Released in June 2022
HASEGAWA 1/700 Japanese Navy Aircraft Carrier Shoho. HWL217 Shouhou Released in June 2022
[Product Introduction]
HASEGAWA 1/700 Japanese Navy Aircraft Carrier Shouhou. Since the time of World War I, the world's great powers have been competing to expand their navies and build ships, believing that "those who control the seas will control the world." However, with the end of World War I, Britain was the first to raise its voice because it could not bear the financial burden, and the United States and Japan also found themselves unable to do so due to domestic circumstances. We will bring the disarmament treaty into effect. The Japanese Navy claimed a 70% defense against the United States and Britain, but it was not accepted and had to settle for 60%. For this reason, major restrictions were placed on battleships and aircraft carriers, and in the end, only four large aircraft carriers, Akagi, Kaga, Shokaku, and Zuikaku, and two medium-sized aircraft carriers, Soryu and Hiryu, were allowed. Naturally, the Japanese Navy was dissatisfied with this result. For this reason, a strategy was taken to envision in advance how it would be used for other types of ships, such as large merchant ships, seaplane tenders, submarine tenders, and oil tankers. Hitaka and Hayataka are examples of modifications from large merchant ships, and Shoho and Zuiho are examples of modifications from other ship types. Shoho was originally planned as the oil tanker Kensaki and was launched at the Yokosuka Arsenal in June 1935. However, during the outfitting work, she began to be converted into a submarine tender, and was completed as a submarine tender in January 1939. However, due to the expiry of the London Disarmament Treaty, in January 1941 (Showa 16), after only two years, she underwent renovation work again, transforming her into an aircraft carrier. Originally a submarine carrier, construction progressed smoothly, and in January 1942, after one year of construction, she was reborn as an aircraft carrier with a flat deck. It is thought that the flat deck was designed to shorten the construction period by reusing some of Kensaki's bridge equipment. Furthermore, in December prior to completion, the ship's name was changed from Kensaki to Shoho. Upon completion, Shoho was immediately transferred to the 4th Air Squadron of the 1st Air Fleet. Now that the Japanese army's first-stage operations, including the attack on Hawaii in December 1941, and the capture of Singapore and the Philippines, were proceeding smoothly, they began the second-stage operation to ensure long-term sustainability. The first step was Operation MO, the Port Moresby capture operation aimed at cutting off the US and Australia. For this operation, a task force consisting of Shokaku and Zuikaku of the 1st and 5th battleships was assigned, and a fleet consisting of heavy cruisers such as Aoba and Kako of the 6th Squadron was assigned to capture Port Moresby. was accompanying the aircraft as an umbrella for air support. Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy had decoded the code and detected the Japanese fleet's plan to capture Port Moresby, and was waiting with a task force based on two aircraft carriers, Lexington and Yorktown. The location is the Coral Sea, off the southeast coast of New Guinea. The time was May 7, 1942. For the first time in history, a decisive battle between aircraft carriers will take place on this beautiful sea. First, the U.S. Navy took the initiative. They discovered a heavy cruiser attack force on one side of the Japanese fleet, which was divided into two, and since Shoho was accompanying them, they judged it to be a task force and launched an all-out attack. Ninety-three torpedo bombers took off from Lexington and Yorktown, all concentrated on Shoho. As a result, 13 bombs and 7 torpedoes hit (an astonishing number. This is comparable to the later Yamato and Musashi.Although the situation was different, I think of the aircraft carrier Midway, which was rendered unable to fight by just a few bombs.) ), Shoho lost her life in the beautiful emerald green sea after only three and a half months as an aircraft carrier. Meanwhile, the Japanese Navy launched an attack force around the same time, but only managed to severely damage the oil tanker Neosho, which it mistook to be an aircraft carrier (later sunk), and only sunk one destroyer. However, thanks to Shoho's precious sacrifice, the Japanese task force confirmed the location of the enemy fleet and launched a full-scale attack on the following day, May 8, sinking Lexington and inflicting heavy damage on Yorktown. However, the Japanese side suffered damage as well, with Shokaku being damaged due to an attack by a US Navy aircraft. This battle resulted in heavy losses to both Japanese and American aircraft, and the aircraft carrier was also damaged, so it was not possible to achieve any significant results, but the battle itself could be described as a draw in which Japan had the upper hand. However, because Shokaku was injured and Zuikaku also lost aircraft, four carriers had to be dispatched to attack Midway in June, and this was the remote cause of the loss of all four carriers. When I think about it, I regret that Shoho's sacrifice was not fully utilized. This loss of Shoho was the first aircraft carrier loss in the Pacific War. (Key points) Standard displacement at the start of the war: 11,200 tons Flight deck length: 180m x 30.5m Waterline length: 201.43m Waterline width: 18m Main aircraft: Russian type main type can 2-axle speed Power: 28 knots Cruising power: 18 Knot 7800 nautical miles Troops: 12.7cm twin high-angle guns x 4, 25mm triple machine guns x 4 Equipped with aircraft: 18 Type 96 carrier-based fighters and 21-type Zero carrier-based fighters, 3 supplementary aircraft, Type 97 Type 3 carrier-based attack Machine: 9 machines
[Product specifications]
1/700 scale unpainted assembly kit□