Kaga (ship, 1928)
 The Kaga after its renovation in 1935
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The Kaga ( Japanese加 賀) was a ship of the former Imperial Japanese Navy . Named it was after the former province of Kaga that are part of today Prefecture Ishikawa is. She was initially planned and built as a battleship , then converted into an aircraft carrier and was ultimately one of the key units of the Imperial Navy in the Pacific War until it was sunk in 1942.
Construction and remodeling
Battleship
The Kaga was the first major Japanese aircraft carrier. However, she was initially planned and built as a Tosa- class battleship . It was supposed to carry ten 410 mm guns in five twin towers and, after completion, had a normal displacement of 40,000 tons .
Its construction began in the summer of 1920 at the Kawasaki shipyard in Kobe , and it was launched on November 17, 1921. With the signing of the Washington Naval Treaty in 1922, however, Japan renounced the construction of the Tosa-class battleships; In return, it was discussed whether the two Amagi- class battlecruisers under construction could be converted into aircraft carriers. The Japanese delegation explained to the contracting parties in Washington that the ships had a weight of 26,900 tn.l in the loading state of the standard displacement, instead of the more than 30,000 tn.l they actually displaced, so that they the contractual weight limit for an aircraft carrier of 27,000 tn .l. just fallen below. Japan was then allowed to convert the ships if the battleships Kaga and Tosa were scrapped in return . When the Amagi However, in 1923 the Kanto Earthquake on the slipway was destroyed, it was decided the Kaga in their place the conversion to undergo. The Amagi has now been scrapped and the Tosa sunk as a target ship.
The name Kaga , as an old name for a Japanese province, then also corresponded to the name of battleships, during which the Akagi went back to a mountain, as is common with battlecruisers and heavy cruisers of the Imperial Navy.
modification
The Kaga was towed to Yokosuka to be rebuilt similar to the Amagi- class battle cruiser Akagi . The choice of the battleship Kaga for the conversion was less optimal than the conversion of the battle cruiser Akagi , as the battleship was not designed for the high speed considered for an aircraft carrier, but instead carried heavy armor, as it was needed for an artillery duel. Its engine system developed only 91,000 hp at a ship length of 230 meters, compared to 250 meters at 131,000 hp for the Akagi . The short length led to an unfavorable length-to-width ratio of the hull and in combination with the weaker propulsion power, only around 27 knots could be achieved.
The armor of the battleship design was actually cut in half so as not to further reduce the low top speed due to its weight. The thickness of the belt armor was reduced from 280 to 152 mm armor steel and the horizontal armor from 102 to only 38 mm.
The machinery and length of the ship remained unchanged during this first conversion. It was decided to put a long box-shaped structure on the former weather deck of the battleship, into which three decks were drawn. All three decks should allow aircraft to take off on their bow side, but only the upper deck, as a continuous flight deck, was also suitable for landings. This deck was around 19 meters shorter than that of the Akagi because of the short length of the Kaga .
The construction of the flue gas system was problematic, as the chimneys of the original battleship design were built in the middle of the ship, but the smoke at the aircraft carrier was to be discharged on the side. For example, two pipe constructions were installed on both sides of the ship immediately below the upper flight deck, which led the smoke gases aft, where they were then pressed down towards the surface of the water from the chimneys. This construction also proved to be unfavorable, since, depending on the wind direction, either the smoke gases from one side or the other were regularly blown over the rear part of the landing deck and impaired the view.
Because of the inefficient aircraft of this time, the defense of the aircraft carrier by its own aircraft alone did not seem sufficient, so that it was believed that heavy artillery was needed for self-defense (as implemented at the same time in the American Lexington class ). For this purpose, two gun turrets with two guns 20 cm L / 50 year 3 number 1 were installed on the front edge of the middle flight deck with a field of fire over the bow and to the sides. Furthermore, parts of the secondary artillery of the battleship construction were retained, of which six individual 20 cm L / 50 guns were mounted in casemates - three each on port and starboard, a little aft of the center of the ship. The 20-cm-L / 50 guns were 110 kg heavy armor-piercing grenades with a cadence shoot far about three rounds per minute around 28,000 meters.
