View source for Japanese aircraft carrier Hōshō

{{short description|Aircraft carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy}}
{{other ships|Japanese ship Hōshō}}

{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=Japanese aircraft carrier Hōshō Tokyo Bay.jpg
|Ship caption =Aerial view of ''Hōshō'' as completed in December 1922
}}
{{Infobox ship class overview
|Name=
|Builders=
|Operators={{navy|Empire of Japan}}
|Class before=None
|Class after={{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Akagi||2}}
|Cost=
|Built range=1920–1922
|In service range=1922–1946
|In commission range=1922–1945
|Total ships planned= 2
|Total ships completed= 1
|Total ships scrapped=1
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header =
|Ship country=Japan
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Empire of Japan|naval}}
|Ship name =''Hōshō''
|Ship namesake =[[Fenghuang|Phoenix]]
|Ship ordered =
|Ship builder =[[Asano Shipbuilding Company]], [[Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama]]
|Ship laid down =  16 December 1920
|Ship launched =  13 November 1921
|Ship commissioned =  27 December 1922
|Ship decommissioned =
|Ship struck =5 October 1945
|Ship fate =[[ship breaking|Scrapped]] beginning 2 September 1946
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header =
|Header caption = (as built)
|Ship type =[[Aircraft carrier]]
|Ship displacement=*{{convert|7470|LT|t|lk=on}} ([[Displacement (ship)#Standard displacement|standard]])
* {{convert|9494|LT|t}} (normal)
|Ship length={{convert|168.25|m|ft|abbr=on|0}}
|Ship beam={{convert|17.98|m|ft|abbr=on|0}}
|Ship draught={{convert|6.17|m|ftin|abbr=on}} (mean)
|Ship power=* 8 [[water-tube boiler|small-tube boilers]]
* {{cvt|30000|shp|kW|lk=on}}
|Ship propulsion=*2 shafts; 2 geared [[steam turbine]]s
|Ship speed={{convert|25|kn|lk=in}}
|Ship range={{convert|8680|nmi|lk=in|abbr=on}} at {{convert|12|kn}}
|Ship complement = 512
|Ship armament =*4 × single [[14 cm/50 3rd Year Type naval gun|{{cvt|14|cm|in|1}} guns]]
* 2 × single [[8 cm/40 3rd Year Type naval gun|8 cm (3&nbsp;in)]] [[AA gun]]s
|Ship aircraft =15
|Ship notes =
}}
|}

{{nihongo|'''''Hōshō'''''|鳳翔||literally "[[Fenghuang|phoenix]] flying"}} was the world's first commissioned ship that was built as an [[aircraft carrier]],{{refn|{{HMS|Argus|I49|6}} pre-dated ''Hōshō'' and had a long landing deck, but was designed and initially built as an ocean liner. The first purpose-designed aircraft carrier to be laid down was {{HMS|Hermes|95|6}} in 1918, but she was completed after ''Hōshō''.<ref>Milanovich, pp. 9, 13</ref>|group=Note}} and the first aircraft carrier of the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]] (IJN). [[Ship commissioning|Commissioned]] in 1922, the ship was used for testing carrier aircraft operations equipment, techniques, such as take-offs and landings, and carrier aircraft operational methods and tactics. The ship provided valuable lessons and experience for the IJN in early carrier air operations. ''Hōshō''{{'s}} [[superstructure]] and other obstructions to the flight deck were removed in 1924 on the advice of experienced aircrews.

''Hōshō'' and her aircraft group participated in the [[Battle of Shanghai (1932)|Shanghai Incident]] in 1932 and in the opening stages of the [[Second Sino-Japanese War|Sino-Japanese War]] in late 1937. During those two conflicts, the carrier's aircraft supported [[Imperial Japanese Army]] ground operations and engaged in aerial combat with aircraft of the [[Nationalist Chinese Air Force]]. The small size of the ship and her assigned airgroups (usually around 15 aircraft) limited the effectiveness of her contributions to combat operations. As a result, the carrier was placed in [[Wikt:mothball|reserve]] after her return to Japan from China and she became a [[training ship]] in 1939.

During [[World War II]], ''Hōshō'' participated in the [[Battle of Midway]] in June 1942 in a secondary role. After the battle, the carrier resumed her training role in Japanese home waters for the duration of the conflict and survived the war with only minor damage from air attacks.  She was surrendered to the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]] at the end of the war and used to [[repatriate]] Japanese troops until she was [[ship breaking|scrapped]] in 1946.

