Japanese Imperial Navy Aircraft Carriers

Japanese Imperial Navy Aircraft Carriers

It’s not mention in the Lightning in the night book how many aircraft carriers the Imperial Japanese Navy has in service by the eve of war on Augusts 1st 1945, but its mention in the book that the Japanese possess a fleet of aircraft carriers, therefore all aircraft carriers already in service ore being built at the time of the book publishing in December 1940 are in service with the Imperial Japanese Navy. No new aircraft carriers are build but during the 1940-1945 period but some ships already in service are converted into aircraft carriers which gives the Imperial Japanese Navy, 8 fleet aircraft carriers, 4 light aircraft carriers and 4 escort aircraft carriers for a total of 16 aircraft carriers.

 Hōshō-class aircraft carrier

Hōshō, in use as a training carrier

 Kaga-class aircraft carrier

Kaga

 Akagi-class aircraft carrier

Akagi

 Ryūjō-class light aircraft carrier

Ryūjō

 Ryūhō-class light aircraft carrier

Ryūhō

 Shinyo-class escort carrier

Shinyo

 Sōryū -class aircraft carrier

Sōryū Hiryūa, a modified Sōryū-class aircraft carrier

<span class="postbody" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;line-height:19px;"> Zuiho-class light aircraft carrier

<span class="postbody" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;line-height:19px;">Shōhō <span class="postbody" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;line-height:19px;">Zuihō

<span class="postbody" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;line-height:19px;"> Chitose-class aircraft carrier

<span class="postbody" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;line-height:19px;">Chitose <span class="postbody" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;line-height:19px;">Chiyoda

<span class="postbody" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;line-height:19px;"> Kaiyo-class escort carrier

<span class="postbody" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;line-height:19px;">Kaiyo

<span class="postbody" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;line-height:19px;"> Shōkaku-class aircraft carrier

<span class="postbody" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;line-height:19px;">Shōkaku <span class="postbody" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;line-height:19px;">Zuikaku

<span class="postbody" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;line-height:19px;"> Taiyō-class escort carrier

<span class="postbody" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;line-height:19px;">Unyō <span class="postbody" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;line-height:19px;">Chūyō <span class="postbody" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;line-height:19px;">Taiyō