Shōkaku-class aircraft carrier

The Shōkaku class (翔鶴型) was a pair of aircraft carriers of the Imperial Japanese Navy built before World War II. Only two vessels were built in this class; JAPANESE AIRCRAFT CARRIER Shōkaku and JAPANESE AIRCRAFT CARRIER Zuikaku. Together, they formed the 5th Carrier Division. Both were lost in action during World War II.

Design
The Shōkaku-class carriers were part of the same program that also included the Yamato-class battleships. No longer restricted by the provisions of the Washington Naval Treaty, which expired in December 1936, the Imperial Japanese Navy was free to incorporate all those features they deemed most desirable in an aircraft carrier, namely high speed, a long radius of action, heavy protection and a large aircraft capacity.

With an efficient modern design, a displacement of about 32000 LT, and a top speed of 34 kn, the Shōkaku class could carry 70-80 aircraft. Their enhanced protection compared favorably to that of contemporary Allied aircraft carriers and enabled Shōkaku to survive serious battle damage during Coral Sea and Santa Cruz.