==Design and description==
Construction of a [[seaplane carrier]] was authorized by the Japanese government in its "eight-six" fleet program of 1918.<ref>Milanovich, pp. 10–11; Evans and Peattie, p. 180</ref> A planned sister ship, named ''Shokaku'', was cancelled in 1922 before any construction started.<ref name="Watts, p. 169">Watts, p. 169</ref>{{refn|Gardiner and Gray and Jentschura, Jung, and Mickel state that ''Hōshō'' was initially laid down as a tanker named ''Hiryu''. According to Milanovich, this is only partially correct at best. The ship was ordered as one of six Special Ships (''Tokumukan'') as part of the "eight-six" fleet program; the other five ships were completed as oil tankers.<ref>Gardner and Gray, p. 240; Jentschura, Jung and Dieter, p. 41; Milanovich, pp. 10–11</ref>|group=Note}} ''Hōshō'' was the second warship, after the British {{HMS|Hermes|95|6}}, to be built from the [[keel]] up as an aircraft carrier, but was launched and completed earlier than ''Hermes''.<ref>Evans and Peattie, pp. 181–182</ref>

''Hōshō'' was initially designed as a seaplane carrier like {{HMS|Campania|1914|6}} with a forward [[flight deck|flying-off deck]], 32 aircraft, four low-angle {{convert|14|cm|adj=on|sp=us}} guns, and four [[anti-aircraft gun|anti-aircraft (AA) guns]]. The plan was revised after reports were received from Japanese observers with the [[Royal Navy]] in Europe about the desirability to be able to land aircraft on the ship. The new requirements were modeled on {{HMS|Furious|47|6}} after she received her rear flight deck in 1918. The ship was to be capable of {{convert|30|kn|lk=in}} and fitted with a forward flight deck, [[Glossary of nautical terms (A-L)#island|island]] and [[Funnel (ship)|funnels]] amidships, and a large hangar aft. Shortly thereafter based on observations of landing trials on ''Furious'' and {{HMS|Argus|I49|6}}, the world's first [[Flush deck|flush-decked]] [[aircraft carrier]], ''Hōshō''{{'}}s flight deck design was revised in April 1919. The island was removed and the funnels were moved to one side to create an unobstructed, full-length flight deck, and the ship was reclassified as an aircraft carrier. The ship's [[hull (watercraft)|hull]] was based on that of a large [[cruiser]] and she was given a small island. Her three funnels were mounted on the [[Port and starboard|starboard]] side and swiveled to lie horizontal during flight operations. ''Hōshō''{{'}}s designed speed was reduced to {{convert|25|kn}}, based on British experiences during [[World War I]].<ref>Milanovich, pp. 9, 11</ref>

===General characteristics===
[[File:Japanese aircraft carrier Hosho 1922.JPG|thumb|left|''Hōshō'' conducts full-power trials with funnels swiveled up near [[Tateyama, Japan]], on 4 December 1922]]

''Hōshō'' was completed with an [[length overall|overall length]] of {{convert|168.25|m|ft|sp=us|0}}. She had a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|17.98|m|ft|sp=us|0}} and a mean [[draft (ship)|draft]] of {{convert|6.17|m|ftin|sp=us}}. The ship displaced {{convert|7470|LT|t|lk=on}} at [[Stability conditions (watercraft)#Standard condition|standard load]], and {{convert|9494|LT|t}} at normal load. Her crew totaled 512 officers and men.<ref name=m23>Milanovich, pp. 22–23</ref> The ship was almost completely unarmored.<ref name="Evans, p. 323">Evans and Peattie, p. 323</ref>

===Propulsion===
''Hōshō'' had two [[Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Company|Parsons]] geared turbine sets with a total of {{convert|30000|shp|kW|lk=on}} driving two [[propeller shaft (ship)|propeller shaft]]s. Eight Kampon Type B [[water-tube boiler]]s with a working pressure of {{convert|18.3|kg/cm2|kPa psi|abbr=on|lk=on}} and a temperature of {{convert|138|°C|°F}} provided steam to the turbines, although only four were oil-fired. The other four used a mix of oil and coal. The ship's designed speed was 25 knots, but she made {{convert|26.66|kn}} from {{cvt|31117|shp}} on her [[sea trial]]s on 30 November 1922. She carried {{convert|2700|LT|MT}} of [[fuel oil]] and {{convert|940|LT|MT}} of coal, an extraordinary total for such a small ship, to give her a range of {{convert|8680|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|12|kn}}.<ref name=m15>Milanovich, p. 15</ref>

To reduce rolling and increase stability for aircraft operations, a [[Anti-rolling gyro|gyrostabilizer]] produced by the American [[Sperry Gyroscope Company]] was installed. The installation initially proved unreliable as the Japanese technicians were badly trained by Sperry, but eventually the system proved its worth as the technicians gained experience.<ref name=m15/>

