Japanese Aircraft Carriers 1920-1945
128 pages
Dr James Bosbotinis
Originally published in Italy in 2021 and translated into English by the Italian naval historians Ruggero Stanglini and Michele Cosentino for Seaforth, Japanese Aircraft Carriers 1920-1945 sets out to provide a history of the development of Japan’s carrier force through to the end of the Second World War. The author, Ermanno Martino, is a leading Italian naval historian and has written similar books on Imperial Japanese Navy cruisers and battleships. While a short book at only 128 pages, there is much valuable information as well as an excellent selection of photos, including digitally colourised images of Japanese carriers, and ship drawings.
The author first sets out the policy context for the development of Japanese carriers during the 1920s and 1930s, including responding to the naval arms control processes underway, and the growing tensions between Tokyo and Washington. The latter includes discussion of the shifting domestic political landscape in Japan, and notably, the awareness in 1941that “an effective response” to US naval expansion plans were “beyond the reach of Japanese financial and industrial resources.” Moreover, as Martino explains, the planned “1942 Fifth Replacement Construction Programme” was likely to not be completed until 1950, given the material and manpower constraints confronting Japan. The majority of the book is dedicated to the various carriers Japan built from the 1920s through to the final surrender in 1945. Each carrier or class of carrier is detailed in the same manner – encompassing its rationale, design and development, plus a table covering the key details such as the shipyard where the vessel was built, the dates on which it was laid down, launched and completed, ship characteristics, and the composition of the embarked air wing.
Key themes such as industrial weakness, especially in comparison to the United States, insufficient attention to damage control, and the devastating effect of the US submarine campaign endure throughout the book. As the author writes in his Foreword, “The primary requirement was to operate the greatest number of aircraft, hence the almost generalised adoption of two closed superimposed hangars and the need to embark large supplies of aviation gas. However, this resulted in a reduced capability to absorb damage…it produced ships of high offensive value…but with limited self-defence capabilities.” The Japanese focus on the offensive is well-known and is seen, for example, in its approach to aircraft design in the Second World War. Following the various carrier programmes covered, Martino provides an overview of Japanese carrier operations in the war against China and the Second World War, with each carrier’s contribution and fate covered. Five appendices follow; encompassing ships’ names, the different defensive gun armaments installed on Japanese carriers, naval radars, painting schemes (by Maurizio Brescia) which includes a fascinating account of the efforts to camouflage the carrier Katsuragi as part of an island, and naval aircraft. A valuable bibliography and endnotes are also included; this reviewer found the concept for employing the Chiyoda-class as midget submarine carriers discussed on page 59 and in note 48 on page 128 particularly interesting.
Japanese Aircraft Carriers 1920-1945 provides a highly readable account of the development of Japan’s carrier force. It is well-written (there a few minor typos), engaging, and provides much detail. For anyone interested in the Pacific campaign in the Second World War, naval aviation, or Japanese naval history, there will be much of interest in this book. It is certainly recommended.
