Japanese aircraft carrier Shinyo
Encyclopedia
was an escort carrier operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy
, converted from the German
ocean liner , which had been purchased by the Japanese Navy. The liner had been trapped in Kure, Japan following the outbreak of World War II
in Europe, which prevented any attempt for the ship to return to Germany. The Japanese Navy then purchased the ship, and after the Battle of Midway
in June 1942, decided to convert her into an aircraft carrier. Conversion work lasted from 1942 to late 1943, and Shinyo was commissioned into the Japanese Navy in December 1943.
After entering service, Shinyo was employed as a convoy escort in the western Pacific. She served in this capacity for less than a year; in November 1944, the American submarine torpedoed Shinyo while she was en route to Singapore. As many as four torpedoes hit the ship and detonated her aviation fuel tanks. The resulting explosion destroyed the ship and killed most of her crew.
Shinyo was armed with eight 127 mm (5 in) dual-purpose guns in four Type 89 twin mounts. She also carried thirty 25 mm (0.984251968503937 in) anti-aircraft gun
s in 10 triple mounts. Later, twelve additional 25 mm (0.984251968503937 in) guns in single mounts were added. When Shinyo was refitted in July 1944, eight more 25 mm guns were added, bringing the total to 50.
in the 1930s. She was trapped in Japan after the outbreak of World War II
in Europe in September 1939. The Japanese Navy purchased the ship on 7 February 1942, under the agreement they would pay Norddeutscher Lloyd twice the value of the ship after the end of the war. The ship was intended for use as a troop ship, but after the Japanese defeat at the Battle of Midway
, the Navy decided to convert her into an escort carrier.
Conversion work on Scharnhorst began in September 1942 in the Kure Navy Dockyard. Steel from the uncompleted hull of the canceled fourth Yamato-class
battleship
was used in the conversion process. Work lasted until December 1943, and the rebuilt ship was commissioned into the Japanese Navy on 15 December 1943. Scharnhorsts design was similar to the Japanese passenger liners of the Nitta Maru-class, which were also converted into the Taiyō-class
escort carriers, so her conversion followed a similar plan. The main differences were retention of the original propulsion machinery, and addition of external bulges which helped increase stability.
On 1 November 1943, Shinyo was readied for sea trials and ran a shake-down cruise. The ship was commissioned into the fleet on 15 November 1943, and was subsequently assigned to the Grand Escort Command on 20 December. For the first six months of 1943, the ship conducted training maneuvers in the Home Islands. On 13 July 1944, she escorted the convoy Hi-69, including the escort carriers Taiyō
and Kaiyo
, which were carrying additional aircraft for the Philippines. Shinyo was tasked with providing aerial cover for the convoy. The convoy arrived on 20 July; on the 25th, Shinyo left with another convoy, bound for Singapore. The ship arrived on the 31st, and departed again four days later with the convoy Hi-70. The convoy consisted of eight transports, headed for Moji
; Shinyo was joined by a pair of light cruiser
s and several smaller craft. The convoy arrived on 15 September August, while Shinyo put in to Kure the following day.
On 8 September, Shinyo escorted the convoy Hi-75, consisting of nine transports and several destroyer
s and smaller craft, bound for Singapore. On the 13th, the convoy stopped briefly in Takao
, Formosa
, before departing later that day. The convoy arrived on 22 September. Another convoy, Hi-76, left Singapore for Moji on 3 October, with Shinyo and several destroyers escorting it. The convoy temporarily stopped in Mihara
on 19–20 October; on the 22nd, Shinyo departed from the convoy and proceeded to the Saeki airbase, arriving on 24 October. The following day, she left for Kure. While there, she replenished fuel and supplies. On 7 November, she was ordered to cover the return of the carrier Jun'yō.
On 9 November, she was assigned to convoy Hi-81
, carrying aircraft for the Philippines. The convoy left Japan on 14 November. The escort consisted of six destroyer
s, protecting seven troopships carrying an army division and a tanker. On 15 November, while in the East China Sea
, an American submarine
sank one of the transports; two days later, another transport was sunk and the tanker was damaged. Later that night, Shinyo was torpedoed and sunk by the submarine . Spadefish hit her with as many as four torpedoes in quick succession. The carrier's unarmored fuel tanks exploded and started a massive fire that destroyed the ship and killed most of her crew. Only 70 men from her crew of 1,200 officers and men. Shinyo quickly sank stern first. Spadefish attempted to attack the convoy again, but was driven off by the escorts. Shinyo was formally stricken from the naval register on 10 January 1945.
