© 2001 Anthony P. Tully
(Revised June 2007, November 2025)
27 Nov 1937
First draft of the new construction programme presented. Project "W 02" --- (Project "W 01" is SHINANO and Hull 111; "W 03" cruisers).
June 1938
Construction planning of TAIHO is begun.
21 July 1938The new construction programme is revised, and Project "W 02" becomes "W 102". One ship for this project, and specified as 27,800 tones.
19 September 1938
Presentation to the Finance Ministry began.
22 September 1938
Final approval was given to present to the Diet, asking for 105,318,000 Yen, but only 101,175,000 Yen was approved.
24 September 1938
Preliminary design of TAIHO-to-be is completed. The plan is used for cost calculations.[1]
8 December 1938
Project "W 102" is approved and the carrier given construction number 130. By now it is:30,360 tons. It is hoped to be laid down in April 1941 and completed during fiscal year 18 (1943).
26 December 1938 Thursday
Project presented to the Parliament (74th Session)
6 March 1939
Circle Four Program accepted.
The formal planning of the TAIHO begins in 1939 and in June 1939 the project is given basic design number G-13 (or "model number" G-13) [G = carrier, 13 was the basic design number; G-11 was SHOKAKU for example - G-12 never built.) The design drawings are made by the Shipbuilding Section with Engineer Yagasaki Masatsuue assisting as Senior designer engineer Inagawa Seeichi who had designed all the carriers from Soryu to Shinano.
However, because the design team's time is also taken addressing issues trying to rush ZUIKAKU's completion it takes eight months to prepare the final drawings in ink on graph paper. And then they had to be scaled up because judged too small. In addition, some changes learned from the island tests for the SHOKAKU-class are worked in.These delay the start to the end of the year or even early 1940.
10 July 1941
TAIHO is laid down at Kawasaki shipyard in Kobe and received Job building number 670, three months behind original schedule. Projected completion & commission is thus revised for June 1944. Construction takes place in the largest slipway, # 4, soon after it was vacated by the launch of the HIYO in that same slip on 24 June 1941.
5 March 1943
Hull # 130 is assigned the name TAIHO.
7 April 1943
- 0830 On an overcast "sombre day" the carrier's hull is launched and named TAIHO in the naming ceremony. It was then towed by tugs to the Kawasaki fitting out quay. Despite it being wartime and possibly a little more spartan, there is no reason to believe the basics of the ceremony were skipped. For example, UNRYU is launched on 25 September 1943 in the usual way with kusadama, etc. However, since UNRYU was also by explicit statement the first time a purpose-built carrier was launched with a flight deck, the conclusion follows that TAIHO was not so launched. The island was apparently not yet in place either. She was reportedly launched with a narrower temporary structure for the funnel as with it the hull would have been too wide to fit under the gantry crane. After launching TAIHO's bow projected a bit from the fitting out quay, and so this was concealed with some makeshift structures. [2]
15 August 1943TAISA Sumikawa Michio assigned Fitting Out Officer and arrived at the site to inspect.[3]
Autumn 1943:
At a meeting between Managing Directory Yasusada Yoshioka and Prince Takamatsu, the construction schedule for TAIHO has its completion date advanced to March 1944 instead of June.
23 December 1943TAISA Kikuchi Tomozo assigned as Equipping Officer.
1944
31 January 1944
The fitting out was completed and TAIHO Left the Kawasaki Heavy Industries Quay and was temporarily moored outside the port.
3 February 1944:
Arrived at Kure from Kobe via Kurushima Strait. There entered # 4 dock where the final process of outfitting began and preparations for war readiness and to run sea trials. [4]
Late February 1944:
Conducted sea trials and speed tests in the Akinada Sea. The results were judged excellent.
7 March 1944:
Completed at Kobe; Captain Kikuchi Tomozo assigned as commanding officer. Immediately assigned to Third Fleet, CarDiv 1, Mobile Fleet.
12 March 1944:
Depart Kure, sailing around Inland Sea area on trials. Incline tests were important and met, since for stability purposes the the hangar side plating was considered water-tight. TAIHO had been completed with nine decks counting inclusive from Flight Deck to Hold Deck, which was less one (the Upper-most Deck) than SHOKAKU. Of interest, her fantail was one deck higher, so doesn't have a boat stowage like SHOKAKU.
19 March 1944:
Return to Kure.
24 March 1944:
Depart Kure; arrive Iwakuni.
25 March 1944:
Arrived at Tokuyama. Fueled.
27 March 1944:
Depart Iwakuni.
28 March 1944:
Depart Heigun-shima with HATSUZUKI and WAKATSUKI to join the Mobile Fleet at Lingga Roads.
4 April 1944:
Arrive with SHOKAKU at Seletar Naval Base, Singapore.
5 April 1944:
Arrive at Lingga.