===Flight deck arrangements===
[[File:Hosho forecastle.jpg|thumb|right|A view of the underside of ''Hōshō's'' narrow flight deck looking from the [[forecastle]] forward, October 1945]]
''Hōshō''{{'}}s flight deck was {{convert|168.25|m|ft|sp=us|0}} long and {{convert|22.62|m|ftin|sp=us}} wide. The forward end sloped down at an angle of −5° to help aircraft accelerate during takeoff. A small island was mounted well forward on the starboard side and contained the ship's [[bridge (nautical)|bridge]] and air-operations control center. The island was fitted with a small [[tripod mast]] intended to carry the ship's [[fire-control system]]. Fifteen different types of [[arresting gear]] were evaluated before the British longitudinal wire system was adopted. Low landing speeds of the time meant that aircraft had little difficulty in stopping, but their light weight made them vulnerable to wind gusts that could blow them over the side of the carrier, and the longitudinal wires helped to prevent that. Forward of the island was a collapsible crane for loading aircraft into the forward hangar.<ref name=m13>Milanovich, p. 13</ref><ref>Evans and Peattie, p. 315</ref>

The flight deck, unlike those on Royal Navy carriers, was superimposed on the ship's hull rather than constructed as a strength deck supporting the carrier's hull structure.<ref name="Evans, p. 323"/> A system of lights and mirrors along the flight deck assisted pilots in landing on the carrier.<ref name="Watts, p. 169"/>

''Hōshō'' was the only Japanese aircraft carrier with two hangars. The forward hangar was {{convert|67.2|by|9.5|m|ftin|sp=us}} and only one deck in height as it was intended to house nine small aircraft, such as fighters. The two-story rear hangar measured {{convert|16.5|by|14|m|ftin|sp=us}} at the forward end and {{convert|29.4|by|12|m|ftin|sp=us}} at the rear end. It was designed to house six large aircraft, such as [[torpedo bomber]]s, as well as six reserve aircraft. Each hangar was served by an [[Elevator#Aircraft elevators|aircraft elevator]]. The forward elevator was {{convert|10.35|by|7.86|m|ft|sp=us}} and the aft elevator measured {{convert|13.71|by|6.34|m|ftin|sp=us}}.<ref>Milanovich, pp. 13, 15, 22</ref>

===Air group===
[[File:Aircraft carrier silhouettes (Warships To-day, 1936).jpg|thumb|right|''Hōshō'' (middle) compared with other aircraft carriers constructed during the same time period]]
''Hōshō'' had a normal capacity of fifteen aircraft, subject to the limitations of her hangars. She was first commissioned with an air group of nine [[Mitsubishi 1MF]] (Type 10) fighters and three to six [[Mitsubishi B1M]]3 (Type 13) torpedo bombers. In 1928, the fighters were replaced by the [[Nakajima A1N|A1N1]] (Type 3). Three years later the air group consisted of [[Nakajima A2N]] (Type 90) fighters and [[Mitsubishi B2M]] (Type 89) torpedo bombers. In 1938 [[Nakajima A4N]] (Type 95) fighters and [[Yokosuka B3Y]] (Type 92) bombers flew from the ship. In 1940 the air group was modernized with [[Mitsubishi A5M]] (Type 96) "Claude" fighters and [[Yokosuka B4Y1]] (Type 96) "Jean" bombers.<ref>Hata, Izawa and Shores, p. 2</ref><ref name=m22/>

===Armament===
''Hōshō'' was armed with four 50-[[caliber (artillery)|caliber]] [[14 cm/50 3rd Year Type naval gun|14&nbsp;cm/50 3rd Year Type]] guns, two on each side. The two forward guns had a firing arc of 150°, including straight ahead, while the rear guns could fire 120° on either side.<ref>Milanovich, p. 14</ref> They fired {{convert|38|kg|lb|adj=on}} projectiles at a rate of six to ten rounds per minute with a [[muzzle velocity]] of about {{convert|850|m/s|ft/s|abbr=on}}; at 35°, they had a maximum range of {{convert|19750|m|yd|abbr=on}}.<ref>Campbell, p. 190</ref> A heavy gun armament was provided for ''Hōshō''; as carrier doctrine was just evolving at this time, the impracticability of carriers engaging in gun duels had not yet been realized. Her large flight deck and lack of armor made her a vulnerable target in surface battles.<ref>Peattie, pp. 53, 55</ref>

A pair of 40-caliber [[8 cm/40 3rd Year Type naval gun|8&nbsp;cm/40 3rd Year Type]] guns on [[Disappearing gun|retractable mounts]] provided ''Hōshō''{{'}}s only anti-aircraft defense. They were positioned on the flight deck, just forward of the rear elevator. These guns fired {{convert|5.67|-|5.99|kg|lb|adj=on}} projectiles at a muzzle velocity of about {{convert|680|m/s|ft/s|abbr=on|0}}; at 45°, this provided a maximum range of {{convert|10800|m|yd|sp=us}}, and they had a maximum ceiling of {{convert|7200|m|ft|sp=us}} at 75° elevation. Their effective rate of fire was 13 to 20 rounds per minute.<ref>Campbell, p. 198</ref>

