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Japanese Light Aircraft Carrier Zuihō: A Versatile Survivor of the Pacific War

Introduction: Zuihō, Japan’s Auspicious Phoenix

The Imperial Japanese Navy initiated operations with the light aircraft carrier Zuihō in 1940 and it became a prominent element in the Pacific Theater's World War II saga. The light aircraft carrier Zuihō earned the name "Auspicious Phoenix" or "Fortunate Phoenix" through its display of resilience and adaptability which extended from its initial role as a submarine tender to its ultimate deployment as a decoy in the largest naval battle of the war. Though Zuihō never reached the legendary status of fleet carriers such as Akagi or Kaga she made important contributions to major battles including Midway, Santa Cruz, the Philippine Sea and Leyte Gulf while operating in roles that exceeded expectations for her small vessel. Zuihō stood out due to her distinctive conversion story and ability to survive battle damage while transitioning from a support ship to a strategic decoy in Japan’s late-war tactics. The article investigates her design features, wartime role and exceptional characteristics which defined her until she sank in October 1944.

Design and Characteristics: A Ship of Dual Purpose

Zuihō was developed as a result of the Imperial Japanese Navy’s strategy from the mid-1930s to increase operational flexibility while working within the boundaries set by international naval treaties. The vessel Takasaki was first constructed at Yokosuka Naval Arsenal on June 20, 1935, and designed with future conversion capabilities to be either a light aircraft carrier or a fleet oiler because Japan expected possible conflict ahead. During the fitting-out process which started immediately after her June 19, 1936 launch the conversion into a carrier began and marked Japan’s growing emphasis on air power amid rising U.S.-Japan tensions. As Zuihō she was commissioned on December 27, 1940 to join Shōhō (converted from Tsurugizaki) as a member of the Zuihō-class.

The Zuihō measured 205.5 meters in length and 18.2 meters in width with a standard displacement of 11,443 tons increasing to 14,200 tons under full load which made her smaller than the fleet carriers of Japan. The ship's flight deck measured 180 meters (590 feet) by 23 meters (75 feet) and accommodated an initial air group of 30 aircraft including Mitsubishi A5M "Claude" and A6M "Zero" fighters and Nakajima B5N "Kate" torpedo bombers. Her dual-purpose armament featured four twin mounts with eight 12.7 cm (5-inch) guns in addition to eight 25 mm anti-aircraft guns which expanded to 68 pieces by 1944 due to increasing aerial threats. The ship utilized two-shaft geared turbines and four boilers to achieve 52,000 shaft horsepower which resulted in a top speed of 28 knots sufficient for her intended purpose despite being slower than fleet carriers. The 7,800 nautical mile range at 18 knots made her ideal for long Pacific missions. The ship had minimal armor protection consisting of a 25 mm (1-inch) deck without any armored belt while depending on speed and escort ships for defense.

Zuihō stood out because of her ability to adapt to different roles and her capacity to serve as a light aircraft carrier. The submarine support hull of this ship was converted for aircraft transport as Japan adapted to treaty restrictions and limited resources through practical decision-making. The ship retained secondary status because of its small size and air group never larger than 30 planes but maintained strategic flexibility through independent operation or coordination with larger carriers. Her unique dual role created by necessity and innovation made her stand out among dedicated carriers as she became a flexible asset in Japan’s naval fleet.

Early War Operations: A Supporting Role (1941–1942)

The Pacific offensive by Japan started at the same time Zuihō entered service. She assumed the position of flagship for the Third Carrier Division under Captain Sueo Ōbayashi on September 30 following his command start date of September 20, 1941. During December 1941 Zuihō escorted the 1st Air Fleet (Kido Butai) including battleships and carriers such as Hōshō back to Japan after their operation at Pearl Harbor. During February 1942 Zuihō transported A6M Zero fighters to Davao in the Philippines as she supported the operations of the 11th Air Fleet through critical ferrying duties that highlighted her initial function as a transport aircraft carrier.

