Career
Ordered:
Laid down:	8 July 1936, Yokosuka
Launched:	15 November 1937
Commissioned:	5 July 1939
Fate:	Sunk by air attack in the battle of Midway on 5 June 1942
Struck:	25 September 1942
General Characteristics
Displacement:	19,500 tons (full load), 15,900 tons (standard)
Length:	728 ft 5 in (222 m)
Beam:	70 ft (21 m)
Draught:	24 ft 5 in (7.44 m)
Propulsion:	Geared steam turbines, 152,000 hp (113 MW), 4 screws
Speed:	34.5 knots (63.9 km/h)
Range:
Complement:	1,250
Armament:	Twelve 5 inch (100 mm) guns Twenty-six 25 mm guns Fifteen 13.2 mm machine guns
Aircraft:	73

Hiryu (Japanese: 飛龍, meaning "flying dragon") was a Soryu-class aircraft carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy. She took part in the attack on Pearl Harbor that started the Pacific War and she was destroyed on June 5, 1942 by air attack in the Battle of Midway. Japanese aircraft carrier Hiryu Downloaded from [1] File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Japanese-War-Ensign. ... July 8 is the 189th day of the year (190th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 176 days remaining. ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... November 15 is the 319th day of the year (320th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 46 days remaining. ... 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... July 5 is the 186th day of the year (187th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 179 days remaining. ... 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Combatants United States Japan Commanders Frank J. Fletcher Raymond A. Spruance Chuichi Nagumo Isoroku Yamamoto Strength Three carriers, about 50 support ships Four carriers, about 150 support ships Casualties 1 carrier, 1 destroyer sunk; 307 killed 4 carriers, 1 cruiser sunk; 2,500 killed The Battle of Midway took place... June 5 is the 156th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (157th in leap years), with 209 days remaining. ... This article is about the year. ... September 25 is the 268th day of the year (269th in leap years). ... This article is about the year. ... A machine gun is a fully-automatic firearm that is capable of firing bullets in rapid succession. ... An aircraft carrier is a warship whose main role is to deploy and recover aircraft—in effect acting as a sea-going airbase. ... Ensign of the Imperial Japanese Navy. ... Listen to this article (2 parts) Part 1 · Part 2 This audio file was created from an article revision dated 2006-01-12, and does not reflect subsequent edits to the article. ... US landings in the Pacific, 1942–1945 The Pacific War occurred in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in Asia. ... June 5 is the 156th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (157th in leap years), with 209 days remaining. ... This article is about the year. ... Combatants United States Japan Commanders Frank J. Fletcher Raymond A. Spruance Chuichi Nagumo Isoroku Yamamoto Strength Three carriers, about 50 support ships Four carriers, about 150 support ships Casualties 1 carrier, 1 destroyer sunk; 307 killed 4 carriers, 1 cruiser sunk; 2,500 killed The Battle of Midway took place...

The ship was built within the specificiations of the Washington Naval Treaty that was in place at the time, which placed limits on its tonnage and armament. As a result, the Hiryu was relatively small as a purpose-built aircraft carrier as compared to her contemporaries during World War II, carrying around 70 aircraft. The Washington Naval Treaty limited the naval armaments of its five signatories. ...

History

Early Operations

In 1941, commanded by Captain Kaku Tomeo, Hiryu was assigned to Carrier Division 2. On 7 December 1941 she was with the Strike Force in the attack on Pearl Harbor. She launched one wave of planes against the island of Oahu: ten Kates targeted Arizona, California, eight Kates targeted West Virginia, Oklahoma, and Helena and six Zeros attacked US air bases at Wheeler Field and Barbers Point. December 7 is the 341st day (342nd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the movie, see 1941 (film) 1941 (MCMXLI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Listen to this article (2 parts) Part 1 · Part 2 This audio file was created from an article revision dated 2006-01-12, and does not reflect subsequent edits to the article. ... Oahu (usually Oahu outside Hawaiian and Hawaiian English), the Gathering Place, is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous island in the State of Hawaii. ... The Nakajima B5N (Japanese: 中島 B5N, Allied reporting name: Kate) was the Imperial Japanese Navys standard torpedo bomber for the first years of World War II. Although, like its Allied counterparts the TBD Devastator and Fairey Swordfish, the type was obsolescent by 1939, B5Ns were flown nearly throughout the... The USS Arizona (BB-39) was a Pennsylvania-class battleship of the United States Navy. ... USS California (BB-44), a Tennessee-class battleship, was the fifth ship of the United States Navy named in honor of the 31st state. ... USS West Virginia (BB-48), a Colorado-class battleship, was the second ship of the United States Navy named in honor of the 35th state. ... USS Oklahoma (BB-37), a Nevada-class battleship was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for the 46th state. ... The second USS Helena (CL-50) of the United States Navy was a light cruiser damaged in the attack on Pearl Harbor, and subsequently active in the Pacific War until she was sunk at the battle of Kula Gulf in 1943. ... Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero Model 21 (cowling removed) The Mitsubishi A6M was a light-weight carrier-based fighter aircraft employed by the Imperial Japanese Navy from 1940 to 1945. ...