To defend against aircraft, three twin guns of the type 12 cm L / 45 year 10 were installed on each side of the ship. The platforms for these weapons were mounted several meters below the upper flight deck, so that each gun could only fire at air targets on its side of the ship, a combined attack of all six twin guns of the ship, especially on targets at high altitude, was impossible. The 2.9 ton weapons fired 20 kg grenades with which they could attack targets up to 10,000 meters.
The conversion took a long time, so that the Kaga could only be put into service as an aircraft carrier seven years after her launch as a battleship on March 31, 1928.
The ship was initially equipped with the following aircraft types:
- 28 × Mitsubishi B1M , bombers, 4 × MG , 2 × 240 kg bombs or 1 torpedo
- 16 × Nakajima A1N , fighter plane, 2 × MG, 2 × 30 kg bombs
- 16 × Mitsubishi 2MR , reconnaissance aircraft, 3 × 30 kg bombs
Conflicts with China and first modernization
First use
The Kaga became the flagship of the 1st Carrier Division in December 1931. Together with the Hōshō , she was deployed in Chinese waters to support Japanese ground troops in their battles around Shanghai after the incident on January 28, 1932 . Both carriers sent around 80 aircraft into action.
The elimination of the Chinese air force and the severe destruction in the district of Zhabei are among the operations in which the Kaga aircraft were significantly involved.
modernization
Improvements in aircraft construction had meanwhile produced models with long range, high speed and heavy armament, which led to a reassessment of the previous carrier doctrine. The probability of having to conduct an artillery battle against enemy ships decreased dramatically according to this new conception. Since the Kaga could only insufficiently or not at all use the new aircraft, which required a long runway, and had numerous deficiencies anyway, it was sent to the shipyard in Sasebo for a thorough modernization in 1934 , where it was completely rebuilt. They got a flight deck that ran the full length over the fuselage and was designed for more modern combat aircraft . The two departure platforms on the lower decks were omitted, which increased the hangar area for storage and maintenance of the aircraft, so that the number of aircraft carried could be increased significantly. Another aircraft elevator was installed so that three elevators connected the two hangar decks with the flight deck.
The drive system was converted from coal to oil firing and eight new Kampon boilers were installed. The turbines were replaced and the exhaust system revised, so that only two short chimneys on the starboard side now divert the exhaust gases downwards towards the surface of the water. In order to remedy the unfavorable ratio of ship's width to length, the hull of the Kaga was lengthened by 10.30 meters. The drive system now developed 127,000 hp; However, the weight of the additional systems increased the water resistance, so that the measured top speed of the ship during test drives was reduced to just 28.34 knots compared to the state before the conversion. The oil firing and additional fuel tanks for a total of 7,600 tons of bunker oil now allowed a driving range of around 10,000 nautical miles.
The water displacement increased from 33,693 to 38,200 tn.l. in the state of the standard displacement, in official statements, however, the 26,900 tn.l. that were stated when the Washington treaty was signed.
The armament has also been adapted to the new conditions: the two main turrets have been removed and the secondary artillery has been reinforced from three to five 20.3 cm guns on each side of the ship. The six 12 cm L / 45 twin anti-aircraft guns were replaced by eight twin guns 12.7 cm L / 40 Type 89 , two of which were closed Type 89 A1 Model 2 on the starboard side behind the funnels and six open Type 89 A1 mountings - two on the starboard bow side and four on the port side. Furthermore, eleven twin automatic cannons 25 mm L / 60 Type 96 were installed on the sides of the flight deck.
Sino-Japanese War
In the Second Sino-Japanese War , the Kaga supported landings of Japanese troops in Canton with their aircraft in 1938 .
