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 95785: Japanese aircraft carrier Zuikaku underway during the Battle off Cape Engano, 25 October 1944.

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

Zuikaku (Aircraft Carrier, 1941-1944) --
In the Battle off Cape Engano, 25 October 1944

During the Japanese Navy's "Sho-Go" operation that produced the Battle of Leyte Gulf, Zuikaku was flagship of Vice Admiral Jisaburo Ozawa, commander of the operation's northern force. Ozawa's was a desperate mission -- provide an attractive target for U.S. Admiral William F. Halsey's Third Fleet, hopefully pulling the powerful American "fast carriers" north so that Japanese surface ships could slip in and attack U.S. invasion forces off Leyte. His ships were not expected to survive their diversionary employment.

Ozawa's ships, Zuikaku and the light carriers Zuiho, Chitose and Chiyoda, two battleships, three light cruisers and a modest number of destroyers, steamed south from Japan on 20 October. They carried only 116 planes, much less than their normal capacity and nowhere close to a match for the aircraft of Halsey's task forces.

Despite their role as "bait", the Japanese carriers sighted Halsey first and launched a strike in the late morning of 24 October. This accomplished nothing, and only a few planes returned to the carriers, leaving them with less than thirty. The Japanese ships tried hard to be conspicuous, and U.S. aircraft finally spotted them in mid-afternoon. Admiral Halsey, believing that his aviators had driven the other Japanese forces away, headed north to attack.

At about 0800 on the morning of 25 October, American carrier planes began a series of attacks on the Japanese ships, making one torpedo hit on Zuikaku and sinking the Chitose. A second strike came in around 1000, stopping Chiyoda and leaving Zuikaku making only about 18 knots. Somewhat later, Vice Admiral Ozawa moved his flag from the crippled carrier to the light cruiser Oyodo. In a third attack, shortly after 1PM, Zuikaku received three torpedo hits and was soon dead in the water.

This page features all the images we have of the Japanese aircraft carrier Zuikaku in action during the Battle off Cape Engano during the morning and early afternoon of 25 October 1944, while she was still underway.

For more views of Zuikaku in this action, taken after she had been stopped and was sinking, see:

  • Zuikaku in the Battle off Cape Engano, 25 October 1944, Part II.

    For for other photographs of Zuikaku , see:

  • Zuikaku (Japanese Aircraft Carrier, 1941-1944).


    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 95785

    Battle off Cape Engano, 25 October 1944


    Japanese aircraft carrier Zuikaku underway early in the action, while she was still capable of making good speed.
    Note camouflage pattern painted on her flight deck, and smoke coming from her stacks.
    Photographed from a U.S. Navy carrier plane.

    Copied in 1986 from an original print in the TG38.3 action report of 2 December 1944.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 137KB; 740 x 585 pixels

     
    Photo #: 80-G-281767

    Battle off Cape Engano, 25 October 1944


    Japanese aircraft carriers Zuikaku (left center) and (probably) Zuiho (right) under attack by U.S. Navy dive bombers during the Battle off Cape Engano.
    Both ships appear to be making good speed, indicating that this photo was taken relatively early in the action. Both carriers are emitting heavy smoke. Note heavy concentration of anti-aircraft shell bursts in lower right and right, and a SB2C "Helldiver" diving in the lower left.

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

    Online Image: 80KB; 740 x 620 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: NH 95543

    Battle off Cape Engano, 25 October 1944


    Japanese aircraft carriers Zuikaku (center) and (probably) Zuiho (right) under dive bombing attack during the Battle off Cape Engano. Bombs have hit the water near Zuikaku's port side. Patterns of explosions ahead of her and aft of the other carrier are from bursting anti-aircraft shells.
    Photographed from a USS Enterprise (CV-6) aircraft, whose wing is visible in the lower foreground. Data at bottom of print indicates the view was taken during the day's first attack.
    This view appears to have been taken shortly after that seen in Photo # 80-G-281767.

    Copied from an original print in the USS Enterprise action report for this battle, 1985.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 60KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 73068

    Battle off Cape Engano, 25 October 1944


    Transferring Vice Admiral Ozawa's flag from the damaged aircraft carrier Zuikaku to the light cruiser Oyodo, at about 1100 hrs. on 25 October.
    Photographed from the listing Zuikaku's flight deck, with Oyodo approaching from her port quarter.

    Courtesy of Mr. Kazutoshi Hando, 1970.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 96KB; 740 x 560 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 95784

    Battle off Cape Engano, 25 October 1944


    Japanese aircraft carrier Zuikaku under attack and smoking, though still under way, 25 October 1944.
    Photographed from a U.S. Navy carrier plane.

    Copied in 1986 from an original print (photo # 49) in the TG38.2 action report of 8 November 1944.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 85KB; 740 x 600 pixels

     
    Photo #: 80-G-288100

    Battle off Cape Engano, 25 October 1944


    Japanese aircraft carrier Zuikaku and a Akizuki class destroyer underway during U.S. carrier plane attacks at about 1330 hrs. on 25 October. The light carrier Zuiho is in the right distance.
    This view appears to have been taken at about the same time as that seen in Photo # NH 95542.

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

    Online Image: 86KB; 740 x 605 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: NH 95542

    Battle off Cape Engano, 25 October 1944


    Japanese warships under attack by Task Force 38 aircraft, circa 1330 hrs on 25 October. At left is the aircraft carrier Zuikaku, with an Akizuki class destroyer off her starboard bow. Light carrer Zuiho (identifed as Chitose class in original caption) is in the center, and another destroyer is at right.
    Photographed from a USS Essex (CV-9) plane.

    Copied from an original print in the USS Essex action report for this battle, 1985.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 82KB; 740 x 530 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 95545

    Battle off Cape Engano, 25 October 1944


    Japanese aircraft carrier Zuikaku under attack at about 1400 hrs. on 25 October, approximately at the end of the day's third attack on the Japanese force. Zuikaku appears to be listing, but is still under way.
    Photographed from a USS Enterprise (CV-6) plane.

    Copied in 1985 from an original print in the TG38.4 action report, serial 00267 of 18 November 1944.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 79KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     
    Photo #: 80-G-281769

    Battle off Cape Engano, 25 October 1944


    Japanese aircraft carrier Zuikaku listing, following several hits by attacking U.S. Navy carrier aircraft on 25 October.
    A U.S. Navy TBM "Avenger" torpedo plane is between the ship and the camera.

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

    Online Image: 105KB; 740 x 610 pixels

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

     


    For more views of Zuikaku in this action, taken after she had been stopped and was sinking, see:

  • Zuikaku in the Battle off Cape Engano, 25 October 1944, Part II.

    For for other photographs of Zuikaku , see:

  • Zuikaku (Japanese Aircraft Carrier, 1941-1944).


    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 20 May 2000
    Coding updated 3 May 2009