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
, converted from the German
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
ocean liner , which had been purchased by the Japanese Navy. The liner had been trapped in Kure, Japan following the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in Europe, which prevented any attempt for the ship to return to Germany. The Japanese Navy then purchased the ship, and after the Battle of Midway
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway is widely regarded as the most important naval battle of the Pacific Campaign of World War II. Between 4 and 7 June 1942, approximately one month after the Battle of the Coral Sea and six months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States Navy decisively defeated...
in June 1942, decided to convert her into an aircraft carrier. Conversion work lasted from 1942 to late 1943, and Shinyo was commissioned into the Japanese Navy in December 1943.
After entering service, Shinyo was employed as a convoy escort in the western Pacific. She served in this capacity for less than a year; in November 1944, the American submarine torpedoed Shinyo while she was en route to Singapore. As many as four torpedoes hit the ship and detonated her aviation fuel tanks. The resulting explosion destroyed the ship and killed most of her crew.
Characteristics
As rebuilt, Shinyo was 606 in 11 in (184.99 m) long between perpendiculars and 621 in 3 in (189.36 m) overall. She had a beam of 84 ft (25.6 m) and a draft of 26 in 10 in (8.18 m). A 590.5 by flight deck was installed, along with a pair of elevators and a single large hangar. This arrangement allowed for 27 combat aircraft and six spare airframes, for a total of 33 aircraft. The ship was powered by a pair of geared turbines that were supplied with steam by four boilers. The propulsion system produced 26000 shp and a top speed of 22 knots (12 m/s). The original high-pressure, high-temperature boilers proved to be highly problematic and so the Japanese replaced them shortly after Shinyo was completed.Shinyo was armed with eight 127 mm (5 in) dual-purpose guns in four Type 89 twin mounts. She also carried thirty 25 mm (0.984251968503937 in) anti-aircraft gun
Anti-aircraft warfare
NATO defines air defence as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action." They include ground and air based weapon systems, associated sensor systems, command and control arrangements and passive measures. It may be to protect naval, ground and air forces...
s in 10 triple mounts. Later, twelve additional 25 mm (0.984251968503937 in) guns in single mounts were added. When Shinyo was refitted in July 1944, eight more 25 mm guns were added, bringing the total to 50.
Service history
Scharnhorst was a passenger ship operated by Norddeutscher LloydNorddeutscher Lloyd
Norddeutsche Lloyd was a German shipping company. It was founded by Hermann Henrich Meier and Eduard Crüsemann in Bremen on February 20, 1857. It developed into one of the most important German shipping companies of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and was instrumental in the economic...
in the 1930s. She was trapped in Japan after the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in Europe in September 1939. The Japanese Navy purchased the ship on 7 February 1942, under the agreement they would pay Norddeutscher Lloyd twice the value of the ship after the end of the war. The ship was intended for use as a troop ship, but after the Japanese defeat at the Battle of Midway
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway is widely regarded as the most important naval battle of the Pacific Campaign of World War II. Between 4 and 7 June 1942, approximately one month after the Battle of the Coral Sea and six months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States Navy decisively defeated...
, the Navy decided to convert her into an escort carrier.
Conversion work on Scharnhorst began in September 1942 in the Kure Navy Dockyard. Steel from the uncompleted hull of the canceled fourth Yamato-class
Yamato class battleship
The were battleships of the Imperial Japanese Navy constructed and operated during World War II. Displacing at full load, the vessels were the heaviest and most powerfully armed battleships ever constructed. The class carried the largest naval artillery ever fitted to a warship, nine naval...
battleship
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
was used in the conversion process. Work lasted until December 1943, and the rebuilt ship was commissioned into the Japanese Navy on 15 December 1943. Scharnhorsts design was similar to the Japanese passenger liners of the Nitta Maru-class, which were also converted into the Taiyō-class
Taiyo class escort aircraft carrier
The was a three-strong class of escort carriers operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy in World War II.- Overview :These ships were ocean liners built by the shipping line Nippon Yusen, requisitioned by the Imperial Japanese Navy and converted to escort carriers. They were usually employed as...
escort carriers, so her conversion followed a similar plan. The main differences were retention of the original propulsion machinery, and addition of external bulges which helped increase stability.
