Aoshima 1/700 IJN Unryu Aircraft Carrier, WLA083

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Aoshima 1/700 IJN Unryu Aircraft Carrier, WLA083 plastic model kit

1/700 WLA083 Aoshima IJN Unryu Aircraft Carrier

Plastic Model Kit,   Box Condition: Good

This waterline model is highly detailed and finely molded. Includes aircraft. Never started. The parts are still in the internal factory sealed bags and includes decals and instructions. The Japanese aircraft carrier Unryu was the lead ship of her class of fleet aircraft carriers built for the IJN during World War II. The Unryu were the last purpose-designed Japanese carriers to be built during the war. The ships were based on an improved Hiryu design; early sisters Hiryu and Soryu packed and incredible number of aircraft given their size and weight, making them excellent bargains. The Unryu class was part of the 'Rapid Naval Armaments Supplement Programme' of 1941. The class leader was one of 16 carriers planned, but only three were completed. She was commissioned in mid-1944, but fuel and aircrew shortages limited her training and ASW operations in Japanese waters. However, once the Naval Staff became certain of the American invasion of Luzon, Unryu was ordered to transport thirty Yokosuka MXY7 Ōhka kamikaze rocket planes and supplies to the Philippines and departed on her first mission 17 December,1944. During this voyage, she was spotted by the American submarine USS Redfish (almost certainly with help from ULTRA) in the East China Sea. Redfish fired a spread of 4 torpedoes, one of which hit directly under the bridge. This hit caused extensive damage which stopped Unryu. Repairs were quickly made and in just 15 minutes she was ready to get underway again. However, at that moment, a second torpedo hit next to the forward aircraft elevator, which was near the storage tanks for high explosive aviation gasoline. The Ohka rocket planes had very large warheads and were stored in the lower hanger deck; when the gas tanks exploded, that set off the warheads in the Ohkas. This essentially blew the bow off the ship and caused other unknown but extensive damage. She immediately took on a 30 degree list and the captain ordered the ship abandoned. A list of 90 degrees came very quickly and the ship sank bow first. Casualties were very heavy; 238 officers & crewmen lost their lives. Only 145 men survived to be rescued by Shigure, which was the IJN's 'lucky' or 'unsinkable' ship and the only Japanese warship to survive WWII intact.

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