15 April 1944:
Admiral Ozawa Jisaburo, ComThirdFleet, transfers flag from SHOKAKU to TAIHO and she becomes flagship, CarDiv 1, Third Fleet, Mobile Fleet.
12 May 1944:
Depart Lingga for Tawi Tawi anchorage.
15 May 1944:
1030: Arrive at Tawi Tawi anchorage.
18 May 1944:
Depart Tawi Tawi for aircraft training; return in the evening.
22 May 1944:
Carrier CHITOSE attacked by submarine outside Tawi Tawi while CarDiv 3 is engaged in pilot training. Henceforth, trainingvoyages sharply curtailed, but continue.
30 May 1944:
TAIHO departed Tawi Tawi on a short exercise, risking the submarine danger to further drill her crew.
13 June 1944:
0930: Depart Tawi Tawi anchorage for advance base at Guimaras to be in advantageous position since enemy forcers were nowattacking Saipan and invasion seemed possible. At 1830 Combined Fleet gives the order activating `A-GO' operation
14 June 1944:
1400: Arrive at Guimaras for overnight layover, with most of the Mobile Fleet and commence refueling.
15 June 1944:
Following receipt of "A-GO" execute order at 0717, depart Depart Guimaras at 0800, leading the Mobile Fleet through San Bernardino Straits toward Saipan.
17 June 1944:
In the Philippine Sea Ozawa's forces refuel from the 1st Supply Force oilers HAYUSUI and NICHIEI, KOKUYO and SEIYO MARUs.
18 June 1944:
A series of recon sightings reveal the enemy task forces massed west of Saipan. After an abortive strike of Cardiv 3 is called off, it is resolved to attack these in the morning. At 2100, Ozawa splits the Mobile Fleet. Forces "A" and "B" proceed southward. The Vanguard Force "C" proceeds due east.
19 June 1944:
Battle of the Marianas.
0200 As planned Forces "A" and "B" turned sharply from southerly course to to course 50 degrees True and increased speed to 20 knot knots to take up position and deploy nautical 100 miles behind Vice Admiral Kurita Takeo's (38) former CO of KONGO) Vanguard Force "C." Force "B" takes up position fifteen kilometers abeam of Force "A" to port. All three forces now commence their run toward the reported enemy task force positions of the 18th.
Action:
- 0706 With sighting reports of three US Task Forces in the general position of June 18th sightings having been received, the Mobile Fleet prepares to launch its grand attack. TAIHO at this time launched a B6N carrying to fly ahead of the attack forces and drop "window" to confuse American tracking radars.
- 0730 Cardiv 3 in the Vanguard launched their First Strike of the First Attack Phase. (see next entry)
- 0755 Cardiv 1 commenced launching their "First Strike of the First Attack Phase (or Wave); Cardiv 3's at 0730 having beentheir First Strike of First Phase) against TF 58 (USN term is "Raid II") TAIHO's share was sixteen A6Ms, seventeen D4Ys and nine B5Ns. [5]
- 0805 Cardiv 1 launch completed. TAIHO's air contingent begins counter-clockwise circling around the carrier as wait for SHOKAKU's and ZUIKAKU's wings to close up.
- 0810 TAIHO is attacked by enemy submarine in position 12-24'N, 137-20'E. At the time the first strike wave was aloft, when one of the just launched and orbiting D4Ys was observed to reverse course and charge down into the sea ahead on the starboard bow. The brave crew had spotted the enemy submarine firing torpedoes and was trying to explode them or mark the position. Four torpedoes were sighted in the direction indicated and TAIHO commenced an emergency turn to port. This evaded all but one torpedo. It struck at the starboard side at frame 54 abreast No.1 elevator [One of six torpedoes fired by USS ALBACORE SS-218] The impact punched a hole in the hull which floods the compartments below as well as the well of the forward elevator and gave TAIHO a 1.5 meter trim by the bow. However any list to starboard was slight and she maintained flank speed seemingly unharmed. Speed was only slightly reduced (according to the source by 1 or 4 knots) and TAIHO turned back into the formation. But there was another issue. When the torpedo hit the forward elevator was then lifting a Zero for Second strike's spotting. The lift was jarred partly loose and dropped into a canted position about one meter below flight deck level; disrupting take-off operations. Finally and most signficantly the torpedo strike damaged the av-gas tanks underneath the elevator pit as well.
- 0920 Work by the Interior Dept begins to plank over the yawning hole of the forward elevator using as fill and support various items, furniture, even a table and sofa from the crew's quarters piled atop the slanted platform. The work is done quickly enough that the aircraft of the 2nd Attack Phase already spotted aft are able to take off in a lightened condition by 1000 to transfer over to ZUIKAKU. However, during this time because of the leaking No.1 av gas tank free gasoline mixes with the water flooding the forward elevator well and av-gas vapor builds up in the space. Attempts are made by Repair parties working in shifts to seal the leaks in the flooded pit. However, the gas vapor builds in the closed hanger and enclosed bow area and becomes serious and men start being overcome or driven topside.
