HIJMS Taihō

On 19 June 1944, the American submarine USS Albacore struck Taihō with a single torpedo. Although the initial damage appeared manageable, flawed damage-control procedures—including the ventilation of volatile aviation fuel fumes throughout the ship—caused a catastrophic explosion that sank her, killing over 1,600 crew members.

Taihō was the first Japanese fleet carrier designed with an armored flight deck, intended to survive bomb and torpedo damage better than earlier designs like Shōkaku or Hiyō. She was the only ship of her class and represented Japan's most advanced carrier design, but her active career lasted only a few months.

The wreck of HIJMS Taihō has not been definitively located and surveyed. She sank in deep water in the Philippine Sea, and unlike some other major World War II shipwrecks discovered by expeditions such as those of the R/V Petrel, Taihō's exact resting place remains unconfirmed.

Taihō displaced approximately 29,300 tons at standard load and 37,270 tons at full load, measuring about 260 meters (853 feet) in overall length. She could carry an air group of roughly 60 to 65 aircraft and was designed for a top speed of around 33 knots.