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| IJN Light Aircraft Carrier 8,000 Tons (standard) 10,150 Tons (normal) (As Built 1933) 590' 3" x 66' 8" x 18' 3" (Modification 1936) 68' 2" x 66' 8" x 23' 3" Armament As Built 6 x Twin 12.7cm DP guns 12 x Twin 13.2mm AA MG Aircraft: 48 Armament 1936-1942 4 x Twin 12.7mm DP guns 2 x Twin 25mm AA guns  IJN June 4, 1942  USAAF August 24, 1942 |
Ship History Built by Mitsubishi at Yokohama. Laid down November 26, 1929 as a Light Aircraft Carrier. Launched April 2, 1931 as Ryūjō meaning "prancing dragon" or "dragon phoenix". Also spelled Ryujo in English sources. Commissioned May 9, 1933 into the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN). Wartime History During the 1930s she was extensively modified to improve her stability in rough seas, and in 1940 her low forecastle was moved one deck level higher. During August–December 1937, Ryūjō supported land operations of the Japanese Army in China, as flagship of Carrier Division 1. Her aircraft complement consisted of 12 Nakajima A4N fighters and 15 Aichi D1A dive bombers. Captain Kato Tadao and was the flagship of Carrier Division 4. The presence of large fleet carriers meant that she was initially assigned to secondary tasks. Philippines Operations On December 8, 1941 at the start of the Pacific War, carrier planes from Ryujo launch a strike against Davao, but find no aerial opposition nor any U.S. vessels in Davao Bay. This was the first air raid against the Philippines, hours before Japanese aircraft attacked Clark Field, yet news of the attack did not to seem to reach Luzon. One bomber ditched due to engine trouble and the crew was recused. Returned on December 20, 1941 to provide air cover for the Japanese landing at Davao and on December 25, 1941 provided air cover for the landing at Jolo. During January 1942 she supported operations against Malaysia. In February 1942 attacked American-British-Dutch-Australian forces off Java. On February 15, 1942 seven B5N1 Kates drop bombs but fail to score any hits. On March 1, 1942 participated in the Second Battle of the Java Sea and her carrier aircraft attack USS Pope DD-225. In March operated against the Andaman Islands and the coast of Burma. On April 1, 1942 departs Mergui at 11:00am assigned to Admiral Jisaburo Ozawa mobile force as part of "Operation C" for raids in the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal with with the cruisers Chōkai, Kumano, Suzuya, Mogami, Mikuma, Yura plus four destroyers. On April 3, 1942 passes the channel between the Andaman Islands and Nicobar Islands and the force four destroyer screen from Destroyer Division 11 are replaced by Destroyer Division 20. On April 4, 1942 the Ozawa force enters the Bay of Bengal and continues northwest towards India. On April 5, 1942 at 8:55am a three plane search returns at 11:10am after a report from a cruiser floatplane of an Allied 10 ship convoy. At 12:30pm, Ryujo launched eight attack planes flying searches to the northwest. A pair abort soon after take off and are replaced with another pair at 3:10pm. These planes spot and attack cargo ship Dardanus that is damaged and the crew abandons ship then reboards and are taken under tow by Gandara. Also targeted is steamer Harpasa that is bombed and sunk. On April 6, 1942 she launched air strikes against Cocanada and Vizagapatam in India. In total, the strikes sink 23 Allied ships. At dusk, the Ozawa departs to the southeast for a rendezvous with other Japanese forces then departs eastward. Alaska Operation On June 1, 1942 Ryūjō arrives Paramushiro Island in the Kurile Islands and departs the same day as part of the Japanese task force "Northern Force / Second Carrier Striking Force" with Junyō bound for the Aleutian Islands. On June 3, 1942 at 3:25am, Ryūjō launches a first strike including 15 B5N1 Kates and 3 A6M2 Zeros joined by 28 other planes from Junyō on a mission to attack Dutch Harbor and Unalaska Island. The weather was clear with clouds at 3,000m / 9,843'. Over the target, they attack a radio station, tank farm, barracks at Fort Mears and PBY Catalinas moored offshore. During their return flight, they were intercepted by P-40 Warhawks and spot USN destroyers in Makushin Bay. One B5N1 Kate was lost. After returning to rearm and refuel, Ryūjō launches a second strike including 6 B5N1 Kates and 6 A6M2 joined by 35 other planes from Junyō. Due to bad weather and mechanical problems caused by freezing carburators causes the Japanese to abort the mission and return to their carriers. On June 4, 1942 at 4:40pm Ryūjō launches a third strike including 9 B5N1 Kates and 6 A6M2 joined by 16 other planes from Junyō. At 6:10pm they bomb fuel tanks, anti-aircraft gun positions, hospital, peer and the Naval Air Station. A6M2 Zero 4593 piloted by Koga, crashed upside down on Akutan Island, killing the pilot but the aircraft was largely intact. Later, this Zero was located and salvaged, the first intact Zero captured by U.S. intelligence. The rest of the aircraft return to their carriers by 8:26pm. Afterwards, the Northern Force was ordered southward to join 2nd Carrier Strike Force under the command of Admiral Nagumo. After the Japanese defeat during the Battle of Midway, Ryūjō became a more important asset to the Japanese Navy as one of their remaining undamaged carriers. During August 1942 she reassigned to Carrier Division 2 along with Shōkaku and Zuikaku and deployed to the Solomon Islands. Ryūjō's role was to support a convoy of transports that were to reinforce and resupply Japanese troops on Guadalcanal and attack Henderson Field, while the fleet carriers operated against the U.S. Navy (USN) aircraft carriers. Sinking History On August 24, 1942 during the Battle of the Eastern Solomons (Second Battle of the Solomon Sea) Ryujo was escorted by heavy cruiser Tone and the destroyers Amatsukaze and Tokitsukaze and proceeded to roughly 100 miles north of Tulagi where her carrier aircraft launched two strikes against Guadalcanal. At 1:57pm Ryūjō was attacked by SBD Dauntless and TBF Avengers from USS Saratoga (CV-3), and hit by several bombs. A torpedo hit flooded the starboard engine room causing a list. At 3:15pm the order to abandon ship was given with the crew rescued by destroyers Amatsukaze and Tokitsukaze. At 6:00pm the damaged carrier capsized and sank. A total of 120 crew were killed in the attacks and sinking. Her surviving carrier planes diverted to Rabaul and were reassigned. Rescue The surviving crew including Captain Kato, were rescued by destroyers Amatsukaze and Tokitsukaze. References Ryūjō is often spelled Ryujo in English language sources. Combined Fleet - IJN Ryujo: Tabular Record of Movement Contribute
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