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Aircraft Carrier Taiho
Taiho (`Great Phoenix') was the most advanced and most powerful Japanese aircraft carrier built during the war. It was destroyed only three months after its commissioning. The work on this ship started in 1939. Initially, it was intended to be an improved version of Zuikaku but as the work progressed its design changed dramatically and it became a completely new model of aircraft carrier. Taiho was launched on July 10, 1941 and commissioned on March 7, 1944. After that it went to Singapore and from there to a naval base at the Tavi-Tavi island. During Marianna Islands battle on June 19, 1944 the ship was hit by a torpedo launched by an American Albacor submarine. After six hours of fire, there was a powerful explosion caused by leaking aviation fuel. Taiho sank together with 1650 of its crew.
Taiho's total displacement was 37,270 tons, main engine power - 160,000 hps, maximum speed - 33 knots. Flight deck length was 257 meters, width - 30 meters.
It was armed with six new 100 mm twin artillery installations and 17 three-barrel 25 mm automatic anti-aircraft guns. Its airgroup included 18 torpedo bombers, 27 dive bombers, 3 reconnaissance planes and 27 fighters.
Aircraft Carrier Taiho in the "Pacific Storm"
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