Japanese aircraft carrier Shinyo

:"For the Japanese suicide boats, see Shinyo."

"Shinyo" was an escort carrier operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy, converted from the German ocean liner "Scharnhorst", which had been purchased by the Japanese Navy. The "Scharnhorst" had been trapped in Kure, Japan, following the outbreak of World War II in Europe, which precluded any attempt for the ship to return to Germany.

Conversion

The ship had been planned to be operated as a troop ship, but following the Japanese defeat at the Battle of Midway, it was decided to convert the liner into an escort carrier. [Stille, Mark: "Imperial Japanese Navy Aircraft Carriers: 1921-1945", page 42. Osprey Books, 2006. ISBN 978-1-84603-009-3] Conversion work on "Sharnhorst" began in September 1942. Steel from the uncompleted hull of the cancelled fourth "Yamato" class battleship was used in the conversion process. "Scharnhorst's" 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 that "Shinyo" retained her original propulsion machinery, and the addition of external bulges which helped increase stability. "Shinyo" was fitted with two aircraft elevators and a single hangar, giving her the ability to operate 27 aircraft, with a further 6 spare airframes.

Armament

"Shinyo" was armed with four Type 89 mounts. Ten triple 25 mm anti-aircraft guns were also mounted initially, for a total of 30 guns. That total was increased to 50 total guns in a refit in July 1944. [Stille, Mark: "Imperial Japanese Navy Aircraft Carriers: 1921-1945", page 43. Osprey Books, 2006. ISBN 978-1-84603-009-3]

ervice history

"Shinyo" was commissioned into the fleet in December 1943, and was subsequently assigned to the Grand Escort Command. Starting in July 1944, "Shinyo" escorted convoys. "Shinyo" was escorting a convoy bound for Singapore in November 1944 when she was attacked and sunk by the American submarine "Spadefish". "Shinyo's" weakly armored fuel tanks exploded and started a massive fire that destroyed the ship and killed most of her crew.

References

External links

* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/japan/shinyo-cve.htm Global Security]