Hiryu

Hiryū-Class Aircraft Carrier (飛龍) was built for the Imperial Japanese Navy during the years of 1936 to 1939. Originally designed as the sister ship of Sōryū, her design was enlarged and modified and was the only ship with her class.

Hiryū-Class Aircraft Carrier served between the years of 1939 to 1942.

Preceded by:  Sōryū

Succeeded by: Shōkaku class

The Hiryū-Class Aircraft Carrier saw extensive service, her aircraft supporting the invasion of French Indochina in mid-1940. During the first month of the Pacific War, she was involved in the attack on Pearl Harbor and the Battle of Wake Island. The ship supported the conquest of the Dutch East Indies in January 1942. The following month, her aircraft bombed Darwin, Australia, and continued to assist in the Dutch East Indies campaign. In April, Hiryū's aircraft helped sink two British heavy cruisers and several merchant ships during the Indian Ocean raid.

Hiryū and three other fleet carriers participated in the Battle of Midway in June 1942. After bombarding American forces on the atoll, the carriers were attacked by aircraft from Midway and the carriers USS Enterprise, Hornet, and Yorktown. Dive bombers from Yorktown and Enterprise crippled Hiryū and set her afire. She was scuttled the following day after it became clear that she could not be salvaged.