Calling all Akagi (赤城) and Kaga (加賀) fans

[maurice de saxe]

Dan,

Thank you - very helpful in seeking out what I need.

Maurice

[TZoli]

I have a general question about the IJN carriers of Operation C / The Indian Ocean Raid. (IJN Akagi, Hiryu, Soryu, Shokaku, Zuikaku) were there any change compared to their early war / Pearl Harbour attack state?

[G-Opt]

A valid question, but are you asking about upgrades to the ships? Or, changes in their air groups? or what?

[TZoli]

A valid question, but are you asking about upgrades to the ships? Or, changes in their air groups? or what?

What changes were made to the ships is the are I'm searching for.

[Dan K]

There were no changes in fit for these ships between PH and Op C.

[TZoli]

Navypedia states that the Shokakus got their Type 21 Air Search Radar as well as 4 triple 25mm guns in 1942, though it does not states which month was this done.

[SeanF]

Navypedia states that the Shokakus got their Type 21 Air Search Radar as well as 4 triple 25mm guns in 1942, though it does not states which month was this done.

Well, considering Akagi and Kaga (and Hiryu and Soryu) didn't spend nearly as much time in home ports getting work done in early '42 as the Shokakus... then got whacked at Midway in mid '42, after which they were no longer around TO get work done...

Although Kaga DID get that third set of fore-deck braces added at some point... but was that before or after the Indian Ocean operation?

- Sean F.

[Dan K]

Best indications are that Kaga received the 3rd set of pillars before PH.

Back in 2011 (before the new tool Fujimi releases), a Japanese researcher ID'd those pillars on Kaga's bow enroute to PH.

[steviecee]

Looking thru the TROM's here https://www.combinedfleet.com/cvlist.htm they spent very little time in Kure or other ports that could make changes

[TZoli]

I see, so physically they are not different then when the war started. As for Shokakus it remains to be seen when they received the extra AA and radars. I presume then no paint change was applied as well?

[Dan K]

Shokaku received her Type 21 radar and two additional triple 25mmAA at the bow and stern during repairs following damage at the Coral Sea. She probably did not receive additional 25mm mounts fore and aft the island until repairs following the Battle of Santa Cruz.

Zuikaku received the same AA upgrade at the bow and stern during a refit in the first two weeks of August 1942, but did not receive a Type 21 radar until the very end of December/early January 1943. This also probably when she gained 25mm AA mounts around the bridge.

Shokaku was always in gray paint. Zuikaku did not recieve camo until the late summer of 1944.

[TZoli]

Thanks. So I can use the paint scheme of these carriers which was applied prior to Pearl Harbour.

[Dan K]

Yes.

[TZoli]

At pearl Harbour Akagi did not had the Hinomaru on the bow part of the flight deck, by Midway it had the Hinomaru with full white rectangle around it.
Now would she carry a Hinomaru by the Indian ocean raid or not, or a slightly modified one without the white rectangle?
Full rectangle:

Without the rectangle:

[Dan K]

No hinomaru until Midway.

This photo was taken in April, 1942, during Operation C

[Quaestor]

Good answer and an exceptional photo, Dan.

[Dan K]