Shinano

IJN (Imperial Japanese Navy) Shinano was originally laid down as a Yamato class Battleship.During construction the navy lost four aircraft carriers at the battle of Midway.After this,her builders made plans for the huge ship to be converted into an aircraft carrier and given an armored hangar.


While still being built the Japanese lost almost their entire carrier fleet in the battles of the Philippine sea and Cape Eugano.On completion it was planned that she would transport the new Ohka flying bomb. Just ten days after being completed and still on trials, she was hit by six torpedoes from the U.S. submarine Archerfish.


She could have been beached, for the coast was only a few miles away, but her captain stayed on course and she sank. Despite this,she did not sink for six hours!! She was the largest carrier until 1961 and certainly has one of the shortest active services (for a ship) ever.



This is the only picture ever taken of Shinano.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_aircraft_carrier_Shinano



Until next time!

Tigerkingdriver