Pearl Harbor.

 

The second wave of attack aircraft ready up on Akagi's deck, December 7, 1941.

 

A strike aircraft carrying what appears to be a torpedo, launches from Akagi, out to strike the unsuspecting Americans lying in Pearl Harbor. The crew waves at the pilot as he takes off.

 

Akagi at Staring Bay on March 26, 1942. She has just left Celebes Is. for the Attack on Colombo, the rest of the Kido Butai are with her.

 

Continued below...

[Doomlock]

Akagi has just launched an aircraft from her deck as she steams along in 1942. This is taken during the Indian Ocean Raid, like the previous.

 

And now we move to Kaga. She is fitting out here at Yokosuka Naval Yard on November 20, 1928. Evident is the main identifier between Akagi and Kaga from a distance aside from speed, the massive funnel piping along the starboard beam, making crew conditions unbearably hot in the crew quarters.

 

Kaga steams along in 1930, in her original configuration, with her triple flight decks, and the dual 20 cm/50 3rd Year Type naval guns flanking the middle flight deck. Kaga had a slower speed than her half-sister Akagi due to her battleship hull and machinery; she could manage a top speed of 28 knots.

 

An intimidating bow shot of Kaga training her starboard dual 20 cm gun to starboard whilst at anchor in 1933. The long bars flanking the ships hull are for torpedo nets.

 

Kaga sporting her newly redesigned superstructure, flight deck and funnel. The previous funnel was completely unsatisfactory for service and was replaced with the design fitted to Akagi. Her island was also opposite to Akagi's which later down the line in carrier construction proved to be the superior design.

 

As seen in a previous post, Kaga along with Aoba at Terashima Channel near the Gulf of Sasebo, April 8, 1936.

 

Kaga steams through the heavy seas of the North Pacific en route to Pearl Harbor, early December, 1941. Zuikaku can be seen to the port of Kaga.

 

Finally a briefing on Kaga's flight deck on the Attack on Pearl Harbor, December, 1941. A crude drawing of the harbor and Ford Island can be seen drawn in chalk on the deck.

 

 

 

 

And that's all guys I hope you enjoyed! Next up will be Ryūjō, Sōryū, and Hiryū. And as always, Fair winds and following seas captains! 

[El_Torpedro_Loca]

Great photos. Keep up the good work.

[DeadManxDan]

+1.  These are great

[Hatework]

I really love the port side islands on some of the IJN carriers, keep on posting them.  I can look at old warship pictures all day.

[pikohan]

... a briefing on Kaga's flight deck on the Attack on Pearl Harbor, December, 1941. A crude drawing of the harbor and Ford Island can be seen drawn in chalk on the deck

 

It's not even of the ships, but this one is by far my favorite. Just an amazing snapshot of the other side of the story.

 

The size Akagi/Nagato size difference was also a bit surprising; they don't feel like they are that much bigger or smaller in-game.

 

 

[Aivris]

Such beautiful carriers. Thank you for the pictures! Looking forward to seeing the Ryūjō, Sōryū, and Hiryū collection.

 

[capncrunch21]

It's surprising that Hosho originally had a conning tower/bridge - that was fairly quickly removed. But more advanced designs that followed many years later had/have this as a standard feature.

 

Awesome pics!

 

[Havoc]

Awesome job putting these together, they were great to look at.