==Service==

===Early career===

[[File:Japanese aircraft carrier Hōshō1924.jpg|thumb|''Hōshō'' in 1924 after her [[Glossary of nautical terms (A-L)#island|island]] was removed]]
''Hōshō'' was [[laid down]] by the [[Asano Shipbuilding Company]] in [[Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama]], on 16 December 1920. She was [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] on 13 November 1921 and towed to [[Yokosuka Naval Arsenal]] for completion on 10 January 1922. ''Hōshō'' was delayed by repeated design changes and late deliveries of equipment, pushing the commissioning date from March to 27 December 1922. She was commissioned lacking much of her aviation equipment, and did not begin landing trials until 22 February 1923.<ref name="Tully"/> The first landings were made by British pilots under contract, who were quickly replaced by Japanese pilots trained by the [[Sempill Mission|British Aviation Mission]].<ref>Milanovich, pp. 11, 15–16</ref>
After ''Hōshō'' was commissioned, experienced aircrews requested changes, and the ship was modified by the shipyard from 6 June to 20 August 1924. The island, tripod mast, and aircraft crane were removed since they partially obstructed the flight deck and obscured pilot visibility. The forward part of the flight deck was made horizontal, and the 8&nbsp;cm AA guns were moved forward, close to the position of the former island and out of the way of landing operations.<ref name=m17>Milanovich, pp. 17, 21</ref> Another reason for removal of the island was that the IJN found that it was too small and cramped to be of effective use in controlling air operations or [[Wikt:con#Etymology 5|conning]] the ship.<ref name="Watts, p. 169" /> After the island was removed, the carrier's flight operations were controlled from a platform extending from the side of the flight deck, a design that would be repeated in subsequent Japanese aircraft carriers.<ref>Peattie, p. 53</ref> The ship was then assigned to the 1st Fleet until 15 November 1924.<ref name=m17/>

''Hōshō'' was fitted with a net used as a barricade aft of the forward elevator between 10 March and 2 July 1925. It was intended to prevent landing aircraft from colliding with aircraft preparing to take off, and stop them from falling into the open elevator well. The barrier was hydraulically operated and could be erected in three seconds.<ref>Milanovich, pp. 17, 21; Peattie, p. 53</ref>

As the first of her kind, ''Hōshō'' provided valuable experience and insight into carrier air operations for the IJN. The ship was used for testing aircraft and equipment, particularly various types of arresting gear and optical landing aids. The lessons learned influenced the design and construction of {{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Ryūjō||2}} and the subsequent conversions of [[battlecruiser]] {{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Akagi||2}} and [[battleship]] {{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Kaga||2}} into aircraft carriers. ''Hōshō'' was actively used to develop carrier operational methods and tactics for the IJN during the 1920s. She was assigned to the [[First Carrier Division]] with ''Akagi'' on 1 April 1928. During the 1930s ''Hōshō'' was fitted with three different types of transverse arresting gear for trials.<ref name=m21>Milanovich, pp. 20–21</ref><ref>Watts, p. 169; Evans and Peattie, p. 315; Parshall and Tully, p. 7; Peattie, p. 229</ref>

===Shanghai===
[[File:Hosho Shanghai.jpg|thumb|right|''Hōshō'' conducts air operations around the time of the Shanghai Incident]]
Along with ''Kaga'', ''Hōshō'' was assigned to the First Carrier Division and sent to China during the [[January 28 Incident|Shanghai Incident]] that began in January 1932. Operating with the [[IJN 3rd Fleet|Third Fleet]], ''Hōshō'' arrived at the mouth of the [[Yangtze River]] on 1 February. Her aircraft participated in the IJN's first aerial combat on 5 February when three fighters, escorting two attack aircraft, were engaged by nine Chinese fighters over Shanghai; one Chinese fighter was damaged, although the Japanese pilots made no claim. Two days later, the two carriers sent some of their aircraft to Kunda Airfield where they flew ground attack missions in support of the [[Imperial Japanese Army]]. Between 23 and 26 February, ''Kaga'' and ''Hōshō'' bombers attacked Chinese airfields at [[Hangzhou]] and [[Suzhou]], destroying a number of Chinese aircraft on the ground. On 26 February, six fighters from ''Hōshō'', escorting nine attack aircraft from ''Kaga'' on one of the bombing raids, shot down three of five Chinese fighters that engaged them. The First Carrier Division rejoined the [[Combined Fleet]] on 20 March, after a ceasefire had been declared on 3 March.<ref>Hata, Izawa and Shores, pp. 2–3</ref><ref>Peattie, pp. 50–51</ref>

