My thinking regarding Junyo’s light AA fit as of October, 1942 at Santa Cruz has evolved and departed from the common wisdom, that of Junyo retaining the same “bare bones” AA fit as when she entered service five months earlier, prior to the Aleutians operation. Certainly every reference to date, including the most recent Model Art Ship Modeling Special v63, depicts her (and by extension, Hiyo) in that minimalistic fashion. Yet, as far as I know, there are no photographs, detailed schematics, official drawings, or even TROM data that can actually confirm that assertion.
I believe that, at the very least, both ships would have received their two triple 25mm AA emplacements at the stern; Hiyo prior to its commissioning in late July, Junyo during its dockyard visit during the last two weeks in July, 1942 at Kure. For Junyo, this would have at the same time it received its Type 21 radar and its Type 94 High Angle directors (though the latest Model Art vol. 63 indicates that she may have just received shields for the Type 91 units then installed.)
I have been looking at what transpired with the other carriers since May, 1942 at Coral Sea, when the available defenses did little to halt the damaging of Shokaku and the sinking of Shoho. My thinking is that the IJN recognized shortly after Coral Sea that it’s carriers were already vulnerable to air attack in terms of AA, and that plans were made to upgrade the carriers as they returned to dock. This appears to have been an ongoing process. Photographic evidence exists for the following:
Shokaku underwent considerable repair at Kure in June, 1942, and her AA armament boosted by two triple 25mm emplacements at both the bow and stern. Photos at Santa Cruz show an additional triple 25mmAA position on the flight deck aft the island, surrounded by sandbags. Presumably, the other unit in front of the island was also in place at this time.
Zuikaku received the same triple 25mmAA emplacements at the bow and stern before Santa Cruz, probably in early August, 1942, also at Kure. I’m not certain that she took on the 25mm AA positions fore and aft bridge at this time, but it is likely. (Btw, the box crew’s quarters for men servicing the bow and stern mounts do not appear to have been added as of yet. Possibly true for Shokaku as well.)
Zuiho received the same two triple 25mm emplacements at the stern , as well as additional positions on her bow on the main deck level at Sasebo, in late July/early August, 1942.
Perhaps most significant is that, Taiyo, a CVE, received the same two triple 25mm stern emplacements in late May, 1942. They are prominent in photographs taken October 16, 1942 at Kure as she entered drydock to repair torpedo damage.
So, I believe the same vulnerabilities were recognized in Hiyo and Junyo and addressed during that summer. This work would have been considered urgent, given the rise in importance of the CarDiv 2 ships after the Midway debacle. So, I think they received at least the stern 25mm emplacements. I also believe that they likely received at least one more 25mm emplacement on or forward the bridge. Possibly also to the outside on a sponson. Admittedly, my reasoning is based on circumstantial evidence, but I find I cannot ignore the transition then underway in the IJN. My two cents worth.
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Zuikaku, Eastern Solomons, August 1942 from Shokaku.jpg [ 85.41 KiB | Viewed 4374 times ]
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Shokaku Flight Ops for Santa Cruz 10-1942.jpg [ 122.53 KiB | Viewed 4374 times ]
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Zuiho, S Pacific, Sept 1942, possible from Shokaku sm.jpg [ 92.09 KiB | Viewed 4374 times ]
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Taiyo torpedo damage, Kure drydock, Oct 1942 Fukui CV vol #2 alt.jpg [ 174.75 KiB | Viewed 4374 times ]
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Last edited by Dan K on Mon Mar 20, 2017 8:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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