IJN Ryujo (CVL-1933)
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The real life Ryujo were a Japanese experiment to get the maximum out of a
small 'cruiser' sized aircraft carrier. It failed. Throughout its life the real
life Ryujo fought overweight problems (sounds like me :) Having the Japanese
toss the treaties in 1930, allows them to start building maximum rather than
minimum sized ships. For the 'Fleet' protection carriers, two ,Takao sized
cruiser hulls, were built into what would later be termed light fleet carriers
(CVL). These ships would be filled with fighters and be allocated to the
battlefleet to provide the Combat Air Patrols and main fighter cover.
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When these two ships joined the fleet in 1934, they became a part of Carrier
division 1, with the two Kii class carriers. Both ships saw action in the
Chinese Intervention in 1937. It was not until 1941 when enough of the six Soryu
class had been completed did the Ryujo class become the Fleet fighter carriers.
Each of these carriers would have 42 fighters and 6 reconnaissance aircraft. The
recon aircraft were twice as fast as those that could be launched off the
cruisers and battleships and had a better radius of action. More information
sooner. A major requirement in the carrier battles of WW2.
| Displacement |
16,800 tons std, 18,550 tons full load |
| Length |
654 ft hull (676 ft overall) |
| Breadth |
70 ft hull |
| Draught |
24 ft |
| Machinery |
4 shaft Steam turbines, 150,000shp |
| Speed |
32 knots |
| Range |
10,000 miles at 18 knots |
| Armour |
3" side, 2.5" deck |
| Armament |
8 x 5" (4x2) 36 x 25mm (12x3) |
| Aircraft |
48 |
| Complement |
1040 |
| Notes |
IJN Ryujo IJN Kuzuryu |
Real life Ryujo. Note that it required bulges even before it was completed. Very
little could be done to improve the ship as any extra weight just caused further
problems with stability. Nice try, but no cigar.
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