===Fourth Fleet incident===
''Hōshō'' participated in the Combined Fleet Maneuvers of 1935 during which she was attached to the [[IJN Fourth Fleet]]. Caught in a [[typhoon]] on 23 September, the carrier and a number of other Japanese ships were badly damaged in what was referred to as the "[[4th Fleet (Imperial Japanese Navy)#The Fourth Fleet incident|Fourth Fleet incident]]."<ref>Evans and Peattie, p. 243</ref> The ship's forward flight deck collapsed and part had to be cut away before the carrier could proceed to [[Yokosuka]] for repairs. The Fourth Fleet incident and the [[Tomozuru Incident]] of 1934, in which a top-heavy [[torpedo boat]] capsized in heavy weather, caused the Japanese command to investigate the stability of all their ships, resulting in a number of design changes to improve stability and increase hull strength.<ref>Milanovich, p. 21</ref>

While the ''Hōshō'' was at the dockyard between 22 November 1935 and 31 March 1936, her stability was improved; the forward flight deck's supports were reinforced and increased in number; the ship's AA guns, aircraft crane and upper deck aviation fuel tanks were removed; the funnels were fixed in the horizontal position with their mouths angled slightly downwards; the front sides of ''Hōshō''{{'}}s forward hangar and bridge were reinforced; and the ship's hull was reinforced in the vicinity of her rear hangar to increase her longitudinal strength. At full load, her [[metacentric height]] after these changes was {{convert|1.11|m|ftin|sp=us}}. Six twin [[13.2 mm Hotchkiss machine gun|13.2 mm Type 93 Hotchkiss]] [[machine gun]]s were also fitted.<ref name=m21/>

===Sino-Japanese War===
[[File:Hosho and Kaga.jpg|thumb|left|''Hōshō'' (foreground) with ''Kaga'' (left background) around the time of the Sino-Japanese War]]
During the Sino-Japanese War, ''Hōshō'' rejoined the Third Fleet and supported land operations of the army in Central China in August 1937 with ''Ryūjō'', later joined by ''Kaga''. The three carriers carried a total of 90 aircraft to the conflict in China, including 15 from ''Hōshō'', 27 on ''Ryūjō'', and the rest with ''Kaga''. Details of the activities of ''Hōshō''{{'}}s aircraft are scarce, but three of the ship's Nakajima A2N fighters shot down a [[Martin B-10]] bomber on 25 July.<ref>Hata, Izawa and Shores, pp. 5, 7; Gustavsson, p. 19</ref>

The carrier returned to Japan to refuel on 1 September and then sailed to the South China coast, accompanied by ''Ryūjō'', and began operations against Chinese forces near Canton, now [[Guangzhou]], on 21 September. That day, ''Hōshō'' contributed six fighters to escort bombers attacking airfields and the combined force encountered seven [[Curtiss Hawk III]] fighters, shooting down two, in addition to a pair of [[observation plane]]s, for no combat losses of their own.<ref>Gustavsson, p. 23</ref> Five of the Japanese fighters ran out of fuel during the return flight and had to [[Water landing|ditch]] in the sea, although the aircrews were rescued.<ref>Hata, Izawa and Shores, p. 8</ref> A followup air strike that afternoon was unsuccessfully attacked by the five remaining Hawks, at the cost of one of their own. The Japanese pilots claimed to have shot down sixteen enemy aircraft and an additional probable loss during the day's fighting. ''Hōshō'' and ''Ryūjō'' returned to the Shanghai area on 3 October and ''Hōshō''{{'}}s aircraft were temporarily transferred to Kunda airfield to support ground operations. On 17 October, the carrier transferred all of her aircraft to ''Ryūjō'' and returned to Japan where she was placed in [[Wikt:mothball|reserve]] on 1 December.<ref>Gustavsson, pp. 23, 25</ref>

During this time, her aircraft elevators were enlarged in 1939: the forward elevator to {{convert|12.8|by|8.5|m|ft|sp=us}} and the rear elevator to {{convert|13.7|by|7|m|ft|sp=us}}. On 12 August 1939 ''Hōshō'' was deemed useful as a training carrier and, in critical battles, as a platform for A4N1 (Type 95) fighters and B4Y1 (Type 96) torpedo bombers, for as long as those planes remained serviceable. A later investigation determined on 23 December 1940 that she could not operate the latest aircraft types like the [[Mitsubishi A6M Zero]], the [[Aichi D3A]] "Val", or the [[Nakajima B5N]] "Kate" in combat.<ref name="m21" /> Also, the small size of the carrier's airgroup limited the ship's potential value to the fleet in any future conflicts.<ref>Parshall and Tully, p. 418</ref>

