Japanese Aircraft Carriers

Japanese Aircraft Carriers 1920–1945 explores the remarkable evolution of the Imperial Japanese Navy’s carrier fleet, from the world’s first purpose-built carrier to the powerful task forces that shaped the Pacific War.

The IJN was a pioneer in naval aviation, commissioning Hosho in 1922 as the first carrier designed from the keel up. What followed was a diverse sequence of designs – some converted from capital ships, others purpose-built – culminating in the Shokaku-class, completed just before the outbreak of war. The 1930s saw highly original and sometimes unconventional experimentation, including the rare decision to mount the island structure on the port side of certain ships.

After Pearl Harbor, Japan’s carriers dominated the Pacific until the devastating losses at Midway in June 1942. To recover, the navy converted merchant vessels and auxiliaries and introduced a simplified fleet-carrier design for mass production. In total, 29 carriers are covered in this volume, each with its own dedicated technical chapter illustrated with photographs, line drawings and colour artwork.

Martino also provides an overview of Japanese naval aviation policy, a summary of key carrier operations, and appendices on weaponry, radar, camouflage and aircraft types. With over 200 illustrations, this concise yet authoritative reference fills a long-standing gap in English-language naval literature.

About the Author

Ermanno Martino was a founding member of Italy’s first group of naval historians in the late 1950s. Since the 1960s he has been active in naval journalism and research, contributing extensively to Storia Militare, Italy’s leading military history journal, where he sits on the scientific committee. He has previously authored companion volumes on Japanese Battleships (2019) and Japanese Cruisers (2023).