japanese aircraft carrier japanese phoenix happy phoenix light aircraft carrier imperial_japanese_navy originally built submarine support ship late 1930s converted pacific war aircraft carrier renamed completed early ship supported invasion forces operation invasion port new_guinea sunk american carrier aircraft combat operation japanese aircraft carrier sunk world war design construction conversion sister designed easily modified oil tanker submarine tender aircraft carrier needed laid december submarine tender launched june completed january long ship initially completed began reconstruction aircraft carrier superstructure removed replaced flight deck hangar aircraft conversion finished january conversion length meters overall beam meters draft meters displaced tonnes long tons standard load conversion original diesel engines given speed knots mph replaced pair destroyer type geared steam turbine sets total shaft horsepower driving propeller steam provided water tube boilers maximum speed knots mph boilers exhausted single starboard funnel carried tonnes long tons fuel oil giving range nautical miles speed knots mph crew numbered officers men flight deck meters long maximum width meters ship designed single hangar meters long meters wide hangar served octagonal centerline aircraft elevators forward elevator metres size smaller rear elevator measured metres arresting gear cables fitted aircraft catapult flush deck design lacked island superstructure designed operate aircraft ship primary armament consisted caliber type anti aircraft guns twin mounts sides hull initially equipped twin type light guns sides hull service history commissioned november captain commanding officer fitting ship assigned fourth carrier division 1st air fleet december february ferried aircraft remained april returning late april assigned operation arrived april following day departed cruisers command rear admiral formed operation aircraft shortages aircraft complement consisted obsolete modern zero fighters plus kate torpedo bombers covering elements operation consisted fleet carriers battle coral sea covering landings headed north cover invasion convoy day present aircraft american carrier attacked japanese shipping air strike confirmed american carrier vicinity japanese idea location launched number reconnaissance aircraft following day search americans result flying boat spotted shot fighters radio report aircraft spotted southwest far north attacked american carriers day rear admiral received magic intelligence placed japanese carriers known involved operation near predicted date invasion predicted japanese carriers support invasion days based information planned complete ships closer eastern tip new_guinea position locate attack japanese forces spotted americans morning successfully japanese unwilling unable launch air strikes poor weather updated spot reports sides believed knew force expected fight day japanese spot americans aircraft found escorted destroyer south ships carrier cruiser carriers launched minutes later sank damaged badly scuttled days later american carriers west south spotted japanese aircraft shortly carriers launched attack american reconnaissance aircraft reported japanese heavy cruisers northeast eastern tip new_guinea carriers hour later ordered launched believing carriers reported lexington launched total dive bombers torpedo planes escorted report turned pilot intended report heavy cruisers aircraft spotted escorts invasion convoy meantime latest spot report plotted nautical miles away report aircraft route diverted new target rest spotted aircraft lexington time combat air patrol cap consisted zero began attack japanese fighters attacked dive dive bombers hit maneuvering avoid bombs shot zero pulled dive damaged carrier launched immediately attack reinforce cap second wave began attack hit twice pound bombs penetrated ship flight deck burst inside setting armed aircraft fire minute later began dropping torpedoes sides ship hit times damage hits knocked steering power addition hits flooded engine boiler rooms aircraft trailed lexington began attacks hitting pound bombs japanese accounts carrier came complete stop trailed rest aircraft attacked claimed hits japanese accounts acknowledge exiting area attacked cap protecting torpedo bombers shot zero total american losses causes attack lieutenant commander commander lexington dive bombers famous message american carriers scratch flat hit fewer bombs torpedoes captain ordered ship abandoned sank minutes later men successfully abandoned ship wait rescued ordered remaining ships head north high speed avoid ordered destroyer return scene rescue survivors found including captain rest crew died attack water awaiting rescue japanese aircraft carrier lost war
Japanese aircraft carrier Shōhō