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| IJN (1933–1941) Submarine Depot ship (1942–1945) Light Aircraft Carrier 16,700 Tons (standard) 707' 6" x 64' 3" x 21' 11" (As Built) 2x2 127mm AA 12 x 13.2mm AA 3 Floatplanes 2 catapults (1942–1944) 2x2 127mm AA 10 x Tripple 25mm AA 6 x depth charges (1945) 2x2 127mm AA 10 x tripple 25mm AA 4 x twin 25mm AA 23 x single 25mm AA 6 depth charges 6 x rocket launchers Aircraft 31-36  Williams September 1945 |
Ship History Built by Yokosuka Naval Arsenal at Yokosuka. Laid down April 12, 1933 as a Taigei class submarine depot ship. Launched November 16, 1933 as Taigei 大鯨 meaning "Big Whale" in Japanese at a ceremony attended by Emperor Hirohito but afterwards returned to dry dock for repairs and modifications. Completed March 31, 1934 in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN). In late September 1934 damaged by a typhoon when faulty waterproof doors allowed seawater into the hull and caused an electrical short and disabled her steering and waves cracked hull welds that required repairs. In September 1938 full repaired and operational. During the Second Sino-Japanese War based at Kure. On November 15, 1940 assigned to the 6th Fleet. On Apirl 10, 1941 based at Kwajalei. On December 4, 1941 returned to Kure ahead of hostilities. Wartime History On December 20, 1941 at Yokosuka designated #3 Reserve Ship in the Kure Naval District and taken out of service for conversion into a light aircraft carrier in dock number 4. During the conversion, a 607' x 75' flight deck was added plus two elevators replaced the diesel engines with Kampon steam turbine engines. The light carrier could accommodate 31 carrier planes. On April 18, 1942 during the "Doolittle Raid" bombed by a B-25 Mitchell 40-2247 piloted by Lt. Edgar E. McElroy crew no. 13 that scored a single 500 pound bomb hit in the bow plus 30 small incendiary bomb hits (including 8 duds) that resulted in seven casualties and light damage and was the only warship damaged in the raid. The conversion was scheduled to be completed in three months but problems arose and the conversion would take almost a year. On November 30, 1942 the conversion was complete and renamed Ryuhō meaning "Dragon Phoenix". During early December 1942 twenty Ki-48 Lily light bombers from the 45th Sentai were embarked aboard Ryuhō. On December 11, 1942 departs Yokosuka bound for Truk. On December 12, 1942 at 9:10am hit by a torpedo in the starboard side fired from USS Drum SS-228 roughly 160 miles east of Hachijo-jima outside Tokyo Bay and sustains moderate damage and returns to Yokosuka for repairs. During July 1943 to August 1943, Ryuhō carrier aircraft were land based operating from Buin Airfield (Kahili) on southern Bougainville with some flights from Buka Airfield. During January 1944 the Ryuhō Air Group was land based at Rabaul, flying intercept missions against U.S. air raids against Rabaul. On January 28, 1944 Zeros from Ryuhō Air Group dive down to intercept P-38s from 339th FS and claim eight shot down (in fact five are lost). In February 1944, the Ryuhō Air Group was withdrawn from Rabaul. On June 19, 1944 participates in the Battle of the Philippine Sea and launches strikes against U.S. Navy Task Force 58 (TF 58). On June 20, 1944 at 5:30pm part of Force "B" with Junyo and Hiyo screens by Hagato and Mogami with eight destroyers. At 6:10pm Ryuho is targeted by four TBF Avengers from USS Enterprise and suffers slight damage from a near miss bomb. On June 22, 1944 arrives Okinawa and the next day departs. On June 24, 1944 arrives Hashirajima. On July 3, 1944 arrives Kure. On July 10, 1944 assigned to CarDiv 1, 3rd Fleet. On July 11, 1944 enters drydock in Kure for repairs to the flight deck and lengthened at the forward end to a length of 649.93' / 198.1m and the number of aircraft embarked increased to 36. On July 20, 1944 leaves drydock. On August 10, 1944 assigned to CarDiv 4, 3rd Fleet. Between December 1944 until January 1945, Ryuhō transported 58 Ohka to Formosa the Imperial Japanese Navy's (IJN) last sortie beyond Japan. In March 1945, the carrier was severely damaged by U.S. Navy (USN) carrier aircraft attacking Kure. Afterwards, placed in dry dock to repair the flooding but was never fully repaired before the end of the Pacific War. Fate Scrapped between 1946–1947. References Also spelled Ryuho in English sources. Combined Fleet - IJN Ryuho: Tabular Record of Movement Contribute
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 Map July 24, 1945 Warship Targets |
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