Japanese aircraft carrier Hiyō

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Career

Laid down:	30 November 1939
Launched:	24 June 1941
Commissioned:	31 July 1942
Fate:	Sunk 21 June 1944 Battle of the Philippine Sea.
Struck:	10 November 1944
General Characteristics
Displacement:	26,949 tons
Length:	719 ft 7 in (219.33 m)
Beam:	87 ft 7 in (26.70 m)
Draught:	26 ft 9 in (8.15 m)
Propulsion:	System turbine, 56,520 hp
Speed:	25 knots (46 km/h)
Range:
Complement:	1,224
Armament:	Twelve 5 inch (130 mm) guns Up to seventy-six 25 mm anti-aircraft guns 6 × 28 5 inch (130 mm) AA rockets (from 1944)
Aircraft:	53

Hiyō (Japanese: 飛鷹 "Flying Falcon") was a Hiyō-class aircraft carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy. She was laid down as the fast luxury passenger liner Idzumo Maru by Nippon Yusen Kaisha (Japan Mail Steamship company) but was purchased along with her sistership by the Japanese Navy in 1940 and converted to an aircraft carrier. Her sister ship became the aircraft carrier Junyō. Her bridge was built on the starboard side, and its funnel was slightly tilted to the outside in order to increase visibility on the flight deck.

Hiyō fought in the Pacific campaign of World War II, starting the war with an aircraft complement of 12 Mitsubishi A6M fighters, 18 Aichi D3A dive bombers and 18 Nakajima B5N torpedo bombers.

26 October 1942, participated in the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, sinking destroyer USS Meredith.
November 1942, twice damaged by air raids at Truk.
April 1943, Slight damage by air raid on Truk.
10 June 1943, Hit by two to four torpedoes from the submarine USS Trigger. Towed to Yokosuka for repairs by escorting destroyer Isuku.
December 1943, Ferried aircraft to Singapore, Saipan, and Truk.
In the Battle of the Philippine Sea, Hiyō was attacked on 21 June 1944 by 4 Grumman TBF Avengers from the USS Belleau Wood. She was hit by two torpedoes and dead in the water as fires spread. After two hours, explosions occurred causing her to sink.