OPERATION FORTUNATE PHOENIX

This page is dedicated to gathering all the possible information about the IJN Light Carrier Zuiho. It is broken down into the following sections:
  • General History
  • Technical Ship Specifications
  • Aircraft Specifications & Identification
  • Real Life Still Images
  • Model Still Images
  • Other IJN Carrier Still Images
    •



    GENERAL HISTORY

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    TECHNICAL SHIP SPECIFICATIONS

    Standard Displacement: 11,262 tons
    Complement: 785

    Length: 667'-11"
    Beam: 59'
    Draught: 21'9"

    Armament:
    (As designed-1942)
    8 x 5"/40cal
    8 x 25mm
    30 aircraft
    12 A6M2 Zero
    12 B5N2 Kate
    6 D3A2 Val

    (Zuiho-1944)
    8 x 5"/40cal (housed in 4 twin mounts with one of the four in a covered mount: starboard side aft of the funnel)
    68 x 25mm (housed in 10 triple mounts, 4 twin mounts and 30 single mounts.
    Positioning:Two triple mounts on the stern; two triple mounts near bow (one on each beam); 3 triple mounts on port side amidships; 3 covered triple mounts starboard side amidships aft of funnel. 4 twin mounts near bow aft of triple 25mm postions near bow)
    16 aircraft
    12 A6M5 Zero
    4 B6N2 Jill

    Flight Deck: 590'6"x75'4" (see note)

    Machinery: 2 shaft Kanpon turbines
    Boilers: 4 Kanpon
    S.H.P.    : 52,000=28 knots
    Oil: 2,363 tons
    Radius    : 9,236 miles @ 18 knots

    Name Builder Laid Down Launched Completed Converted Fate
    Shoho   12/3/34 6/1/35 1/15/39 1/26/42 sunk 5/7/42
    Zuiho   6/20/35 6/19/36 -------- 12/27/40 sunk 10/25/44

    Note: Laid down as seaplane tenders. Shoho was completed as such, however Zuiho lay incomplete from 1936-1939. Shoho was named Tsurugizaki and Zuiho was named Takasaki. In 1944, Zuiho's flight deck was extended foreward towards her bow.
    Names:
    Shoho: Happy Phoenix
    Zuiho: Fortunate Phoenix


    AIRCRAFT SPECIFICATIONS AND IDENTIFICATION

    This section will deal with information I am gathering about the aircraft types and quanities plus the identifying markings and numbering at each aircraft type at each stage of the Zuiho's career.


    June 1942 (Battle of Midway):
    (24 aircraft)
    Her aircraft complement consisted of:
    6 x Mitsubishi A5M "Claude"
    6 x Mitsubishi A6M2 "Zero" fighters
    12 x Nakajima B5N2 "Kate" torpedo bombers.


    June 1944 (Battle of the Philippine Sea):
    (30 aircraft - full design complement)
    6 x A6M5 "Zero" Fighters
    15 x A6M2 fighter/bombers
    6 x B5N2 "Kate" torpedo bombers
    3 x B6N1 torpedo bombers.


    REAL LIFE STILL IMAGES

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    MODEL KIT STILL IMAGES AND ARTWORK

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    OTHER IJN CARRIER STILL IMAGES

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