Auxiliary Seaplane Carriers
Wakamiya
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Fleet Seaplane Carriers
Chitose Class
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Other Seaplane Ships
Akitsushima Class (seaplane tenders)
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Concept/Program: A freighter captured during the Russo-Japanese war and converted to a minimal seaplane carrier following service as a transport. This ship did not immediately lead to additional aviation ships, but did set the pattern for later seaplane carriers.
Design/Conversion: Canvas shelters fitted over well decks; cargo booms used for hoisting aircraft.
Modifications: Fitted with a flying-off platform for landplanes in 1920.
Departure from Service/Disposal: Became a trials ship in 1924.
Raided German installations in 1914. Reclassified as an aircraft carrier 4/1920 and fitted with a flying-off deck. Trials ship after 1924, stricken 1 April 1931 and subsequently scrapped.
Concept/Program: Two oilers given minimal conversions to act as seaplane carriers during the inter-war years. They could operate as tankers while in the seaplane role, and later returned to tanker duties exclusively.
Design/Conversion: Large platforms built up ahead and astern of the bridge and several cranes were fitted.
Departure from Service/Disposal: Both returned to tanker duties.
Saw combat during the Sino-Japanese war. Reconverted to an oiler in 1942. Scrapped 1947.
Recoverted to oiler 1931. Torpedoed and sunk 8/1942.
Concept/Program: A third oiler/seaplane carrier, apparently a replacement for Tsurumi.
Design/Conversion: Same as Notoro class.
Departure from Service/Disposal: Designated as a seaplane tender in 1940, but reconverted to a tanker in 1943.
Redesignated as a seaplane tender 1940, reconverted to a tanker 1943. Sunk at Hong Kong 5 April 1945, hulk scrapped postwar.
Concept/Program: Various merchant ships - generally similar, but not identical - taken over and converted in 1937-1942.
Design/Conversion: Fitted with two catapults in the aft well deck, cranes fitted to recover aircraft. Other modifications were minor.
Operational: Saw extensive service along the Chinese coast.
Departure from Service/Disposal: Most were converted to transports early in WWII. All eventually fell victim to US submarines or aircraft.
Displacement: 6807 GRT
Dimensions: 453 x 61 x 31 feet/138 x 18.6 x 9.4 meters
Propulsion: 1 diesel, 1 shaft, 6000 shp
Built by Harima SB, completed 1936; taken over for naval service as seaplane tender 1937. Returned to merchant service 1939, taken over as transport in 1941 and sunk by US submarines Bream and Ray 4 November 1944.
Displacement: 6853 GRT
Dimensions: 479 x 62 x 30 feet/146 x 19 x 9 meters
Propulsion: 1 diesel, 1 shaft, 7600 shp
Built by Kawasaki, Kobe, completed 1937; taken over for naval service as seaplane tender 1937. Became aircraft transport 1938, then seaplane carrier in 1939. Sunk 28 April 1943 by US submarine Scamp.
Displacement: 6863 GRT
Dimensions: 479 x 62 x 30 feet/146 x 19 x 9 meters
Propulsion: 1 diesel, 1 shaft, 7600 shp
Built by Kawasaki, Kobe, completed 1938; taken over for naval service as a seaplane carrier in 1941. Sunk 23 October 1944 by US submarine Sawfish.
Displacement: 6863 GRT
Dimensions: 479 x 62 x 30 feet/146 x 19 x 9 meters
Propulsion: 1 diesel, 1 shaft, 7600 shp
Built by Kawasaki, Kobe, completed 1937; taken over for naval service as a seaplane carrier in 1941. Became a transport in 1942. Damaged by US air strike and beached 25 July 1945. Presumably scrapped postwar.
Displacement: 6863 GRT
Dimensions: 479 x 62 x 30 feet/146 x 19 x 9 meters
Propulsion: 1 diesel, 1 shaft, 7600 shp
Built by Kawasaki, Kobe, completed 1937; taken over for naval service as a seaplane carrier 1942. Became a transport in 1943. Sunk 30 April 1945 by US aircraft.
