IJN Shoho – The First Japanese Carrier Lost in Action

Much of the attention on Japanese aircraft carriers is focused on the big ships. Akagi, Kaga, Zuikaku...so on and so forth. The light carriers tend to fall a bit by the wayside. Perhaps a short blurb, here or there. In today's video, we'll be changing that a little. And looking at Shoho, perhaps the unluckiest of the bunch. Subjected to a massive air attack, at the Battle of the Coral Sea. The first Japanese carrier lost in the war, overwhelmed by a force she never stood a chance against. What truly makes her unlucky is that this came only a few months after her conversion to a carrier. Further Reading: https://www.amazon.com/Warships-Imperial-Japanese-Navy-1869-1945/dp/087021893X/ https://www.amazon.com/Imperial-Japanese-Aircraft-Carriers-1921-45/dp/1841768537 https://www.amazon.com/Imperial-Japanese-Pacific-General-Military/dp/1472801466/ http://www.combinedfleet.com/shoho.htm