kaga

The Kaga: A Titan of Japan’s Carrier Fleet in World War II

The Imperial Japanese Navy’s Kaga aircraft carrier holds an exceptional place in World War II naval history because of its notable and unconventional past. Commissioned as a battleship in 1920 the Kaga was converted into an aircraft carrier after the Washington Naval Treaty and entered service in 1928 demonstrating Japan’s strategic naval evolution. Kaga stood out for its large size and durable build while also possessing a powerful air group which led to its central role in the Pacific Theater's critical battles from Pearl Harbor to Midway's final battle. Kaga stood out due to its extraordinary genesis and durable construction which supported sustained operations, alongside its strategic importance in Japan's carrier-based combat approach. The article examines the wartime activities of Kaga through World War II by detailing its significant battle contributions and exploring what made it stand out as an exceptional vessel in the Imperial Navy.

Origins and Design: From Battleship to Carrier Colossus

The construction of Kaga started during Japan's naval expansion after World War I when Kawasaki Shipyard in Kobe began work on the battleship on December 19, 1920 as a Tosa-class vessel with ten 16-inch guns and a weight of 39,000 tons. The Washington Naval Treaty of 1922 disrupted Kaga's construction by capping battleship tonnage which led Japan to convert it alongside Tosa into aircraft carriers to make up for vessels sunk during the 1923 Great Kantō Earthquake. The ship Kaga went through extensive redesign before its launch on November 17, 1921 and subsequent commissioning on November 30, 1928 when it joined Japan's fleet as one of its first carriers.

Kaga reached a standard displacement of 38,200 tons and could carry up to 42,541 tons when fully loaded while standing at 815 feet (248.5 meters) long. The ship's transformation preserved battleship-like characteristics through its thick hull armor reaching 11 inches along the belt and strong internal structure which made it tougher than specialized carriers such as the Sōryū class. The Japanese aircraft carrier Kaga received a comprehensive redesign between 1934 and 1936 that transitioned its structure from a multi-tiered flight deck and inefficient exhaust system to a full-length flight deck complemented by better ventilation and propulsion systems. The ship reached a maximum speed of 28 knots (32.2 mph) through its four steam turbines and twelve boilers which made it slower than lighter aircraft carriers yet impressive for its large dimensions.

The most powerful feature of Kaga was its air group which could hold up to 90 aircraft, generally comprising 28 Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighters together with 28 Aichi D3A Val dive bombers and 28 Nakajima B5N Kate torpedo bombers in addition to spare planes. With sixteen 5-inch (127 mm) dual-purpose guns and twenty-two 25 mm anti-aircraft guns in its defensive system the ship was unable to effectively counter the aerial threats of WWII. Kaga stood apart from other ships due to its battleship lineage which granted it advanced endurance and resilience capabilities, yet this came at the price of slower speed and reduced maneuverability. Kaga combined her distinct features to form a specialized asset with capabilities for long-lasting missions and powerful attack potential.

Early War Operations: The Hammer of the Kido Butai

As Japan initiated its Pacific campaign with the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941, Kaga served as a vital component of Admiral Chūichi Nagumo’s First Air Fleet known as the Kido Butai which consisted of six aircraft carriers that changed naval warfare. Constituting Carrier Division 1 under Vice Admiral Gunichi Mikawa alongside Akagi Kaga deployed 26 Kates and 18 Vals in the first attack wave and followed with 9 Zeros in a second assault wave. The planes from Kaga attacked battleships including the capsized USS Oklahoma and USS West Virginia and destroyed airfields and infrastructure which led to the sinking of four battleships and the death of over 2,400 Americans. Kaga’s formidable air group and its ability to maintain operations for hours demonstrated its status as a powerful force in Japanese naval dominance.

Kaga expanded its operational range across the Pacific Ocean starting early 1942. Between January 20 and 22 Kaga’s planes provided bombing support for the assault on Rabaul New Britain and established a vital base for Japanese forces. Between January 25 and 27 Kaga launched air strikes on Ambon in the Dutch East Indies to weaken opposition ahead of Japan’s planned amphibious invasion. During February it participated in the Darwin attack on Australia resulting in the sinking of 11 ships and a serious disruption to Allied supply lines which caused significant damage to the Southwest Pacific theater. The operations demonstrated Kaga’s ability to conduct extended long-range attacks by utilizing its large air group and battleship endurance to control battlefields far away.

The April 1942 Indian Ocean mission by Kaga showcased its multi-functional capabilities. The April 5 airstrike on Colombo, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) resulted in two merchant ships sinking and damage to the port facilities. On April 9 Kaga’s aircraft including Vals and Kates succeeded in sinking the HMS Hermes carrier and HMAS Vampire destroyer along with two cruisers near Trincomalee while its Zeros engaged RAF fighter aircraft. The raid showed that Kaga could project military power into distant regions from Japan because of its solid construction and large number of aircraft.

