Shokaku, a 29800-ton aircraft carrier, was built at Yokosuka Dockyard, Japan. Completed in August 1941, she participated in Japan's early wartime offensives, including the attack on Pearl Harbor, the raid into the Indian Ocean and the Battle of Coral Sea. In the latter action, on 8 May 1942, Shokaku was seriously damaged by dive bombers from USS Yorktown (CV-5) and had to return to Japan for repairs.
Later in 1942, Shokaku took part in the August Battle of the Eastern Solomons and the October Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands. She was again badly damaged by bombs in the latter action. In 1943-44, she continued operations as one of the Japanese Navy's most important fleet carriers. Shokaku was sunk by the U.S. submarine Cavalla (SS-244) on 19 June 1944, during the Battle of the Philippine Sea.
This page features all the views we have concerning the Japanese aircraft carrier Shokaku.
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 73066 Shokaku (Japanese Aircraft Carrier, 1941-1944) At Yokosuka, 23 August 1941, shortly after she was completed. Donation of Kazutoshi Hando, 1970. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 87KB; 740 x 455 pixels |
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Photo #: 80-G-17422 Battle of Coral Sea, May 1942 Bombs burst near the Japanese aircraft carrier Shokaku as she was attacked by USS Yorktown (CV-5) planes in the morning of 8 May 1942. Note anti-aircraft shell burst in left center, with fragments splashing below and further left. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 49KB; 740 x 600 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-17027 Battle of Coral Sea, May 1942 Japanese aircraft carrier Shokaku under attack by planes from USS Yorktown (CV-5) in the morning of 8 May 1942. Splashes from dive bombers' near misses are visible off the ship's starboard side as she makes a sharp turn to the right. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 44KB; 740 x 600 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-17030 Battle of Coral Sea, May 1942 Japanese aircraft carrier Shokaku attacked by USS Yorktown (CV-5) planes, during the morning of 8 May 1942. Flames from a bomb hit on her forecastle are visible, as are smoke and splashes from dive bombers' near misses off her starboard side. Photographed from a Torpedo Squadron Five TBD-1. What appear to be erratic torpedo tracks are visible in the lower left. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 55KB; 740 x 595 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-17031 Battle of Coral Sea, May 1942 Japanese aircraft carrier Shokaku under attack by USS Yorktown (CV-5) planes, during the morning of 8 May 1942. Flames are visible from a bomb hit on her forecastle. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 85KB; 740 x 610 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-17125 Battle of the Coral Sea, May 1942 View taken from a Torpedo Squadron Five (VT-5) TBD-1 torpedo plane, from USS Yorktown (CV-5) during attacks on the Japanese aircraft carrier Shokaku, during the morning of 8 May 1942. Shokaku is visible in the left center distance. Anti-aircraft shell bursts are also visible. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 56KB; 740 x 545 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-176150 Mitsubishi Type 00 Shipboard Fighters (A6M2 Model 21. Allied codename: "Zeke") Ready for takeoff from a Japanese aircraft carrier, 1942. This view was probably taken on board Shokaku as she prepared to launch aircraft in the morning of 26 October 1942, during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands. Japanese writing in lower right states that the image was reproduced by authorization of the Navy Ministry. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 102KB; 740 x 500 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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NOTES:
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Page made circa May 2000
Coding updated 3 May 2009