On 1 November 1943, Shinyo was readied for sea trials and ran a shake-down cruise. The ship was commissioned into the fleet on 15 November 1943, and was subsequently assigned to the Grand Escort Command on 20 December. For the first six months of 1943, the ship conducted training maneuvers in the Home Islands. On 13 July 1944, she escorted the convoy Hi-69, including the escort carriers Taiyō
Japanese aircraft carrier Taiyo
Taiyō was the lead ship of Taiyō-class of escort carrier operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy in World War II.-Construction and Conversion:...
and Kaiyo
Japanese aircraft carrier Kaiyo
was a escort carrier operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy in World War II. The ship was originally built as the ocean liner Argentina Maru. She was purchased by the IJN on 9 December 1942, converted into an escort carrier, and renamed Kaiyo. The ship was primarily used as an aircraft transport,...
, which were carrying additional aircraft for the Philippines. Shinyo was tasked with providing aerial cover for the convoy. The convoy arrived on 20 July; on the 25th, Shinyo left with another convoy, bound for Singapore. The ship arrived on the 31st, and departed again four days later with the convoy Hi-70. The convoy consisted of eight transports, headed for Moji
Moji-ku, Kitakyushu
is a ward of Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. It is the former city of Moji which was one of five cities merged to create Kitakyūshū in 1963. It faces the city of Shimonoseki across the Kanmon Straits between Honshū and Kyūshū....
; Shinyo was joined by a pair of light cruiser
Light cruiser
A light cruiser is a type of small- or medium-sized warship. The term is a shortening of the phrase "light armored cruiser", describing a small ship that carried armor in the same way as an armored cruiser: a protective belt and deck...
s and several smaller craft. The convoy arrived on 15 September August, while Shinyo put in to Kure the following day.
On 8 September, Shinyo escorted the convoy Hi-75, consisting of nine transports and several destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
s and smaller craft, bound for Singapore. On the 13th, the convoy stopped briefly in Takao
Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung is a city located in southwestern Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait on the west. Kaohsiung, officially named Kaohsiung City, is divided into thirty-eight districts. The city is one of five special municipalities of the Republic of China...
, Formosa
Formosa
Formosa or Ilha Formosa is a Portuguese historical name for Taiwan , literally meaning, "Beautiful Island". The term may also refer to:-Places:* Formosa Strait, another name for the Taiwan Strait...
, before departing later that day. The convoy arrived on 22 September. Another convoy, Hi-76, left Singapore for Moji on 3 October, with Shinyo and several destroyers escorting it. The convoy temporarily stopped in Mihara
Mihara, Hiroshima
is a city located in Hiroshima, Japan.The city was founded on November 15, 1936.On March 22, 2005 the town of Daiwa, from Kamo District, the town of Kui, from Mitsugi District, and the town of Hongō, from Toyota District, merged with the old city of Mihara to form the new city of Mihara.As of March...
on 19–20 October; on the 22nd, Shinyo departed from the convoy and proceeded to the Saeki airbase, arriving on 24 October. The following day, she left for Kure. While there, she replenished fuel and supplies. On 7 November, she was ordered to cover the return of the carrier Jun'yō.
On 9 November, she was assigned to convoy Hi-81
Convoy Hi-81
was the designation for a fleet of Japanese transports that carried soldiers bound for Singapore and the Philippines during World War II. The transports were escorted by a large force of surface combatants including the escort carriers Shinyo and Akitsu Maru which were sunk in the Yellow Sea by...
, carrying aircraft for the Philippines. The convoy left Japan on 14 November. The escort consisted of six destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
s, protecting seven troopships carrying an army division and a tanker. On 15 November, while in the East China Sea
East China Sea
The East China Sea is a marginal sea east of China. It is a part of the Pacific Ocean and covers an area of 1,249,000 km² or 750,000 square miles.-Geography:...
, an American submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
sank one of the transports; two days later, another transport was sunk and the tanker was damaged. Later that night, Shinyo was torpedoed and sunk by the submarine . Spadefish hit her with as many as four torpedoes in quick succession. The carrier's unarmored fuel tanks exploded and started a massive fire that destroyed the ship and killed most of her crew. Only 70 men from her crew of 1,200 officers and men. Shinyo quickly sank stern first. Spadefish attempted to attack the convoy again, but was driven off by the escorts. Shinyo was formally stricken from the naval register on 10 January 1945.