===World War II===

====Pearl Harbor and Midway====
''Hōshō'' began the [[Pacific War]] in the [[Third Carrier Division]] assigned to the 1st Fleet under Vice Admiral [[Shirō Takasu]]. The carrier, captained by Kaoru Umetani, was tasked along with {{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Zuihō||2}} to provide air support, including scouting, anti-submarine patrols, and [[combat air patrol]] for the Combined Fleet's "Main Body" battle-line of six battleships: {{Ship|Japanese battleship|Nagato||2}}, {{Ship|Japanese battleship|Mutsu||2}}, {{Ship|Japanese battleship|Fusō||2}}, {{Ship|Japanese battleship|Yamashiro||2}}, {{Ship|Japanese battleship|Ise||2}}, and {{Ship|Japanese battleship|Hyūga||2}}.<ref>Goldstein, pp. 259, 284; Tully; Evans and Peattie, p. 586; Hata and Izawa, p. 19</ref> With the Main Body, ''Hōshō'' [[sortie]]d from the [[Seto Inland Sea|Inland Sea]] on 7 December 1941 to provide distant cover for the carrier forces under [[Chūichi Nagumo]] which were [[Attack on Pearl Harbor|attacking Pearl Harbor]]. The battleship force turned back {{convert|300|nmi|km|0}} east of Japan, but ''Hōshō'' became separated on 10 December due to [[radio silence]] restrictions while conducting anti-submarine air operations.  The ship lost contact because she had launched aircraft near dusk to investigate a submarine sighting. The aircraft returned after dark and landed safely after the carrier turned on its lights. In order to recover the aircraft, however, the carrier and her three escorting destroyers had to steam east and therefore lost sight of the Main Body in the darkness. There does not appear to have been any enemy submarines in Japanese waters at this time. The carrier was located by scout aircraft the next day {{convert|500|nmi|km|0}} east of the Main Body and returned to port at Kure on 12 December.<ref>Tully; Ugaki, pp. 50–51</ref>

[[File:Japanese aircraft carrier Hiryu burning on 5 June 1942 (NH 73064).jpg|thumb|''Hiryū'' on 5 June 1942 during the Battle of Midway, photographed from a [[Yokosuka B4Y]] biplane launched from ''Hōshō'']]
On 29 May 1942, ''Hōshō'' sortied from Japan with the rest of the fleet for the operation which resulted in the [[Battle of Midway]], providing modest air protection, scouting, and anti-submarine support for the Main Body, now consisting of the battleships {{Ship|Japanese battleship|Yamato||2}}, ''Nagato'', and ''Mutsu''.<ref>Parshall and Tully, p. 49; Ugaki, p. 130; Willmott, p. 110</ref> Her aircraft complement for the operation consisted of eight obsolete [[Yokosuka B4Y]] "Jean" torpedo bombers.<ref name="Sword p453">Parshall and Tully, p. 453</ref>{{refn|Willmott states that ''Hōshō''{{'}}s airgroup at Midway also included nine [[Mitsubishi A5M]] ("Claude") Type 96 fighters. [[Matome Ugaki]], in his diary, mentions only that ''Hōshō'' had six Type 96 bombers, but then states that ''Zuihō'' had nine fighters.<ref>Ugaki, p. 144; Wilmott, p. 458</ref>|group=Note}}

With the Main Body trailing {{convert|300|nmi|km|0}} behind the carrier striking force, ''Hōshō'' missed the major portion of the battle in which Nagumo's four fleet carriers were ambushed and fatally damaged by US carrier aircraft on 4 June. The next day, the carrier's aircraft helped guide the remnants of Nagumo's force to a rendezvous with the Main Body as well helped other Japanese warships to rendezvous during and after the battle, including the cruiser {{Ship|Japanese cruiser|Sendai||2}}. Around the same time, one of ''Hōshō''{{'}}s aircraft discovered the burning, sinking {{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Hiryū||2}}. Photographs of the abandoned carrier have been described as "among the most dramatic of the war in the Pacific". The observer aboard the aircraft also reported seeing survivors left behind on ''Hiryū'' so the destroyer {{Ship|Japanese destroyer|Tanikaze|1940|2}} was sent to unsuccessfully search for the wrecked carrier.<ref>Parshall and Tully, pp. 270, 355–356, 358–359</ref><ref>Willmott, p. 496</ref> With the battle lost, a significant strategic defeat for Japan, the carrier returned to Japan with the rest of the fleet, arriving at the [[Hashirajima]] anchorage on 14 June.<ref>Parshall and Tully, pp. 385–393; Tully</ref>

====Training ship====
After her return to Japan, ''Hōshō'' was transferred to the Third Fleet, unofficially assigned to the training fleet (later called the Mobile Force Training Force), and officially assigned in October. She conducted flight training in the Inland Sea for aircraft that flew in from shore bases, since no aircraft were based onboard ''Hōshō''. On 15 January 1943, the 50th Air Flotilla was created for carrier aircrew training and both ''Hōshō'' and [[Japanese aircraft carrier Ryūhō|''Ryūhō'']] were assigned to the new unit. The two ships provided carrier landing training and served as target ships for torpedo training. In January 1944, ''Hōshō'' was reassigned to the 12th Air Fleet, then to the Combined Fleet, but continued to perform the same mission of training fleet carrier pilots in the Inland Sea. In this role, ''Hōshō'' shuttled back and forth between Kure and the Western Inland Sea, spending equal amounts of time at each location.<ref name=Tully/>

