description HIJMS Sōryū Overview
HIJMS Soryu was an Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft carrier commissioned before the Second World War and employed in major early Pacific operations, including the attack on Pearl Harbor. At the Battle of Midway on 4 June 1942, aircraft from the United States carrier Yorktown struck her with bombs, igniting fueled and armed aircraft aboard. The crew abandoned the burning carrier, which was later scuttled by a Japanese destroyer and sank with substantial loss of life.
insights Ranking position
HIJMS Sōryū ranks #41 of 186 in the Shipwreck ranking, behind HMS Ark Royal (91), ahead of SS Central America.
help HIJMS Sōryū FAQ
What role did Sōryū play in the attack on Pearl Harbor?
Sōryū was one of the six Japanese fleet carriers that launched aircraft against Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. She operated alongside Hiryū in the Second Carrier Division.
Which American carrier's aircraft attacked Sōryū at Midway?
SBD Dauntless dive bombers from USS Yorktown struck Sōryū on June 4, 1942. Multiple bomb hits ignited fuel and armed aircraft, leaving the carrier uncontrollable.
Was Sōryū sunk by American bombs or deliberately scuttled?
American bombing fatally crippled Sōryū and started devastating fires. After evacuation, the Japanese destroyer Isokaze used torpedoes to finish the carrier when saving her was no longer possible.
How was Sōryū different from Akagi and Kaga?
Sōryū was designed from the keel up as an aircraft carrier. Akagi and Kaga began as capital-ship hulls before treaty-driven conversion, making them substantially different in origin and layout.
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