Shōkaku was an aircraft carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy, the lead ship of her class. Along with her sister ship Zuikaku, she took part in several key naval battles during the Pacific War, including the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands before being torpedoed and sunk by a U.S. submarine at the Battle of the Philippine Sea.
Shokaku in 1942 Via GNU Free Documentation License
Launch
The chief shipbuilders of Shōkaku pose with the ship just prior to launching.Shōkaku is launched from Yokosuka’s second construction slip on June 1, 1939Shokaku Just After Her Launch
Pearl Harbour
Commanding Officer of Shokaku watches as planes take off to attack Pearl Harbor, during the morning of 7 December 1941A Nakajima B5N2 torpedo plane takes off from Shokaku to attack Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on 7 December 1941Shokaku launches A6M Zeros for combat air patrol duty during the attack on Pearl Harbor, HawaiiA Nakajima B5N Kate carrier attack plane takes off from Shokaku, en route to attack Pearl Harbor during the morning of Dec. 7, 1941.
Coral Sea
Shokaku under attack 8 May 1942Shōkaku under dive bombing attacks by USS Yorktown (CV-5) planes, during the morning of 8 May 1942. Flames are visible from a bomb hit on her forecastleBombs burst near Shokaku as she was attacked by USS Yorktown (CV-5) planes in the morning of 8 May 1942
Coral Sea Damage
Damage to Shokaku’s Flight Deck after Coral SeaView of forward elevator dislodged by bow bomb hit.View of damage to forward flight deck, starboard sideDamage to Shokaku after Coral SeaDamage to Shokaku after Coral SeaView of starboard machine-gun sponson, damaged by 3rd bombDamage to aft boat deck from second bomb hitView of damage to boat deck, upper level from second bomb hitDamage sustained on May 8, 1942 during the Battle of the Coral Sea under repair in Japan in May or June 1942. View of boat deck damaged by second bomb hit
Battle of the Eastern Solomons
The upper deck of the Japanese navy Carrier Shokaku, Solomon Islands 1942A crewman on the Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft carrier Shokaku surveys damage to the ship, probably at Truk atoll sometime in 1942
Aircraft Operations
Nakajima B5N Kate Torpedo Bomber Lands on Shokaku After Repairs From the Battle of the Santa Cruz IslandsMitsubishi A6M Zero Taking off From Shokaku
Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands
Aircraft prepare to launch from Shōkaku during Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands 26 October 1942Damage Control Parties on Shokaku fight fires after the ship was hit by American carrier aircraft bombs during the Battle of the Santa Cruz IslandsView of damage to Shokaku’s flight-deck on starboard side underneath, the hangar side wall after the Battle of the Santa Cruz IslandsDamage to Shokaku After the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands. View of damage to flight deck and upper part of hangarShokaku with damage sustained at the Battle of Santa Cruz
