The Japanese ship Ryūjō (龍驤, "Prancing Dragon" or "Dragon Ascendant") was a light aircraft carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN). Commissioned in 1933, she was an early and somewhat experimental design that saw service in the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II before being sunk in 1942.
Design and Construction
Originally conceived in the 1920s as a seaplane tender to circumvent naval treaty restrictions on carrier tonnage, Ryūjō was quickly redesigned as a conventional aircraft carrier under the 1931–32 building program. Her construction was handled by the Mitsubishi Nagasaki Shipyard. She was laid down on 26 November 1929, launched on 2 April 1931, and commissioned on 9 May 1933.
Her design was notable for several reasons:
- Small Size: She was significantly smaller than contemporary carriers, displacing only about 12,000 long tons fully loaded.
- Low Freeboard: To maximize hangar height, her flight deck was built very close to the waterline, making her prone to taking on water in heavy seas.
- Unusual Superstructure: Ryūjō lacked a conventional island superstructure; instead, her bridge was located directly under the forward edge of the flight deck, and her funnels were small, flush-mounted, and angled outwards. This design contributed to poor sea-keeping qualities and stability issues.
- Stability Issues: Her initial design suffered from severe stability problems, exacerbated by the installation of a second hangar deck during construction to increase aircraft capacity. This necessitated post-commissioning modifications, including adding hull bulges and ballast, to improve stability.
Initially, she was designed to carry 48 aircraft, but this was often reduced due to operational considerations and her modifications. Her main armament consisted of anti-aircraft guns, typically 12.7 cm (5 in) Type 89 dual-purpose guns and numerous 25 mm (1 in) Type 96 anti-aircraft guns.
Service History
Ryūjō's early career was marked by her participation in the Second Sino-Japanese War (from 1937), where her aircraft conducted bombing missions and provided air support for ground forces in China.
With the outbreak of World War II in the Pacific, Ryūjō played several roles:
- Philippines Campaign (December 1941): She provided air cover for landings in the southern Philippines.
- Dutch East Indies Campaign (January–February 1942): Her aircraft supported the invasion of the Dutch East Indies.
- Indian Ocean Raids (April 1942): As part of Vice-Admiral Jisaburo Ozawa's force, she participated in raids against Allied shipping in the Bay of Bengal.
- Aleutian Islands Campaign (June 1942): During the Battle of Midway, Ryūjō was assigned to the Northern Force, providing air support for the invasion of the Aleutian Islands, a diversionary attack intended to draw US forces away from Midway.
Sinking in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons
Ryūjō's final engagement occurred during the Battle of the Eastern Solomons on 24 August 1942. At this time, she was part of Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo's main force, tasked with escorting a convoy carrying troops to Guadalcanal.
To clear the way for the troop convoy and to draw away American carriers, Ryūjō was detached with a small escort to launch an airstrike against Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. Around 13:40, her aircraft launched their attack. However, US reconnaissance aircraft from the carrier USS Saratoga spotted Ryūjō and her escorts.
At approximately 14:40, Saratoga launched a strike force of 30 SBD Dauntless dive bombers and 8 F4F Wildcat fighters. The attack on Ryūjō commenced around 15:45. Despite fierce anti-aircraft fire, Ryūjō was hit by approximately four bombs and one torpedo. The bombs caused severe fires and extensive damage to her flight deck and hangars. The torpedo strike further damaged her hull.
The carrier began to list heavily to starboard, and her engines lost power. Fires raged uncontrollably, and it became clear she was doomed. At around 17:00, the order to abandon ship was given. Ryūjō finally capsized and sank stern-first at approximately 19:55 at position 06°30′S 160°30′E, taking 120 of her crew with her.
Legacy
While short-lived, Ryūjō provided valuable early experience for the Imperial Japanese Navy in carrier operations and design. Her stability issues and low freeboard led to improvements in subsequent IJN carrier designs, which featured larger, more stable hulls and stronger flight decks.