Pacific War
Shortly before the outbreak of the Pacific War, the Kaga was equipped with the following aircraft types:
- Fighter aircraft: "kanjo sentoki" (short: "kansen"): 18 A6M2 type 0 model 21
- Dive bomber: "kanjo bakugekiki" (short: "kanbaku"): 27 Aichi D3A type 99
- Torpedo bombers: "kanjo kogekiki" (short: "kanko"): 27 Nakajima B5N 2 type 97 and three replacement machines
Pearl Harbor
From 1941 she belonged to the Kidō Butai and took part in the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 under the leadership of Admiral Nagumo Chūichi . The Kaga formed the 1st carrier division together with the flagship Akagi , the Sōryū and the Hiryū formed the 2nd division, while the Shōkaku and the Zuikaku formed the 5th carrier division. In the first wave of the attack, the Kaga launched nine A6M2 fighters from 6:00 a.m., which initially escorted the bombers and later attacked Hickam Field . Furthermore, 26 of their B5N2 bombers took off in this wave, twelve of them with torpedoes, the rest armed with heavy bombs.
The second wave of the Japanese attack was again secured by nine Kaga's A6M2s , and their bombers again took part in the attack: 26 D3A's of the 12th attack group under Lieutenant Saburo took off from the deck of the carrier at around 7.15 a.m.
A total of 15 aircraft of the carrier were lost during the attack on the American naval base. Four A6M2, five B5N2 and six D3A with a total of 31 crew members.
South pacific
Together with the Akagi , the Kaga then supported the invasion of Rabaul in January 1942.
At the beginning of February she ran into a reef near Palau and had to be repaired. As early as February 19, she crossed the Timor Sea , from where she attacked Darwin in Australia with her fighter jets . Her planes sank eight ships, including the destroyer USS Peary, in the airstrike on Darwin .
In March it was used in the invasion of Java . The Kaga could not take part in the operations in the Indian Ocean because she had to call at the Sasebo naval shipyard to repair her damage.
Midway
In early June 1942 she took part in the Battle of Midway together with the porters Akagi , Sōryū and Hiryū . After her planes carried out an attack on Midway , the Kaga was bombed by attacking dive bombers from the USS Enterprise on June 4, 1942 at around 10:22 a.m. A total of 28 machines of the type Douglas SBD Dauntless of the squadrons VB-6 and VS-6 attacked the Kaga and scored at least five hits. Since the Kaga's planes were fully fueled and armed in the hangar to attack the American carriers, there were uncontrollable explosions and fires. The damage was so great that the Kaga sank at 7:25 p.m. that same day. Two Japanese destroyers were able to take survivors on board, but 814 crew members died.
For many years it was considered certain that the Kaga was torpedoed and sunk by the American submarine USS Nautilus after the bombing at around 2 p.m. This view has persisted in many books on the Battle of Midway. After the war, however, testimonies from Japanese crew members were able to prove that a torpedo hit the kaga , but did not explode.
wreck
The reported by the Japanese Untergangsort was 30 ° 23 ' N , 179 ° 17' W . In September 1999, a joint team from the Naval Oceanographic Office and Nauticos failed to locate the kaga . Before Midway, however, they discovered wreckage of the Kaga at a depth of 5,200 meters. Sonar images and videos of the debris were taken on board the USNS Sumner . A group of experts including Jon Parshall, Tony Tully, and David Dickson of combinedFleet.com identified a wreckage as the forward portion of the starboard side of the kaga's upper hangar deck . You can still see two gun positions and parts of the observation deck.
The main wreck was discovered by the crew of the research vessel Petrel in October 2019 . After their analysis, the ship had sunk 4,800 meters bow first before it hit the sea floor at high speed and produced a crater and a field of debris.
See also
Evidence and references
Remarks
- ↑ "Displacement in the normal state" was an internal calculation variable of the Imperial Navy until 1923 and describes a certain state of charge in which a ship is fully manned, equipped and clear to sea, but carries only 75% of the ammunition and 50% of the possible fresh water supplies. See Garzke and Dulin Battleships. Axis and Neutral Battleships in World War II. P. 11.
