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Flagship of the Second Carrier Division, a Hiryu high-altitude Kate was responsible for the devastating bomb impact that detonated Arizona's forward magazines. After much success in the South Pacific, Hiryu was among four Japanese carriers that participated in the Battle of Midway. Her strikes of Vals and Kates inflicted serious damage to USS Yorktown, causing her to be in a vulnerable position to be attacked and finally sunk by the submarine I-168. The last of the four carriers to be discovered and attacked by US aircraft, Hiryu received four bombs forward from a hodge-podge of leftover SBD Dauntlesses launched from USS Enterprise. As were the other three Japanese carriers, she was reduced to an inferno. Abandoned, still afloat despite a torpedo impact from a Japanese destroyer, Hiryu wallowed throughout the night. Photographs of the wreck were taken the next day by an aircraft from Hosho, and the Hiryu sank shortly thereafter on June 5, 1942. |
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DIMENSIONS:23,200 tons (full load) Waterline Length: 700' Length Overall: 732' Flight Deck Length: 743' 9" Flight Deck Width: 85' 5" |
ARMAMENT:
26 × 25mm (dual mountings) 15 × 13.2mm machine guns |
AIRCRAFT: |
MACHINERY:Boilers: 8 Kanpon Horsepower: 151,000 SHP Speed: 34 Knots |
PHOTO GALLERY |
PORT VIEW, AT HIGH SPEED |