Chiyoda (千代田, "Thousandth-Generation Field") was a light aircraft carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. She was originally constructed as the second vessel of the Chitose-class seaplane tenders, ordered in 1934 and built at the Kure Naval Arsenal. Her keel was laid down on 14 December 1936, she was launched on 19 November 1937, and commissioned on 15 December 1938.
Design and Specifications
Chiyoda was designed from the outset with a hull and engine layout based on a high-speed oiler, intended to be adaptable for multiple missions. As completed, she was a seaplane tender with four aircraft catapults and cranes for recovering floatplanes on her aft deck. She carried a complement of Kawanishi E7K "Alf" and Nakajima E8N "Dave" floatplanes, with a capacity of up to 24 aircraft. Her propulsion consisted of four boilers driving two geared steam turbines, supplemented by two diesel engines, producing 56,800 shaft horsepower and a maximum speed of 28.5 knots (52.8 km/h).
After the loss of four large aircraft carriers at the Battle of Midway, the Imperial Japanese Navy converted the Chitose-class into light aircraft carriers. Chiyoda's conversion took place at Yokosuka Naval Arsenal from January to December 1943. A wooden flight deck measuring 180 by 23 meters (591 ft × 75 ft) was installed, along with two elevators. The bridge was relocated forward, and boiler exhaust was routed to the starboard side below the flight deck. As a carrier, she could operate up to 30 aircraft. Her standard displacement was 11,200 long tons (11,400 t), and she had a length of 192.5 meters (631 ft 7 in).
Operational History
As a Seaplane Tender
Upon commissioning, Chiyoda was assigned directly to the Combined Fleet and deployed to the front lines of the Second Sino-Japanese War alongside the seaplane tender Kamoi. She remained engaged in combat operations in China until May 1940. In June 1940, she underwent a major modification at Kure Naval Arsenal that reduced her aircraft capacity from 24 to 12 and added storage for 12 Type A Kō-hyōteki-class midget submarines.
During the Battle of Midway (June 1942), Chiyoda was part of the Main Body of the Japanese fleet, carrying eight midget submarines intended for use at Kure Atoll. The operation was cancelled following the loss of Japan's aircraft carriers, and Chiyoda returned without seeing combat. She later operated in the Aleutian Islands, delivering construction teams to Kiska, and subsequently supported operations in the Guadalcanal campaign, delivering midget submarines to Shortland Island in October 1942.
Conversion and Later Service
Chiyoda was converted into a light aircraft carrier between 16 January and 21 December 1943 at Yokosuka Naval Arsenal. After recommissioning, she was assigned to the 3rd Fleet and participated in Operation A-Go, the defense of the Mariana Islands. During the Battle of the Philippine Sea (19–20 June 1944), she was part of the Van Force and was hit by a bomb on her aft flight deck on 20 June, killing 20 crewmen and wounding 30 more.
Final Battle
On 20 October 1944, Chiyoda departed Ōita as part of Admiral Jisaburō Ozawa's decoy force during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. This force was intended to lure the American fleet away from the Philippine landing beaches. On 25 October 1944, during the Battle off Cape Engaño, Chiyoda was crippled by four bombs dropped by aircraft from the carriers USS Franklin and USS Lexington, leaving her dead in the water. The hybrid battleship-carrier Hyūga attempted to take her under tow but was prevented by further air attacks. The cruiser Isuzu made three attempts to remove Chiyoda's crew but was forced to retreat as U.S. surface forces approached.
Chiyoda was finished off by gunfire from four U.S. cruisers (USS Santa Fe, Mobile, Wichita, and New Orleans) and nine destroyers under Rear Admiral Laurance DuBose. Captain Jō Eiichirō and the entire crew of approximately 1,470 officers and men went down with the ship at position 19°20′N 126°20′E. No survivors were rescued. Chiyoda was removed from the navy list on 20 December 1944.
