Data sent by CHUCK THOMPSON (519-1988) tells of the loss of the Japanese aircraft carrier KAGA on 5 June, 1942.

BASIC SHIP DATA

KAGA was built by using the hull of a battleship which was laid down in 1920, launched in 1921 and commissioned in 1928. KAGA underwent modernization in 1938.

Displacement (standard) 26,900 tons, (fully loaded) 32,200 tons
Length 218 meters
Beam 31.3 meters
Draft 6.5 meters
Flight deck length 190 meters
Bunkers 5,200 tons
Power (12 boilers; 4 shaft turbines) 91,000 hp
Speed 23 knots
Aircraft 60 planes
Guns (203mm) ten, (120mm) twelve (in dual purpose mounts), ( 25mm automatic AA guns) twenty eight

LOSS OF THE SHIP

KAGA was attacked on the morning of 5 June, 1942 between 0530 and 0730 hours by 12 US bombers and received four direct aerial bomb hits. In addition, seven more bombs exploded in the water close aboard at various places along the ship. There were between 30 and 50 aircraft aboard the carrier at that time.

Many fires broke out from the explosions of the bombs, and the fires could not be put out all through the day, despite assistance from destroyers alongside. Towards evening, gasoline storage tanks exploded and set off an additional huge explosion in the bomb magazine directly beneath the gasoline storage tanks.

KAGA listed more and more to port and at 1925 hours, she went down taking many of her crew with her. Almost everyone in the engine room and the boiler room were lost. Survivors were picked up by the destroyers standing by.

CONCLUSIONS

Four direct hits and seven near miss detonations from bombs caused fires and explosions which could not be extinguished, and the ship sank within 12 hours. The explosion of the gasoline in the storage tanks & of the bomb magazine contributed to the sinking of KAGA.