IJN Zuikaku

Zuikaku (Japanese: 瑞鶴; meaning "Auspicious Crane") was the second and last Shōkaku-class aircraft carrier built for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) shortly before the beginning of the Pacific War. Zuikaku was one of the most modern Japanese aircraft carriers when commissioned, and saw successful action throughout numerous battles during the Pacific War; usually operating alongside her sistership Shōkaku. Zuikaku started the war as part of Kidō Butai. Her aircraft struck airfields during the attack on Pearl Harbor that formally brought the United States into the war, 7 December 1941. She attacked land positions to cover the Japanese invasions of New Guinea, before she participated in the Indian Ocean raid from 5-9 April 1942 where her aircraft helped to sink the light carrier HMS Hermes and the cargo ship SS Sagaing, alongside damaging others and destroying land facilities. Zuikaku and Shōkaku were sent to support Operation Mo later that May, the invasion of Port Moresby, during which she assisted Shōkaku in sinking the aircraft carrier USS Lexington and helped to sink the destroyer USS Sims and the fleet oilier USS Neosho at the Battle of the Coral Sea; however heavy airgroup losses and damage to Shōkaku resulted in both carriers missing the Battle of Midway. Zuikaku fought US aircraft carriers at the Battle of the Eastern Solomons and helped to cripple the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, and again at the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands where she helped to sink the aircraft carrier USS Hornet. Zuikaku also sank the destroyer USS Meredith and the submarine USS Grayback on separate occasions. During the Battle of the Philippine Sea Zuikaku was damaged for the first time by dive bombers from US carriers, and finally sunk at the battle of Leyte Gulf, 25 October 1944. Zuikaku was one of six carriers to participate in the Pearl Harbor attack and was the last of the six to be sunk in the war (Akagi, Kaga, Hiryū, and Sōryū in the Battle of Midway; Shōkaku in the Battle of the Philippine Sea; and Zuikaku in the Battle of Leyte Gulf.) A memorial for the fallen personnel of the Zuikaku is located at the grounds of Kashihara Shrine, located in the city of Kashihara, Nara Prefecture, Japan.