From 21 December to 23 December she launched air strikes against Wake Island. In January 1942 she supported the invasion of Ambon in the Moluccas. On 19 February 1942, together with her sister ship Soryu she launched an air strike against Darwin, Australia. December 21 is the 355th day of the year (356th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... December 23 is the 357th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (358th in leap years). ... The Battle of Ambon occurred on the island of Ambon in the Dutch East Indies, on January 30-February 3, 1942 during the Pacific campaign of World War II. During 1941, as the western Allies perceived the possibility of war with Japan, Ambon was seen to be a strategic location... This page is about the geography and history of the island group in Indonesia — for the political entities encompassing the islands, see Maluku (Indonesian province) and North Maluku. ... February 19 is the 50th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... Soryu (Japanese: 蒼龍 sōryū, meaning blue (or green) dragon) was an aircraft carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy. ... The two Japanese air raids on Darwin, Australia on February 19, 1942 were by far the biggest ever attack by a foreign power against the Australian mainland. ... Darwin is the territorial capital and most populous city of the Northern Territory. ...

In March 1942 she took part in the battle of the Java Sea, attacking Allied shipping at Tjilatjep and Christmas Island and sinking the Dutch freighter Poelau Bras. In April 1942 she took part in the Indian Ocean raid, striking Royal Navy bases at Colombo and Trincomalee Ceylon and helping to sink the cruisers Cornwall, Dorsetshire, the aircraft carrier Hermes, and her escort destroyer Vampire. The Battle of the Java Sea was a major naval battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II. Allied ships suffered a disastrous defeat at the hand of the Imperial Japanese Navy, in action over several days in February-March 1942. ... The Indian Ocean raid was a naval sortie by the Fast Carrier Strike Force of the Imperial Japanese Navy from 31 March to 10 April 1942 against Allied shipping and bases in the Indian Ocean. ... The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the senior service of the British armed services, being the oldest of its three branches. ... Nickname: Motto: Official website: [2] Location [[Image:|250px||Location of Colombo]] Government Colombo Division, Colombo District Mayor Prassanna Gunawardena (United National Party) Geographical characteristics Area Total 14. ... Bay of Trincomalee (View from Temple) Trincomalee (?? in Sinhala; திருகோணமலை in Tamil) is a port city on the northeast coast of Sri Lanka, about 110 miles northeast of Kandy. ... HMS Cornwall (56) was a 9,750-ton County-class heavy cruiser of the Royal Navy. ... HMS Dorsetshire (pennant number 40) was a heavy cruiser of the Royal Navy, named after the English county (now called Dorset). ... HMS Hermes (95) was the first purpose built aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy, and the second in the world after the Imperial Japanese Navys Hosho. ... HMAS Vampire (D68/I68) was a V-class destroyer of the British and Royal Australian navies. ...

On 19 April 1942 she pursued the US carriers Hornet and Enterprise after they launched the Doolittle Raid, but failed to catch them. April 19 is the 109th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (110th in leap years). ... This article is about the year. ... The seventh USS Hornet (CV-8) of the United States Navy was an aircraft carrier of World War II, notable for launching the Doolittle Raid, as a participant in the Battle of Midway, and for action in the Solomons before being mortally wounded in the Battle of the Santa Cruz... USS Enterprise (CV-6) was the sixth aircraft carrier of the United States Navy and the seventh US Navy ship of that name. ... Combatants United States Japan Commanders Jimmy Doolittle N/A Strength 16 B-25 Mitchells N/A Casualties 2 dead, 8 POWs about 50 dead, 400 injured The Doolittle Raid of April 18, 1942, was the first carrier-based air raid by the United States to strike the Japanese mainland during...

