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Destination’s Journey

It’s About the Journey Not Just the Destination

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Shokaku Just After Her Launch

Shokaku Japanese Aircraft Carrier

Shokaku Japanese Aircraft Carrier

Shōkaku was an aircraft carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy, the lead ship of her class. Along with her sister ship Zuikaku, she took part in several key naval battles during the Pacific War, including the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands before being torpedoed and sunk by a U.S. submarine at the Battle of the Philippine Sea.

Shokaku in 1942 Via GNU Free Documentation License
Shokaku in 1942 Via GNU Free Documentation License

Launch

The chief shipbuilders of Shōkaku pose with the ship just prior to launching.
The chief shipbuilders of Shōkaku pose with the ship just prior to launching.
Shōkaku is launched from Yokosuka's second construction slip on June 1, 1939
Shōkaku is launched from Yokosuka’s second construction slip on June 1, 1939
Shokaku Just After Her Launch
Shokaku Just After Her Launch

Pearl Harbour

Commanding Officer of Shokaku watches as planes take off to attack Pearl Harbor, during the morning of 7 December 1941
Commanding Officer of Shokaku watches as planes take off to attack Pearl Harbor, during the morning of 7 December 1941
A Nakajima B5N2 torpedo plane takes off from Shokaku to attack Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on 7 December 1941
A Nakajima B5N2 torpedo plane takes off from Shokaku to attack Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on 7 December 1941
Shokaku launches A6M Zeros for combat air patrol duty during the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
Shokaku launches A6M Zeros for combat air patrol duty during the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
A Nakajima B5N Kate carrier attack plane takes off from Shokaku, en route to attack Pearl Harbor during the morning of Dec. 7, 1941.
A Nakajima B5N Kate carrier attack plane takes off from Shokaku, en route to attack Pearl Harbor during the morning of Dec. 7, 1941.

Coral Sea

Shokaku under attack 8 May 1942
Shokaku under attack 8 May 1942
Shōkaku under dive bombing attacks by USS Yorktown (CV-5) planes, during the morning of 8 May 1942. Flames are visible from a bomb hit on her forecastle
Shōkaku under dive bombing attacks by USS Yorktown (CV-5) planes, during the morning of 8 May 1942. Flames are visible from a bomb hit on her forecastle
Bombs burst near Shokaku as she was attacked by USS Yorktown (CV-5) planes in the morning of 8 May 1942
Bombs burst near Shokaku as she was attacked by USS Yorktown (CV-5) planes in the morning of 8 May 1942

Coral Sea Damage

Damage to Shokaku's Flight Deck after Coral Sea
Damage to Shokaku’s Flight Deck after Coral Sea
View of forward elevator dislodged by bow bomb hit.
View of forward elevator dislodged by bow bomb hit.
View of damage to forward flight deck, starboard side
View of damage to forward flight deck, starboard side
Damage to Shokaku after Coral Sea
Damage to Shokaku after Coral Sea
Damage to Shokaku after Coral Sea
Damage to Shokaku after Coral Sea
View of starboard machine-gun sponson, damaged by 3rd bomb
View of starboard machine-gun sponson, damaged by 3rd bomb
Damage to aft boat deck from second bomb hit
Damage to aft boat deck from second bomb hit
View of damage to boat deck, upper level from second bomb hit
View of damage to boat deck, upper level from second bomb hit
Damage sustained on May 8, 1942 during the Battle of the Coral Sea under repair in Japan in May or June 1942. View of boat deck damaged by second bomb hit
Damage sustained on May 8, 1942 during the Battle of the Coral Sea under repair in Japan in May or June 1942. View of boat deck damaged by second bomb hit

Battle of the Eastern Solomons

The upper deck of the Japanese navy Carrier Shokaku, Solomon Islands 1942
The upper deck of the Japanese navy Carrier Shokaku, Solomon Islands 1942
A crewman on the Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft carrier Shokaku surveys damage to the ship, probably at Truk atoll sometime in 1942
A crewman on the Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft carrier Shokaku surveys damage to the ship, probably at Truk atoll sometime in 1942

Aircraft Operations

Nakajima B5N Kate Torpedo Bomber Lands on Shokaku After Repairs From the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands
Nakajima B5N Kate Torpedo Bomber Lands on Shokaku After Repairs From the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands
Mitsubishi A6M Zero Taking off From Shokaku
Mitsubishi A6M Zero Taking off From Shokaku

Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands

Aircraft prepare to launch from Shōkaku during Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands 26 October 1942
Aircraft prepare to launch from Shōkaku during Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands 26 October 1942
Damage Control Parties on Shokaku fight fires after the ship was hit by American carrier aircraft bombs during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands
Damage Control Parties on Shokaku fight fires after the ship was hit by American carrier aircraft bombs during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands
View of damage to Shokaku's flight-deck on starboard side underneath, the hangar side wall after the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands
View of damage to Shokaku’s flight-deck on starboard side underneath, the hangar side wall after the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands
Damage to Shokaku After the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands. View of damage to flight deck and upper part of hangar
Damage to Shokaku After the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands. View of damage to flight deck and upper part of hangar
Shokaku with damage sustained at the Battle of Santa Cruz
Shokaku with damage sustained at the Battle of Santa Cruz
Shokaku with damage sustained at the Battle of Santa Cruz