| title (item) | field_cer_web | field_cer_navbox | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shōkaku |
Shōkaku (翔鶴) – The first ‘Crane’ of the newest aircraft carrier class (鶴, tsuru = crane), which was the second generation of Japanese aircraft carriers, becoming a critical reinforcement for the Imperial Japanese Navy before the outbreak of the Pacific War. Shōkaku was the flagship of the 5th Carrier Division, which formed in August 1941. At the time of the attack on Pear Harbor, the ship was incorporated into Kidō Butai, and in January 1942, took part in the landing on Rabaul. She participated in the Indian Ocean operation in early April and in the battle of the Coral Sea in early May, where she was badly damaged. Due to the necessary repairs in Japan, the carrier would not see action during the battle of Midway, yet in the second week of June 1942, the Combined Fleet planned to send her to the North Pacific to oppose the possible American counteroffensive. Finally, only her sister, Zuikaku, was ordered to link up with the 4th Carrier Squadron (Ryūjō and Jun’yō). Finally, the Americans decided to adopt a war of attrition against Kiska and Attu and all the Japanese carriers were withdrawn from the area. After the enemy landing on Guadalcanal, the Aleutian Islands campaign became a secondary theatre of operations for the Combined Fleet. (Artwork by Grzegorz Nowak)