Newsgroups: sci.military
Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!watmath!att!att!cbnews!cbnews!military
From: swilliam@dtoa1.dt.navy.mil (Williams)
Subject: Re: Left-handed carriers
Organization: David Taylor Research Center, Bethesda, MD
Date: Tue, 20 Nov 90 01:55:36 GMT
Approved: military@att.att.com
Message-ID: <1990Nov20.015536.24330@cbnews.att.com>
References: <1990Nov15.013451.1767@cbnews.att.com> <1990Nov16.051921.21655@cbnews.att.com>
Sender: military@cbnews.att.com (William B. Thacker)
Lines: 51



From: swilliam@dtoa1.dt.navy.mil (Williams)

>One odd thing is that the four Japanese carriers mentioned were
>not all that similar for "sister" ships.

Very true for Akaga & Kaga, and also for Hiryu & Soryu.  However, the
Shokaku and Zuikaku were identical twins.

>Hiryu was considerably larger than Soryu (presumably Soryu was built
>on restricted displacement due to treaties that expired or were ignored
>for Hiryu - I'd have to check the dates).

After World War I, Great Britian, United States, and Japan signed
the Washington Treaty of 1924.  It set a 5:5:3 ratio that these countries
could build naval ships.  For example, for every 5 tons of shipping
that Great Britian and United States built, Japan was allowed to build
3 tons.

I cannot remember what the maximum tonnage limit was set for aircraft
carriers; I think it was something like 135,000 tons.  The British decided
not to build up to the limit, and the United States did reach the limit
(this explains why the Wasp was restricted to 14,500 tons).

Unfortunately, Japan cheated in this game.  While Akagi and Kaga were
listed at 22,500 tons, Akagi was in fact a 36,800 ton carrier, and Kaga,
38,200 ton carrier.  Similarly, the Soryu was listed at 10,000 tons, but 
in fact she was a 18,000 ton carrier.

That was why, after the Battle of Midway, everyone claimed that he sank
either Akagi or Kaga, while no one claimed either Hiryu or Soryu. 
Everyone said that he sank a LARGE carrier, not a TINY carrier.

The Hiryu was built after the Washington Treaty was discarded.  The Hiryu
was a slighter larger carrier (19,500 tons) with more armor protection 
over the Soryu.

>Don't be misled by the listing, say, of Enterprise and Hornet
>together under Spruance at Midway, they travelled together but
>separated for combat.)

The United States Navy had the problem of covering the whole Pacific
Ocean with so few ships in the early years of World War II.  Hence,
the aircraft carriers operated on their own; they were brought together 
if a battle was anticipated.  For example, USS Lexington and USS Yorktown 
were sent to Coral Sea to impede the Japanese invasion, and USS Enterprise, 
USS Hornet, and USS Yorktown were sent to Midway Island to assist in 
the defense of the island.


