The Hiryu

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The Hiryu, literally meaning “flying dragon,” was a Soryu-class aircraft carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. It 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. The ship was built within the specifications 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 a relatively small purpose-built aircraft carrier, carrying only around 70 aircrafts, as compared to its contemporaries during World War II, which carried about double that amount. In 1941, the Hiryu, under the command of Captain Kaku Tomeo, was assigned to Carrier Division 2. On December 7, 1941, it was with the Strike Force in the attack on Pearl Harbor. It launched one wave of planes against the island of Oahu: ten Kates targeted the Arizona and the California, eight Kates targeted the West Virginia, the Oklahoma, and the Helena, and six Zeroes attacked US air bases at Wheeler Field and Barbers Point. From December 21 to December 23, the Hiryu launched air strikes against Wake Island. In January of 1942, it was present during the invasion of Ambon in the Moluccas. On February 19, 1942, it launched an air strike with its ‘sister ship,’ the Soryu, on Darwin, Australia. In March of 1942, the Hiryu took part in the Battle of the Java Sea, attacking Allied shipping at Tjilatjep and Christmas Island, and sinking the Dutch freighter, the Poelau Bras. In April of 1942, it took part in the Indian Ocean raid, striking Royal Navy bases at Colombo and Trincomalee Ceylon and helping to sink the cruisers, the Cornwall and the Dorsetshire, the aircraft carrier, the Hermes, and her escort destroyer, the Vampire. On April 19, 1942, the Hiryu, along with the Soryu, unsuccessfully pursued the US carriers, the Hornet and the Enterprise, after they launched the Doolittle Raid. On June 4, 1942, it took part in the Battle of Midway. It first launched a strike against Midway Island, destroying planes and damaging installations. After the Kaga, the Soryu, and the Akagi were disabled by air attack, the Hiryu was the only operational Japanese carrier left. It launched two waves of planes against and heavily damaged the American carrier, the Yorktown. However, thirteen dive-bombers from the Enterprise attacked the Hiryu while it prepared to launch a third strike. It was hit by a total of four bombs, three on the forward flight deck and one amidships beside the bridge. The explosions started fires among the aircrafts on the hanger deck. Although the Hiryu’s propulsion wasn’t affected, the fires could not be brought under control. 4 hours and 20 minutes later, its engines stopped and an hour and 35 minutes after that, a major explosion rocked the ship. The order to abandon ship was given shortly afterwards and the destroyers, the Kazagumo and the Makigumo took the survivors off the ship. However, Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi and Captain Kaku remained on board as torpedoes from the Makigumo scuttled the Hiryu. It sank 4 hours after being scuttled, taking 35 men down with it; another approximately 350 men had been killed earlier on board by bombs, fires, and explosions. 35 men were rescued by the US Navy and taken prisoner. Although being one of the smallest Japanese aircraft carriers in World War II, the Hiryu will still be known for its many accomplishments for the Imperial Japanese Navy in World War II.