Midway

On 4 June 1942 she took part in the battle of Midway. At 04:30 she launched a strike against Midway Island, destroying planes and damaging installations. After Kaga, Soryu and Akagi were disabled by air attack at about 10:25, Hiryu was the only operational carrier left to the Japanese. She launched two waves of planes at 10:50 and 12:45 against Yorktown, heavily damaging the American carrier (she was sunk later by I-168). June 4 is the 155th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (156th in leap years), with 210 days remaining. ... This article is about the year. ... Combatants United States Japan Commanders Frank J. Fletcher Raymond A. Spruance Chuichi Nagumo Isoroku Yamamoto Strength Three carriers, about 50 support ships Four carriers, about 150 support ships Casualties 1 carrier, 1 destroyer sunk; 307 killed 4 carriers, 1 cruiser sunk; 2,500 killed The Battle of Midway took place... Kaga (Japanese: 加賀, the ancient Kaga Province, in present-day Ishikawa Prefecture) was an aircraft carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy. ... Soryu (Japanese: 蒼龍 sōryū, meaning blue (or green) dragon) was an aircraft carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy. ... The Akagi (Japanese: 赤城, meaning red castle, a volcano in the Kanto region of Japan) was an aircraft carrier serving with the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. // Description Akagi was laid down as an Amagi class battlecruiser at Kure, Japan. ... // Early Career The third USS Yorktown (CV-5) was lead ship of the Yorktown class aircraft carrier of World War II, sunk at the Battle of Midway. ... The I-168 was a Japanese Kaidai (Large Gun) or more precisely KD6 submarine of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. At the Battle of Midway she sunk two American warships: the aircraft carrier Yorktown and the destroyer Hammann. ...

Hiryu shortly before sinking during the Battle of Midway

Hiryu under B-17 attack in the battle of Midway

While preparing to launch a third strike, Hiryu was attacked at 17:03 by thirteen dive bombers from Enterprise. She was hit by four bombs, three on the forward flight deck and one amidships beside the bridge. The explosions started fires among the aircraft on the hangar deck. Although Hiryu's propulsion wasn't affected, the fires could not be brought under control. At 21:23 her engines stopped and at 01:58 a major explosion rocked the ship. The order to abandon ship was given shortly afterwards and the survivors were taken off by the destroyers Kazagumo and Makigumo. Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi and Captain Kaku remained on board as Hiryu was scuttled at 05:10 by torpedoes from Makigumo. She sank at 09:12, taking 35 men down with her (another 350 or so had been killed by the bombs, fires and explosions). Thirty-five were rescued by the US Navy and taken prisoner. Image File history File links Hiryu_burning. ... Image File history File links Hiryu_burning. ... Combatants United States Japan Commanders Frank J. Fletcher Raymond A. Spruance Chuichi Nagumo Isoroku Yamamoto Strength Three carriers, about 50 support ships Four carriers, about 150 support ships Casualties 1 carrier, 1 destroyer sunk; 307 killed 4 carriers, 1 cruiser sunk; 2,500 killed The Battle of Midway took place... (Official caption:) Photo #USAF 75712AC Hiryu Under B-17 attack at Midway Hiryu under B-17 attack, Midway, June 4, 1942. ... (Official caption:) Photo #USAF 75712AC Hiryu Under B-17 attack at Midway Hiryu under B-17 attack, Midway, June 4, 1942. ... A B-17 on a bombing run. ... Combatants United States Japan Commanders Frank J. Fletcher Raymond A. Spruance Chuichi Nagumo Isoroku Yamamoto Strength Three carriers, about 50 support ships Four carriers, about 150 support ships Casualties 1 carrier, 1 destroyer sunk; 307 killed 4 carriers, 1 cruiser sunk; 2,500 killed The Battle of Midway took place... USS Enterprise (CV-6) was the sixth aircraft carrier of the United States Navy and the seventh US Navy ship of that name. ... Vice-Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi (山口 多聞 Yamaguchi Tamon, January 1, 1892-June 4, 1942), was one of Japans most able admirals. ...

External links

• Tabular record of movement from combinedfleet.com
• WW2DB: Hiryu