[[File:Hosho 1945 flight deck.jpg|thumb|left|''Hōshō'' with her extended and widened flight deck, photographed in October 1945]]
In order to service new and larger aircraft like the [[Nakajima B6N]] "Jill" torpedo bomber and the [[Yokosuka D4Y]] "Judy" dive bomber, the flight deck was extended over {{convert|6|m|ftin|sp=us}} at each end to a total length of {{convert|180.8|m|ftin|sp=us}} from 27 March to 26 April 1944. ''Hōshō'' also received new arresting gear and a new crash barrier. The additional weight high up in the ship adversely affected her stability and she was restricted from operations in bad weather lest she capsize. At some point during the war the ship's 14&nbsp;cm guns were removed and she received about twenty [[Type 96 25 mm AT/AA Gun|25-millimeter Type 96]] [[autocannon]]s in single mounts.<ref>Milanovich, pp. 21–23</ref> They fired {{convert|.25|kg|lb|adj=on}} projectiles at a muzzle velocity of {{convert|900|m/s|ft/s|abbr=on}}; at 50°, this provided a maximum range of {{convert|7500|m|yd|sp=us|0}}, and an effective ceiling of {{convert|5500|m|ft|sp=us}}. The 15-round magazines needed to be changed frequently, and the maximum effective rate of fire was only between 110 and 120 rounds per minute.<ref>Campbell, p. 200</ref>

After the modifications, ''Hōshō'' continued to provide training to navy pilots in the Inland Sea, including acting as a target ship for torpedo training.<ref name="Tully">Tully</ref> At 05:30 on 19 March 1945, possibly while berthed at Kure, the carrier was caught in an air raid by carrier aircraft from the United States [[Fast Carrier Task Force|Task Force 58]]. ''Hōshō''{{'}}s flight deck was damaged by three bomb hits which killed six crewmen. Emergency repairs were made and her captain was ordered to keep her in readiness on 10 April. However, this order was revoked two days later and the carrier became a "4th reserve ship" with most of her crew transferred elsewhere. ''Hōshō'' was taken out of reserve as a "special guard ship" on 1 June and many of her crew were transferred back. During this time, the ship remained moored and camouflaged off Nishinomishima at Kure.<ref name=m22>Milanovich, p. 22</ref><ref name=Tully/><ref group=Note>Tully states that records, both Japanese and Allied, are unclear on the carrier's location during the 19 March airstrikes. The ship may not have been at Kure at the time, instead in the [[Seto Inland Sea]] conducting training or possibly in [[Hiroshima Bay]].</ref>

''Hōshō'' was slightly damaged by a single bomb or aerial rocket hit when the Allies [[Bombing of Kure (July 1945)|attacked Kure again]] on 24 July 1945. Information is scarce on the extent of the ship's involvement in the action, but it appears the carrier's participation was minimal, as she embarked no aircraft at the time. ''Hōshō'' was repaired within 15 days,<ref name=m22/> although the ship relocated to [[Moji-ku, Kitakyūshū|Moji]] two days later.<ref name=Tully/>

==Post-war==
[[File:Hosho Kure 1945.jpg|thumb|right|''Hōshō'' at [[Kure, Japan]], in October 1945 shortly before departing on a repatriation mission]]
The ship was turned over to Allied forces at the time of the [[surrender of Japan]] on 2 September and was stricken from the [[navy list]] on 5 October. ''Hōshō'' then served as a repatriation transport to retrieve Japanese servicemen and civilians stationed overseas and return them to Japan. In October and November 1945, accompanied by the cruiser [[Japanese cruiser Kashima|''Kashima'']], she carried 700 passengers from [[Wotje Atoll]], 311 from [[Jaluit Atoll]], and an undocumented number from [[Enewetak Atoll]] to [[Uraga, Kanagawa]].<ref name="Tully"/>

In December 1945, ''Hōshō''{{'}}s overhanging flight deck at the bow was cut off to improve visibility from the bridge and her hangars were modified to carry more passengers. Thereafter, she undertook more repatriation missions beginning with one to [[Wewak]] on 5 January 1946 and subsequent trips to China. In total, the carrier made nine repatriation trips before 15 August 1946 and transported about 40,000 passengers.<ref name=m22/><ref>Watts, p. 171</ref> ''Hōshō'' was transferred to the [[Home Ministry (Japan)|Home Ministry]] on 31 August for disposal. She was [[ship breaking|scrapped]] in [[Osaka]] from 2 September 1946 to 1 May 1947 by the Kyōwa Shipbuilding Company.<ref name=m22/>