The Battle of Midway: Kaga’s Final Engagement

The critical Battle of Midway which took place between June 4 and 7, 1942, marked the decisive moment of the Pacific War and represented Kaga's final military operation. The Japanese military aimed to take control of Midway Atoll while decimating the U.S. carrier fleet to achieve naval dominance. The carrier Kaga operated as part of Admiral Nagumo’s four-carrier strike force with Akagi, Sōryū, and Hiryū and transported a total of 27 Zeros, 20 Vals, and 27 Kates under Captain Jisaku Okada’s command. The strategic operation began with an airstrike on Midway before moving into a decisive carrier battle.

On June 4, Kaga launched 18 aircraft—9 Kates and 9 Zeros—at 7:00 AM, bombing Midway’s defenses. The initial bombing raid succeeded in damaging the airfield yet failed to disable American air capabilities which led Nagumo to launch another attack. The American carriers Enterprise, Hornet, and Yorktown initiated their counterattack while Kaga’s crew reloaded aircraft with land-attack bombs. At 10: Under Lieutenant Commander Clarence Wade McClusky’s leadership Enterprise launched SBD Dauntless dive bombers which targeted Japanese carriers at 10:22 AM and caught them with their planes fueled on deck.

Kaga bore the brunt of the assault. Between 10: Between 10:22 and 10:26 AM Kaga’s flight deck received four 1,000-pound bomb impacts which penetrated to the hangar and triggered fires in the aviation fuel and ordnance. Massive fires erupted from the explosions which spread due to the wooden deck components and poor damage control aboard Kaga. The battleship hull of Kaga withstood the initial explosions yet the fire inside destroyed both power and propulsion systems. By 2: At 2:00 PM the ship became a burning ruin and its crew had fled. At 7: Destroyer Hagikaze delivered torpedoes that sank Kaga northwest of Midway at 7:25 PM to prevent its capture by American forces. The ship claimed the lives of 811 from its total of 1,708 crew members, which marked the highest loss among all four carriers sunk that day.

Why Kaga Was Special

Kaga achieved its distinctive status through its origin story and design elements which played a significant role in Japan's naval maneuvers. The conversion of this ship from battleship to carrier demonstrated Japan's exceptional skills in overcoming treaty limitations. The transformation process gave Kaga battleship characteristics including heavy hull armor and multiple compartments along with extended mission endurance not typically found in carriers specifically built for air operations such as Sōryū. The carrier Kaga could transport 90 aircraft which was double the capacity of lighter carriers thereby transforming it into a floating airbase that strengthened Japan's offensive capabilities during significant battles such as Pearl Harbor and Darwin.

Kaga's exceptional durability and endurance distinguished it from other ships. Despite being slower than Hiryū or Sōryū with a top speed of 28 knots compared to their 34 knots, Kaga's sturdy construction enabled it to withstand stormy weather conditions while keeping operational during extensive deployments and taking hits that would destroy weaker vessels. The ship showed battleship-like endurance when it survived numerous bomb attacks during the Midway battle before fire brought it down. Kaga served as a central asset within the Kido Butai because of its endurance capabilities combined with its extensive air group.

Kaga stood as a unique emblem of Japan's carrier progression and the brief period of supremacy it enjoyed. The name of Kaga Province represented its cultural significance as it symbolized Japan's imperial pride. The early victories of the Kido Butai highlighted how the carrier had become the central force in naval warfare while overshadowing its original battleship design. The sinking of Kaga with the Akagi Sōryū and Hiryū ended Japan's control over carrier warfare by exposing the vulnerabilities of large ships to focused aerial strikes.

Legacy and Significance

The sinking of Kaga at Midway delivered a tremendous loss to Japan because it wiped out 25% of the Kido Butai’s air capabilities and resulted in the loss of hundreds of pilots who could not be replaced. The battle allowed the Allies to gain control of the Pacific War’s direction through successful operations such as Guadalcanal while marking the start of Japan’s naval offensive decline. Midway solidified carrier dominance which Kaga had led through its initial victories.

What made Kaga special was its embodiment of Japan’s carrier ambitions: Kaga represented Japan's carrier ambitions as it merged battleship endurance with aerial warfare potential. The service of Kaga during World War II reflected Japan's naval journey which began with victory at Pearl Harbor and ended with defeat at Midway. Kaga’s abrupt end of service could not erase the historical significance of its participation in major battles and the distinctive features of its design. After its rediscovery in 2019 at a depth of 17,400 feet (5,304 meters) near Midway the wreck stands as a silent testament to Japan’s wartime naval aspirations and their resulting vulnerability.