| Japanese Aircraft Carrier Unryu |
Article Index for Japanese Aircraft |
Website Links For Japanese |
Information AboutJapanese Aircraft Carrier Unryu |
|
The name vessel of the ''Unryu'' Class , the ''Unryu'' was a lightly built carrier design based on the ''Hiryu'' Class . BUILD
SPECIFICATION
COMMAND
FINAL VOYAGE On December 13, 1944 Unryo loaded 30 "Ohka" suicide rockets of the Thunder-Gods Corps for transport to Manila. On December 17, 1944 Unryo departed Kure, Hiroshima escorted by Shigure , Hinoki , and Momi under the overall command of Captain Konishi. Unryu was bound for Mindoro and Manila in the Philippines on her maiden sea voyage to confront the US invasion forces in the Luzon landings. On 19 December 1944, Unryu was torpedoed and sunk by the submarine USS Redfish . Redfish fired four bow torpedoes, one of which hit under the bridge on the starboard side at 16:35, stopping the Carrier dead in the water. Unryu engaged with all her starboard side guns. A second torpedo struck at 16:50 on the starboard side, under the forward elevator setting off the Ohka bombs and aviation fuel stored in the lower deck hanger. Once the boiler rooms flooded, the ship listed to 30 degrees and the order to abandon ship was given. With a 90 degree list, the ship sank to the bed of the East China Sea in just seven minutes. Casualties were appalling: Captain Kaname Konishi and 1,238 officers and men lost their lives. Only one officer and 146 men survived and were rescued by the escort destroyer ''Shigure'' which returned to Sasebo, Nagasaki on 22 December. SEE ALSO |
|
|