The ship engaged in combat for the first time during the Battle of Midway which took place from June 4 to 7, 1942. Zuihō served under Vice Admiral Nobutake Kondō’s Support Force between Shōkaku and Zuikaku while transporting six A5M Claudes, six A6M2 Zeros, and twelve B5N2 Kates. The carrier Zuihō avoided direct conflict with U.S. forces by staying away from the primary carrier battle while she protected the Midway invasion fleet with her air cover. The battle resulted in Japan losing its four fleet carriers Akagi, Kaga, Sōryū and Hiryū to U.S. carrier aircraft which became a decisive moment in the war. Zuihō escaped damage because her support position allowed her to avoid the destruction that her larger sisters faced. The fact that Zuihō survived reinforced her long-standing yet marginal role before she took on more responsibilities when Japan’s naval air power started to decline.

Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands on October 26, 1942

The Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands during the Guadalcanal campaign marked Zuihō’s first exposure to heavy combat. On October 26, 1942, the Second Carrier Division led by Rear Admiral Kakuji Kakuta operated Shōkaku and Zuikaku which transported 18 A6M Zeros and nine B5N Kates. Facing U.S. Task Force 61—carriers Enterprise and Hornet—her aircraft attacked at 7: At 7:40 AM during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands Zuihō's planes successfully bombed Enterprise while Zuikaku's aircraft destroyed Hornet. However, U.S. retaliation struck hard. At 9: Enterprise's SBD Dauntless dive bombers delivered two 500-pound bombs onto Zuihō’s flight deck at 9:30 AM which landed one aft and one amidships causing fires and disabling her flight capabilities.

The damage was severe but not fatal. The bombs destroyed her arresting gear and caused penetration in the deck; however, she avoided a catastrophic explosion because her magazines were submerged below deck as a design feature from her tender beginnings. She slowly tilted as she moved away at 22 knots while her crew successfully put out the fires by noon. The restoration work completed at Truk and Kure between November 1942 and January 1943 returned her to service while enhancing her durability. While sinking Hornet gave Japan a tactical victory during Santa Cruz, they suffered a strategic setback through the depletion of their aircrews. The fact that Zuihō survived this attritional period highlighted her toughness which became a hallmark of her service.
During the time spanning the Guadalcanal Campaign till 1943 she assumed a critical support role.

At the beginning of 1943 Zuihō resumed operations in the Guadalcanal campaign by supporting Operation Ke which entailed Japanese force evacuation from the island between January and February. She joined the Third Fleet to escort convoys between Truk and Rabaul while providing aircraft air cover when Japan withdrew from Guadalcanal after six months of intense battle. Her responsibilities transitioned to logistical support instead of battle operations because Japan was suffering significant carrier losses.

During the second half of 1943 Zuihō operated from Southwest Pacific land bases including Rabaul and Buin to launch air raids against Rabaul in November of that year. She transported both aircraft and supplies to Truk and Guam while functioning as a training ship and transport vessel between military operations. On November 30, 1943, she left Truk with the escort carriers Chūyō and Unyō while avoiding a U.S. submarine attack—Skate missed her but Sailfish destroyed Chūyō on December 5. Her missions demonstrated her adaptability to maintain naval operations as Japan's carrier fleet diminished while also showcasing her good fortune in avoiding early dangers.

Battle of the Philippine Sea on June 19–20, 1944

The Battle of the Philippine Sea marked Zuihō’s next significant military engagement and resulted in a disastrous defeat for the Japanese forces. In January 1944 the ship transitioned to the Third Carrier Division with Chitose and Chiyoda and became part of the 653rd Naval Air Group which included 18 A6M Zeros, 45 Zero fighter-bombers, 18 B5N Kates and nine B6N "Jill" torpedo bombers under Vice Admiral Jisaburo Ozawa. Facing U.S. U.S. Task Force 58 off the Marianas possessed experienced aviators and radar systems that surpassed the abilities of Zuihō's inexperienced pilots.

On June 19, Zuihō launched aircraft at 5: The "Great Marianas Turkey Shoot" began when Zuihō launched aircraft at 5:30 AM to target U.S. carriers but ended with F6F Hellcats and anti-aircraft fire shooting down most planes resulting in the loss of over 240 Japanese aircraft in just a few hours. Zuihō escaped direct hits during combat because her compact size and marginal position protected her when Shōkaku and Taihō sank under torpedo strikes from USS Cavalla and Albacore. Her second assault on June 20 struck Wasp yet resulted in additional Japanese aircraft losses. Amid the destruction which saw Japan lose three carriers and 600 planes Zuihō remained unharmed which showed her skill to survive when others perished due to her crew's navigation and her modest size.