- 1020 Enemy PB4Y sighted. Driven off by fighters scrambled from SHOKAKU and TAIHO. Henceforth, hearing its radio and assuming position had been disclosed, a sharp watch for enemy aircraft is increased. At this time, the Second Attack Phase is launched from Cardiv 2 and ZUIKAKU.
- 1120 SHOKAKU torpedoed by enemy submarine and set afire. Fell out of formation and was left behind, later to sink.
- Noon: "Force A" shifted from the base course of 120 degrees, and commenced to maneuver so as to maintain 400 nautical miles between it and the reported locations of the American carrer task forces. Aboard TAIHO the vapor problem had worsened to where both Upper and Lower hangar decks were full of the mixed gas. During this time TAIHO's aft lift is kept down and various supply and exhaust vents opened to full to try to gas-free the hangars. It has some - but limited - success.
- 1300-1400 CarDiv 1's strike wave began to return. With SHOKAKU ablaze all planes must land on either ZUIKAKU or TAIHO. Despite the gas vapor danger aboard TAIHO it is decided it is necessary to resume flight operations for Cardiv 1 still plans to launch a dusk torpedo attack. Yet over the next hour because of the terrible in action losses their own aircraft are recovered only in "ones and twos." However, there are others from Cardiv 2 needing to refuel.
- 1401 Telegram was received from YAHAGI that SHOKAKU had sunk. At the same time though, the repairs to the TAIHO's forward elevator are announced by Interior Affairs as completed sufficient to resume full air evolutions. Homing operations and preparations to launch a third attack wave (for TAIHO it would be her second strike) proceeded vigorously.
- 1432 Without any warning a tremendous induced explosion of gas vapor occured forward in the vicinity of the forward elevator, apparently in the upper hangar, buckling the armored flight deck upward and blowing out the sides of the hangar deck in a stupendous deflagration detonation explosion. The precise force and cause of the explosion are somewhat ambiguous (see Note 1 for details:), but the shock of the blast immediately turned both hangar decks into charred ruins, tore holes in the sides, and shattered piping and connections. All propulsive power was promptly lost and TAIHO goes dead in the water immediately. For this reason, it is understood at once the ship has received a terrible and probably mortal blow.
- 1500-1530 TAIHO is a blazing wreck shaken by explosions and with fire raging from the island forward. Initially flooding seems limited and there is only a slight list to port but all interior communications are out and systems basically paralyzed. Few pumps if any are operable.Though damage control manages to keep the fire contained forward initially, Admiral Ozawa is compelled to transfer his flag within this time span. The WAKATSUKI comes alongside to starboad and sends a boat. Subsequently the motor launch from heavy cruiser HAGURO fetched him and staff and at 1606 the flag of Third Mobile Fleet is raised on HAGURO.
- 1530-1620 Any possibility of HAGURO - now acting flag of 3rd Fleet - taking in tow was out of the question. Realizing that she can't be saved, Captain Kikuchi orders all remaining personal evacuated. In the meantime the TAIHO continued to burn furiously with periodic detonations from within. Settled faster now though the list remains modest. Destroyer ISOKAZE comes against the stern and bravely evacuated a large number by direct transfer. Captain Kikuchi himself intends to go down with his ship and remained aboard. [6]
Sunk:
- 1628 TAIHO after another strong detonation lurched sharply over to port and turning onto her beam ends sank "horizontally" and "bodily" below the waves on asemi-even keel in alleged position 12-05'N, 138-12'E. Destroyers ISOKAZE, WAKATSUKI, and AKIZUKI, and probably HATSUZUKI, along with the boats of HAGURO rescued survivors. [7]
- Dusk: Rescue operations completed. By this time over 1,000 officers and men, including Captain Kikkuchi Tomozo had been recovered from the sea; but about 1/3 of the complement - 28 officers and 632 petty officers and men - are lost. [7]
22 June 1944:
Survivors are transferred from rescue ships to carrier ZUIKAKU at Nakagasuku Bay, Okinawa.
24 June 1944:
ZUIKAKU returns to Hashirajima with TAIHO survivors.
July 1944:
An inquest to investigate the loss of the carriers, especially the TAIHO, at Marianas was convened. Its work was considerable and inclusive but rapid, completed by the middle of the month and recommendations to improve the survivability of remaining and new aircraft carriers were promulgated. Among the most obvious was bulges added to ZUIKAKU outside her av-gas tanks forward and av-gas storage void filled with concrete around the tanks. Similar was done with JUNYO and presumably others.
26 August 1945:
Removed from Navy List.
23 September 1974:
The TAIHO Memorial Monument is dedicated in Maizuru by the TAIHO Association whose chairman was the former Captain Kikuchi.
