|
 |
|
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
| IJN Unryū class aircraft carrier 22,400 Tons 745' 11" x 72' 2" x 26' 227.35m x 27m x 7.93m 6×2 12.7cm DP guns 22×3 25mm AA guns 6×28 12cm rocket launcher Aircraft: 57  Williams September 1945  Ryan January 31, 1946 |
Ship History Built by Kure Naval Arsenal at Kure. Laid down December 8, 1942 as the third and final Unryū class aircraft carrier. Launched January 19, 1944 as Katsuragi named for Mount Katsuragi (Mount Yamato Katsuragi-san) in Nara Prefecture in Japan. Completed and commissioned October 15, 1944 in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) and placed under the command of Captain Kawabatu Masahru and assigned to Carrier Division 1 (CarDiv 1), Mobile Fleet. That same day begins limited sea trails. Wartime History When completed, the Katsuragi air group was to include 27 A6M Zeros, 12 D4Y Judy and nine B6N Jills but due to a shoratge of air crews, they operated land based and were never embarked aboard the carrier. During the middle of October 1944 until December 1944 operates between Gunchu, Kure and Hashirajima in the Inland Sea and undergoes sea trials and training exercises. On November 27, 1944 departs Iwakuni with Amagi for training exercises in the Inland Sea. On December 10, 1944 placed under the command of Rear Admiral Sueo Obayashi and two days later arrives at Matsuyuma. On January 23, 1945 departs Kure bound for Iwakuni on a mission to transport personnel and equipment from the Oita Detachment of the Yokosuka Kokutai (Yokosuka Air Group). On February 4, 1945 departs Iwakuni for Kure. On February 10, 1945 Carrier Division 1 (CarDiv 1) is disbanded and Katsuragi is attached to the Combined Fleet and ordered to Kure arriving five days later and hastily camouflaged with fake buildings on the flight deck and trees planted on the island and foliage. On February 19, 1945 carrier aircraft from 601 Kokutai from Katsuragi participate in kamikaze attack against the U.S. Navy vessels off Iwo Jima, On February 21, 1945 her aircraft participated in the attacks that results in the sinking of USS Bismarck Sea (CVE-95) and severely damages USS Saratoga (CV-3). On March 19, 1945 in the morning while moored off Kure west of Kaiyo, U.S. Navy carrier planes from Task Force 58 (TF-58) attack and a bomb or rocket skips off the starboard bow eighty feet abaft the prow and explodes causing a 5' hole in the upper deck and shrapnel damage to the flight deck and upper hanger deck. Aboard, one is killed and three wounded. Another rocket hits the port side causing a small hole. A near mission causes damage that floods the no. 8 fuel tank and air compressor room. On March 24, 1945 moves to Mitsukojima (Mitsuko-jima) where more camouflage added and the next day moved to the northeasts end of Mitsuko-jima. The carrier is essentially decommissioned. On April 1, 1945 placed under the command of Captain Hiratsuka Shiro and five days later some personnel were transfered to Yamato. By April 13, 1945 moves to a semipermanent mooring southwest of Mitsukojima. On April 20, 1945 reassigned for special duty as a reserve ship of the 4th Kure Naval District and placed under the command of Captain Miyazaki Toshio. During May 1945 extensive camouflage was completed with trees and houses added and sand on the flight deck to simulate roads with power from shore. Aboard, her anti-aircraft batteries remain ready to defend and the carrier is fully manned. On July 3, 1945 reassigned to the Combined Fleet Defense Naval Force. On July 24, 1945 starting at 9:30am begins an air raid by U.S. Navy (USN) carrier planes from Task Force 38 (TF-38) attack Kure but is only targeted by a small number of dive bombers that are targeted by her anti-aircraft batteries. The carrier only sustains one 500 pound bomb that hit a anti-aircraft gun on the port side opposite the no. 2 stack but causes little damage. Aboard, 13 crew are killed and 5 wounded. The carrier is likely not detected by more planes due to her extensive camouflage. On July 28, 1945 again attacked by U.S. Navy (USN) carrier planes from Task Force 38 (TF-38) and in the morning claims a plane shot down. In the afternoon hit by a 2,000 pound bomb that hit the flight deck port of the centerline and behind the forward elevator and exploded inside the hanger causing severe damage and blew a 20' section off the port hanger wall and the flight deck bulged and buckled from the blast and both elevators were damage with fragments hitting the bridge. Aboard, 12 were killed including Executive Officer Captain Izumi Fukujiro and 12 wounded. Despite the damage, the carrier sustained no underwater damage and no fires were caused by the blast. Afterwards, the carrier continues to provide anti-aircraft defense of the area until the official surrender of Japan. Postwar On September 10, 1945 assigned to the 4th Reserve Fleet and remained at Kure. At the end of the month selected for duty to repatriate Japanese Prisoners Of War (POW) and refugees from across the Pacific to Japan. By October 1945, the carrier had a reduced crew of 10 officers, 2 special duty officers, 1 warrant officer and 40 petty officers and sailors. On November 22, 1945 the carrier was inspected by U.S. Navy technicians while undergoing repairs in drydock. Although the flight deck and elevators are damaged, the carrier is selected for use as a transport capable of transporting 5,000 personnel. During repairs, the damage from July 28, 1945 was repaired to make the carrier watertight from rain and sea spray. The flight deck is not repaired and ventilator scoops added for ventilation. A large Japanese flag was painted on each side of the carrier forward of amidships. On December 18, 1945 departs Kure on her first repatriation voyage to repatriate Japanese Prisoners Of War (POW) and refugees via Minami-Daito-jima then south to Rabaul and Australia then back to Japan. Afterwards, repairs are required for weatherproofing and watertight integrity. On January 15, 1946 departs Kure on her second repatriation voyage to repatriate Japanese Prisoners Of War (POW) and refugees via Saeki then south to Wewak then to Fauro and in the evening of January 30, 1946 arrives Rabaul to refuel and replenish water. On February 28, 1946 returns to Rabaul with 1,400 Koreans who refused to and required an Australian Army armed escort to convince them to leave the carrier to make way for Japanese POWs. By the end of February 1946 returns to Japan. During April 1946 at Kurihama in Yokosuka. On November 15, 1946 removed from the Navy list. Fate On December 22, 1946 at Sakurajima Hitachi Zosen in Osaka and broken up for scrap by November 30, 1947. References Combined Fleet - IJN Katsuragi: Tabular Record of Movement AWM Japanese aircraft carrier Katsuragi at Rabaul F07420 AWM Repatriation of Japanese troops from Rabaul F07424 Contribute
Information Last Updated
|
 Map July 24, 1945 Warship Targets  Photo Archive |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