Battle of Leyte Gulf on October 25, 1944

From October 23–26, 1944 Zuihō performed her final and most dramatic mission during the Battle of Leyte Gulf which holds the record as the largest naval battle in history. In Admiral Ozawa’s Northern Force Zuihō operated together with Zuikaku, Chitose and Chiyoda to act as a decoy that would draw U.S. forces away from Leyte. U.S. Task Force 38's redirection from Leyte enabled Admiral Takeo Kurita’s Center Force to launch their attack. Zuihō’s flight deck featured deceptive camouflage meant to look like a turning battleship to fool U.S. pilots but this clever strategy ended up failing. With only 18 aircraft on board including many Zeros she served as a decoy to draw enemy fire away from Kurita’s battleships.

The aircraft of U.S. Task Force 38 from carriers Enterprise and Essex among others launched their attack at 8:00 AM on October 25 near Cape Engaño. At 8: At 10 AM an Avenger torpedo struck Zuihō’s starboard side before two 500-pound bombs impacted her flight deck. The ship suffered damage when 67 near-miss impacts destroyed steam pipes which then flooded both engine rooms and one boiler room. By 2: The vessel lost speed when it reached 12 knots at 2:10 PM while the flooding became more severe which required everyone to operate the pumps. Listing 13° to starboard, she stopped dead at 2: Water completely filled the port engine room by 2:45 PM. A fourth wave at 2: A fourth wave hit Zuihō at 2:55 PM causing splinter damage that increased her angle of list to 23°. Ordered abandoned at 3: The Japanese carrier Zuihō sank at 3:26 PM in the coordinates 19°20’N, 125°15’E while losing 7 officers and 208 crew members but 58 officers and 701 crew members were rescued by the destroyer Kuwa and battleship Ise.

The Battle of Leyte Gulf marked a strategic failure for Japan due to their loss of four carriers including Zuihō yet effectively accomplished its diversionary mission by drawing U.S. forces away as Kurita engaged near Samar. Her sinking marked the end of Japan’s carrier threat, but her final act exemplified her special purpose: The ship's ultimate mission fulfilled its unique role when she soared like a phoenix to attract enemy fire.

Why Zuihō Was Special

Zuihō stood out because of her origins as a converted ship, her ability to endure battle damage, and her varied roles throughout the war. Japan demonstrated its innovative capability to work within treaty restrictions when they repurposed a submarine tender into a carrier ship which became one of the few examples of dual-use carrier designs. Despite her light armor and compact size Zuihō proved highly durable, surviving Santa Cruz bombings and Philippine Sea battles by preventing magazine explosions through her submerged magazines which were a legacy of her submarine tender beginnings. Her ability to adapt demonstrated itself through numerous roles from transport operations to combat missions at Midway and Leyte Gulf as Japan's requirements evolved. Her crew members’ expertise kept the ship running while guiding her from secondary operations to her final sacrificial battle. The career of Zuihō mirrored Imperial Japan's journey from early naval innovation to ultimate defeat by advancing air power as she transitioned from a symbol of hope to one of desperation.

Legacy: A Phoenix Fallen

Zuihō disappeared from the Navy List on November 25, 1944 during Japan’s carrier losses at Leyte Gulf. The Japanese carrier Shōhō became the first of its kind to sink during the war in the Coral Sea battle in May 1942. The Zuihō represents naval adaptability through its innovative use of camouflage and decoy tactics at Leyte while demonstrating resilience as it survived when larger carriers were destroyed. Zuihō remains lost beneath Philippine depths yet its legacy persists as proof of Japanese carrier innovation and the Pacific War's unyielding destruction.

Final thoughts: Zuihō’s Last Flight

Zuihō may not have been World War II's most powerful or celebrated ship but her contributions made a significant impact. She demonstrated Japan’s naval adaptability while staying afloat through battles which destroyed her fellow ships and acted as a decoy during Japan’s ultimate naval engagement. The Imperial Navy's changing fate unfolded through Zuihō from her distant role at Midway to her demise at Leyte where she initially rose like an auspicious phoenix before succumbing to air power. The story of this light carrier reveals her quiet courage through strategic sacrifices which shone during the Pacific War’s harsh development.