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.
Launch
Pearl Harbour
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 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.
Coral Sea
Coral Sea Damage
Damage to Shokaku’s Flight Deck after Coral Sea View of forward elevator dislodged by bow bomb hit. View of damage to forward flight deck, starboard side Damage to Shokaku after Coral Sea Damage to Shokaku after Coral Sea View of starboard machine-gun sponson, damaged by 3rd bomb Damage to aft boat deck 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
Battle of the Eastern Solomons
Aircraft Operations
Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands
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 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