The Kaga
The Imperial Japanese Navy’s Kaga was a one-of-a-kind aircraft carrier that not only helped define the role that such novel vessels would have in maritime warfare but also performed as one of the greatest Japanese naval assets in World War 2.
Built initially as a battleship, Kaga would eventually be transformed into one of the first full-fledged aircraft carriers of the Imperial Japanese Navy.
Its size, armor, and weapon systems were unique compared to allied carriers and gave the Japanese ship an advantage when engaging in ship-to-ship battles, even when that became rarer for carriers as the war evolved.
For Japan, Kaga was crucial in developing aircraft carrier doctrine and outlining the warfare strategies that would give them the massive early victories they achieved, including its central role during the Pearl Harbor attack.
However, as the end of the war approached, the unique carrier found itself cornered and surpassed by American military might, and in a fierce encounter during the Battle of Midway, Japanese fleet commander Chūichi Nagumo was forced to take a devastating decision…
