Ahoy !
I was cruising you tube and found a japanese video clip of various IJN flat tops. One of the photos was of very large flush deck. I have always thought of the flush deckers as small to medium sized ,like CVL or CVE's, but this thing looked like a one deck akagi without the bridge In looking through my photo collection, the closest hull I found was the Shoho, but this one looks bigger than that. All the captions on the clip were in Niponese as was the author, so hmmmn.. Anybody have an idea ?
Thanks......out

I am looking through my images. How close is this one?

http://www.hazegray.org/navhist/carriers/images/japan/ryuho.jpg

might need to put up a picture so we can see what it is...
later,
kelly
edit....... oops you did but it is not working.

That looks to be a photo of the Unyo (ex-Yawata Maru)

To : Goldenpony (aka Jim)

Thanks for the comeback. I could'nt load the link you sent me but GATOR sent a photo this is of and HARRY@BFM identies ot as the Unyo. The biggest IJN flush top I've seen. (dang, here comes another future build ! ) Anyway thanks for the assist. /////// I'm out /////

Harry !

Thanks for the ID. I had'nt seen a full broadside shot of the Unyo before this. 1 more added to the future build list. Thanks again ! //// I'm out //////

Gator !!!

Yup, thats the shot that started me out on this. It certainly appears to be the longest IJN flushdeck that I have seen. The only place I have seen this shot was on that You tube clip but I could'nt figure out how to download it to send it here. Anyway mystery solved and the future build list grows by one. Thanks for the assist. ////// I'm out ///////

Kelly !!
Thanks for the reply !! Apparently mystery solved, GATOR loaded the shot I was thinking of, tentatively ID'ed as the Unyo. One more to the future build list. Thanks again for the reply. //// I'm out ///////

Thanks to all for the responses, The UNYO !! That full broadside shot certainly shows how big this thing was. Future build list goes up--bank account goes down. Wet side down everybody! /////// Pagodaphile out /////

That, gentleman, is the Shoho, ex sub tender Tsurigizaki. Just a Light carrier - 14.2 kTons.

The Unyo is a flush deck but is a liner hull. Not as attractive as the Shoho, IMO. Here's a Aoshima box of the Unyo:

https://www.freetimehobbies.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=16426

Here are some more pics of the Shoho:

http://navalhistory.flixco.info/H/89971/8330/a0.htm

Yes, my mistake that is the Shoho

Ahoy Shipmates,

If you really want big, go for the Shinano, built on the third remaining hull that was intended to be a Yamato Class Battleship.

When the sub skipper who sank her drew sketches looking through the periscope, no one including US Navy Intelligence could identify it and it wasn't until years later that IJN records were consulted and confirmed that the scope of the sinking was figured out. Not to mention the sub and crew were finally given credit for their "kill".

She was sunk going across the inland sea headed to pick up her compliment of aircraft so she never really saw action as it were. She was built in such secrecy that the shipyard workers were housed on the shipyard and not allowed to leave during construction and the docks were covered over to avoid detection by US aircraft doing recon flights.

Actually guys, the website I got it from list it as the Ryuho.

Kenny

You're right! The Shoho, zuiho, and Ryuho were converted tenders. They look so much alike. I really like the look of the flush decks with the sleeker tender hulls. The converted liners like the Unyo or the Oiler hulled Hosho just looked ungainly and bulky. The Ryujo, with the converted cruiser, hull looked the best. Too bad they were just CVLs instead of full-blown fleet flush-decks. Would definitely build one if they were.

Well I am a little confused now, we have a concensus on the Shoho? By the way, the still that started me on this is at you tube by a Japanese guy - "hentaijapman" submission dated march 27, 2008. This shows about 20 different IJN carrier shots, the one I am talking is numbered 18, a full broadside shot in color an under way. At the end of the clip, ship ID is provided (in japanese of course) Thanks guys for all the interest in my little brain teaser !