Displacement: 8407 GRT
Dimensions: 456 x 61 x 30 feet/139 x 19 x 9 meters
Propulsion: 1 diesel, 1 shaft, 7600 shp
Built by Kawasaki, Kobe, completed 1936; taken over for naval service as a seaplane carrier in 1938. Returned to owners in 1939, then taken over as a transport in 1941. Sunk 7 October 1944 by US submarines Baya and Hawkbill.
Displacement: 7189 GRT
Dimensions: 479 x 62 x 32 feet/146 x 19 x 9.7 meters
Propulsion: 2 diesels, 2 shafts, 16,000 shp
Built by Mitsubishi, Nagasaki, completed 1940; taken over for naval service as a seaplane carrier in 1941. Became a transport in 1942. Damaged by US submarine Harder 22 June 1943 and beached to prevent sinking; stricken and presumably scrapped postwar.
Displacement: 7189 GRT
Dimensions: 479 x 62 x 32 feet/146 x 19 x 9.7 meters
Propulsion: 2 diesels, 2 shafts, 16,000 shp
Built by Mitsubishi, Nagasaki, completed 1939; taken over for naval service as a seaplane carrier in 1941. Became a transport in 1942. Sunk by U.S. submarine Spadefish 28 January 1945.
Displacement: 8360 GRT
Dimensions: 446 x 60 x 40 feet/136 x 18 x 12 meters
Propulsion: unknown
Built by Mitsubishi, Nagoya, completed 1940; taken over for naval service as a seaplane carrier in 1941. Became a transport in 1943. Sunk 26 May 1944 by U.S. submarine Cabrila.
Concept/Program: Japan's first new-construction seaplane carriers; Japan's ships of this type were the world's only purpose-built seaplane carriers, and by far the best seaplane carriers commissioned. They were meant for operations with the fleet in a scouting role. Built as fleet part of the "Shadow Program", they were meant to be easily convertible to fleet oilers, submarine tenders, or light carriers. Following the carrier losses early in WWII both underwent reconstruction as carriers, but had fairly short and unproductive careers.
Design: Cruiser-style hull with guns and small superstructure forward, seaplane deck aft. Seaplane facilities included 4 catapults, 5 cranes, an extensive track system for moving aircraft on deck, a large platform forming a roof over part of the seaplane deck, and a below-decks hangar.
Modificiations: Modified in 1941 to carry and launch 12 midget submarines; the subs were stored in the aircraft hangar and launched through a stern door/gate. Seaplane capacity was reduced to 12 aircraft.
Departure from Service/Disposal: Both converted to light fleet carriers in 1943-44 and subsequently lost during Leyte Gulf, while acting as decoys.
Sailed with the main strike force at Midway but saw no combat. Damaged at Eastern Solomons, 1942.
Reconstructed as a light carrier at Sasebo Navy Yard 1943 to 1 Jan 1944. Bombed and sunk during Leyte Gulf, 25 October 1944, while serving as a decoy.
Sailed with the main strike force at Midway but saw no combat.
Rebuilt as light carrier at Yokosuka Navy Yard 1942 to 31 Oct 1943. Disabled by aircraft, sunk by cruiser and destroyer gunfire during Leyte Gulf, 25 October 1944, while serving as a decoy.
Concept/Program: A follow-on to the Chitose class. She would have been converted to a carrier if she had survived long enough.
Design: Essentially the same as Chitose class except there was no platform over the seaplane deck, and she had diesel engines.
Modifications: Fitted to operate 12 midget subs in 1941; 2 additional triple 25 mm AA added.
Operational: Operated in support of invasions for most of her career.
Departure from Service/Disposal: Sunk in 1942.
Sunk by submarine Drum 2 May 1942.
Aircraft: 20 seaplanes
Concept/Program: A follow-on to Mizuho. She would have been converted to a carrier if she had survived long enough.