- ↑ "Standard displacement " according to the Washington Treaty describes a certain state of charge at which a ship is fully manned, equipped and ready to sea for a war effort, minus the weight of the fuel and the weight of the reserves of reserve boiler water. See Garzke and Dulin Battleships. Axis and Neutral Battleships in World War II. P. 5.
- ↑ December 7th according to the American calendar and December 8th according to the Japanese calendar.
Individual evidence
- ^ Garzke and Dulin Battleships. Axis and Neutral Battleships in World War II. P. 11.
- ^ A b Harlow A. Hyde: Scraps of Paper. The Disarmament Treaties Between the World Wars. Media Publishing & Marketing, 1989, ISBN 0-939644-46-0 , pp. 244, 245.
- ↑ Hans Lengerer: Akagi & Kaga. P. 134.
- ↑ a b Mark R. Peattie: Sunburst. The Rise of Japanese Naval Air Power, 1909-1941. P. 55.
- ↑ 20 cm L / 50 year 3 number 1, at navweaps.com, viewed on July 10, 2012
- ↑ 12 cm L / 45 year 10, at navweaps.com, viewed on July 10, 2012
- ↑ Jonathan Parshall, Anthony Tully: Shattered Sword. Technical description of the kaga
- ^ Mark R. Peattie: Sunburst. The Rise of Japanese Naval Air Power, 1909-1941. P. 51.
- ^ HP Willmott: The Last Century of Sea Power. From Washington to Tokyo, 1922-1945. P. 72.
- ^ John B. Lundstrom: The First Team. Pacific Naval Air Combat from Pearl Harbor to Midway.
- ↑ a b Gudmens: Staff Ride Handbook for the Attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. A Study of Defending America. Pp. 61, 133, 134, 135.
- ↑ Harold A. Skaarup: Hawaii Warbird Survivors 2002. A Handbook on Where to Find Them. Universe, 2001, ISBN 978-0-595-20379-6 , p. 71.
- ↑ Jonathan Parshall, Anthony Tully: Shattered Sword. The Untold Story of the Battle of Midway. Dulles, Virginia (USA), 2005, ISBN 978-1-57488-923-9 , p. 248 ff.
- ^ The Japanese Story Of The Battle Of Midway. Office of Naval Intelligence, USN, 1947, OPNAV P32-1002, p. 53.
- ↑ Wreckage from Japanese aircraft carrier sunk at Battle of Midway identified! at: http://www.combinedfleet.com/MidwayFind.htm ; Retrieved July 19, 2006
- ↑ Caleb Jones: After Kaga, explorers zero in on second sunken Japanese carrier from Battle of Midway. japantimes.co.jp October 21, 2019
literature
- Hans Lengerer: Akagi & Kaga. In: John Roberts: Warship VI. Conway Maritime Press, London 1982, ISBN 0-87021-981-2 .
- Robert J. Cressmann (Ed.): A Glorious Page in Our History. The Battle of Midway, June 4-6, 1942. Pictoral Histories Publishing, Missoula / Montana 1990, ISBN 0-929521-40-4 .
- Mark R. Peattie: Sunburst. The Rise of Japanese Naval Air Power, 1909-1941. US Naval Institute Press, 2007, ISBN 978-1-59114-664-3 .
- John B. Lundstrom: The First Team. Pacific Naval Air Combat from Pearl Harbor to Midway. US Naval Institute Press, 2005, ISBN 978-1-59114-471-7 .
- HP Willmott: The Last Century of Sea Power. From Washington to Tokyo, 1922-1945. Indiana University Press, 2010, ISBN 978-0-253-35359-7 .
- Jeffrey J. Gudmens, Combat Studies Institute: Staff Ride Handbook for the Attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. A Study of Defending America. 2009, ISBN 978-1-78039-453-4 .
- William H. Garzke, Robert O. Dulin: Battleships. Axis and neutral battleships in World War II. US Naval Institute Press, 1985, ISBN 0-87021-101-3 .
- Jonathan Parshall, Anthony Tully: Shattered Sword. Potomac Books, 2005, ISBN 1-57488-924-9 .
