Return to Naval History and Heritage Command home page. Return to Online Library listing

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORY AND HERITAGE COMMAND
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # NH 73061: Japanese aircraft carrier Soryu running trials in January 1938.

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- JAPANESE NAVY SHIPS --

Soryu (Aircraft Carrier, 1937-1942).

Soryu, a 18,800-ton aircraft carrier built at Kure, Japan, was completed in December 1937. One of six carriers that delivered the Pearl Harbor attack on 7 December 1941, she also participated in other early Pacific War operations. Soryu was sunk on 4 June 1942, during the Battle of Midway, after SBD "Dauntless" aircraft from USS Yorktown (CV-5) hit her with several bombs.

This page features all the views we have concerning the Japanese aircraft carrier Soryu.


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 73061

Soryu

(Japanese Aircraft Carrier, 1935-1942)

Running trials in January 1938.

Donation of Kazutoshi Hando, 1970.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 53KB; 740 x 370 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 73062

Soryu

(Japanese Aircraft Carrier, 1935-1942)

View of the ship's wake from the after end of the boat stowage deck, while making nearly 35 knots on speed trials in November 1937.
Note underside of the flight deck above, heavy supporting brace between the main and flight decks, and safety netting around the flight deck edges.

Donation of Kazutoshi Hando, 1970.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 88KB; 740 x 595 pixels

 
Photo #: USAF ID 4845

Battle of Midway, June 1942


Japanese aircraft carrier Soryu circles while under high-level bombing attack by USAAF B-17 bombers from the Midway base, shortly after 8AM, 4 June 1942. This attack produced near misses, but no hits.

U.S. Air Force Photograph.

Online Image: 86KB; 740 x 615 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: 80-G-701869

Battle of Midway, June 1942


Diorama by Norman Bel Geddes, depicting the attack by USS Enterprise (CV-6) and USS Yorktown (CV-5) dive bombers on the Japanese aircraft carriers Akagi, Kaga and Soryu in the morning of 4 June 1942.
The diorama was created during World War II on the basis of information then available. It is therefore somewhat inaccurate in scope and detail.
This angle of view depicts Soryu (attacked by Yorktown aircraft) in the middle distance, with Kaga and Akagi (both attacked by Enterprise aircraft) as the closer two burning ships.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 73KB; 740 x 380 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: 80-G-701870

Battle of Midway, June 1942


Diorama by Norman Bel Geddes, depicting the attack by USS Yorktown (CV-5) and USS Enterprise (CV-6) dive bombers on the Japanese aircraft carriers Soryu, Akagi and Kaga in the morning of 4 June 1942.
The diorama was created during World War II on the basis of information then available. It is therefore somewhat inaccurate in scope and detail.
This angle of view is essentially the reciprocal of that shown in Photo # 80-G-701869. It depicts Soryu (attacked by Yorktown aircraft) in the center foreground, with Kaga and Akagi (both attacked by Enterprise aircraft) as the two most distant burning ships. The burning ship at far right is a light cruiser, which had been erroneously reported to have been hit.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 95KB; 740 x 445 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: 80-G-701871

Battle of Midway, June 1942


Diorama by Norman Bel Geddes, depicting the attack by USS Nautilus (SS-168) on a burning Japanese aircraft carrier during the early afternoon of 4 June 1942, as seen through the submarine's periscope.
Nautilus thought she had attacked Soryu, and that her torpedoes had exploded when they hit the target. Most evidence, however, is that the ship attacked was Kaga, and that the torpedoes failed to detonate. The ship shown in this wartime diorama does not closely resemble either of those carriers.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 75KB; 740 x 605 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 


NOTES:

  • To the best of our knowledge, the pictures referenced here are all in the Public Domain, and can therefore be freely downloaded and used for any purpose.

  • Some images linked from this page may bear obsolete credit lines citing the organization name: "Naval Historical Center". Effective 1 December 2008 the name should be cited as: "Naval History and Heritage Command".


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval History and Heritage Command home page.

    Page made 21 March 1999
    Coding updated 3 May 2009