Design: Essentially the same as Mizuho but with more powerful engines, re-arranged guns, and fitted to carry 700 mines as an alternative to seaplanes.
Modifications: Fitted to operate 12 midget subs in 1942.
Departure from Service/Disposal: Sunk in 1943.
Sailed with the main strike force at Midway but saw no combat. Operated as a troop transport during Bougainville operations; sunk by US aircraft in this role 22 July 1943.
Concept/Program: The only seaplane tender completed by Japan. Her intent was similar to US ships - to provide mobile base facilities in forward areas. Three sisters ships were cancelled, as were plans to build six smaller and one larger seaplane tenders.
Design: Small hull similar to IJN training cruisers, small superstructure forward, huge crane at stern, seaplane working deck aft. No hangar.
Departure from Service/Disposal: Sunk in 1944.
Sunk by US aircraft 24 September 1944.
Concept/Program: Large, fast fleet scouting cruisers equipped with extensive seaplane facilities.
Design: Initially designed as light cruisers (4 triple 6.1/50 DP), but completed with 8" guns due to expiration of treaties. All guns were forward, with seaplane facilities occupying the aft half of the ship. In other aspects they followed typical Japanese "Type A" cruiser design practices.
Modifications: Fitted with 57 25 mm AA 6/1944
Operational: Often operated as primary escorts and scouts for carrier striking forces.
Departure from Service/Disposal: Both sunk by US aircraft late in the war.
Bombed and sunk at Kure by US aircraft 24 July 1945. Hulk salvaged and scrapped in 1948.
Sunk by US aircraft torpedoes at Samar 25 Oct 1944.
Concept/Program: Taking the Tone concept one step farther, this ship was rebuilt with a seaplane flight deck over the aft one-third of the ship following damage at Midway. This was intended as an emergency measure to alleviate the carrier crisis.
Design/Conversion: Originally built as a light cruiser (5 triple 6.1/50), then reconstructed to correct structural defects, then rebuilt as a heavy cruiser (5 dual 8/50). After major damage at Midway she was rebuilt with a seaplane deck over the aft 1/3 of the ship.
Operational: Probably saw little service as a seaplane ship.
Departure from Service/Disposal: Sunk at Leyte.
Damaged by cruiser and destroyer gunfire, US aircraft and collision with friendly ship in Surigao Strait 25 Oct 1944 and scuttled.
Concept/Program: Originally planned as a flagship for scouting squadrons operating in support of submarine operations, with extensive command/flagship facilities. The one completed ship served as a conventional cruiser, and the remainder of the class was cancelled.
Design: Typical light cruiser design, but with extremely large catapult and hangar at the stern. She was completed with a conventional catapult in place of the larger device, and operated only two planes due to the aircraft shortage.
Modifications: Carried up to 52 25 mm AA during WWII.
Departure from Service/Disposal: Sunk in the late-war fleet destruction raids.
Bombed and sunk at Kure by US aircraft 28 July 1945. Hulk raised and scrapped in 1948.
Concept/Program: Due to the extreme carrier losses at Midway, two battleships were rebuilt with seaplane decks in place of their aft 14" gun turrets. They were useless in this role due to a lack of aircraft.
Design/Conversion: Aft two turrets removed, flight deck, hangar and cranes were fitted. There were corresponding modifications to secondary armament, and increased light AA armament. The planes were to be catapulted from the deck, then recovered from the sea.
Modifications: AA increased to 104 25 mm and 6 4.7 inch rocket launchers in 1944. Catapults removed 10/1944.
Operational: Apparently never embarked any aircraft. By 1944 they had been reduced to service as decoy ships at Leyte Gulf. They were inactive late in the war.
Departure from Service/Disposal: Sunk in the late-war raids; hulks scrapped postwar.
Bombed and seriously damaged 24 July 1945, bombed and sunk near Kure 28 July 1945. Salvaged and scrapped postwar.
Bombed and seriously damaged 24 July 1945, bombed and sunk near Kure 28 July 1945. Salvaged and scrapped postwar.