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=Note}}

==Footnotes==
{{reflist|colwidth=20em}}

==References==
* {{cite book|last=Campbell|first=John|title=Naval Weapons of World War II|year=1985|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|isbn=0-87021-459-4}}
* {{cite book | last1 = Evans | first1 = David C. |first2=Mark R. |last2=Peattie | year = 1997 | title = Kaigun: Strategy, Tactics, and Technology in the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1887–1941 | publisher = Naval Institute Press | location = Annapolis, Maryland | isbn = 0-87021-192-7}}
* {{cite book |editor1-last=Gardiner|editor1-first=Robert|editor2-last=Gray|editor2-first = Randal|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921|year=1985|location=Annapolis, Maryland|publisher=Naval Institute Press|isbn=0-85177-245-5}}
* {{cite book|editor1-last=Goldstein|editor1-first=Donald M. | editor2-first=Katherine V. | editor2-last = Dillon | year = 2004 | title = The Pacific War Papers: Japanese Documents of World War II | publisher = Potomac Books | location = Dulles, Virginia | isbn = 1-57488-632-0}}
* {{cite book |last1=Gustavsson |first1=Håkan |title=Sino-Japanese Air War 1937–1945: The Longest Struggle |date=2016 |publisher=Fonthill Media |location=n.p. |isbn=978-1-78155-536-1}}
* {{cite book|last1=Hata|first1=Ikuhiko|author-link=Ikuhiko Hata|last2= Izawa|first2 = Yasuho | last3 = Shores|first3=Christopher| year = 2011 | title = Japanese Naval Air Force Units and Their Aces 1932–1945 | publisher =Grub Street | location = London | isbn = 978-1-906502-84-3}}
* {{cite book|last1 = Jentschura| first1 = Hansgeorg| first2 = Dieter |last2=Jung|first3=Peter |last3=Mickel|year = 1977| title = Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869–1945| publisher = United States Naval Institute| location = Annapolis, Maryland| isbn = 0-87021-893-X}}
* {{cite book|last=Milanovich|first=Kathrin|editor=Jordan, John|title=Warship 2008|year=2008|publisher=Conway|location=London|isbn=978-1-84486-062-3|chapter=Hôshô: The First Aircraft Carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy|pages=9–25}}
* {{cite book|last1=Parshall|first1=Jonathan|first2=Anthony|last2=Tully|title=Shattered Sword: The Untold Story of the Battle of Midway|year=2005|publisher=Potomac Books|location=Dulles, Virginia|isbn=1-57488-923-0|url=https://archive.org/details/shatteredswordun0000pars}}
* {{cite book|last=Peattie|first=Mark|author-link=Mark Peattie|title=Sunburst: The Rise of Japanese Naval Air Power 1909–1941|year=2001|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location= Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=1-55750-432-6}}
* {{cite book | last = Prados | first = John | author-link =John Prados | year = 1995 | title = Combined Fleet Decoded: The Secret History of American Intelligence and the Japanese Navy in World War II | publisher = Random House | location = New York | isbn = 0-679-43701-0}}
* {{cite web| last = Tully| first = Anthony P.| year = 2014| url = http://www.combinedfleet.com/Hosho.htm| title = IJN Hosho: Tabular Record of Movement| work = Kido Butai| publisher = Combinedfleet.com| access-date =27 November 2020}}
* {{cite book | last = Ugaki | first = Matome | author-link = Matome Ugaki | editor1-last = Goldstein | editor1-first = Donald M. | editor2-last = Dillon | editor2-first = Katherine V. | year = 1991 | title = Fading Victory: The Diary of Admiral Matome Ugaki, 1941–1945 | publisher = University of Pittsburgh Press | location = Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | isbn = 0-8229-3665-8 | url = https://archive.org/details/fadingvictorydia00ugak }}
* {{cite book | last = Watts | first = Anthony J.| year = 1971 | title = The Imperial Japanese Navy| publisher = Doubleday | location = New York | isbn =0-385-01268-3}}
* {{cite book | last = Willmott | first = H. P.| year = 1983 | title = The Barrier and the Javelin: Japanese and Allied Pacific Strategies, February to June 1942 | url = https://archive.org/details/barrierjavelin00hpwi | url-access = registration | publisher = Naval Institute Press | location = Annapolis, Maryland | isbn = 978-1-59114-949-1}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Hōshō (ship, 1922)|Hosho}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050407203557/http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-fornv/japan/japsh-h/hosho2.htm Naval Historical Center Images of the ''Hōshō'']
{{WWII Japanese ships}}
{{Japanese aircraft carrier Hōshō}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hosho}}
[[Category:1921 ships]]
[[Category:Aircraft carriers of the Imperial Japanese Navy]]
[[Category:Ships built in Japan]]
[[Category:Second Sino-Japanese War naval ships of Japan]]
[[Category:World War II aircraft carriers of Japan]]

[[fi:Hōshō]]