The fastest carrier in the world was built to fix a fatal flaw

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In the 1930s, the Imperial Japanese Navy faced a crisis of instability. After several ships proved dangerously top-heavy, the design of the Hiryū was radically overhauled. The result was a high-speed, modified Sōryū-class carrier that would become a central player in the Pacific War.

Originally intended as a sister ship to the Sōryū, the Hiryū underwent significant structural changes following the Tomozuru and Fourth Fleet Incidents of 1934–1935. These incidents revealed that many Imperial Japanese Navy vessels were structurally weak and dangerously unstable. To correct this, designers raised the ship's forecastle, strengthened the hull, increased the beam and displacement, and added more armor protection.

Despite these modifications, the ship's design presented unique operational challenges. The Hiryū was one of only two carriers ever built with an island positioned on the port side, a layout shared only by the Akagi. Furthermore, designers kept the flight deck only 12.8 meters above the waterline by reducing the height of the hangars. Such a low profile caused major logistical difficulties; for instance, Nakajima B5N "Kate" torpedo bombers could not fold or extend their wings inside the upper hangar.

At the time of her commissioning, the Hiryū was the fastest carrier in the world, capable of reaching 34.3 knots (63.5 km/h) thanks to her slim, cruiser-type hull and four geared steam turbine sets. This speed and power supported her through major engagements, including the invasion of French Indochina in 1940, the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, and the Battle of Midway in June 1942. During the Battle of Midway, dive bombers from the USS Enterprise and USS Yorktown crippled the ship, leading to her scuttling the following day.

The ship's combat effectiveness was also influenced by its armament. The ship's light anti-aircraft protection utilised 25 mm Type 96 guns, supplementing its 12.7-centimeter Type 89 dual-purpose weaponry. Despite being the standard Japanese light AA weapon, historians note it suffered from severe design shortcomings, including an inability to train or elevate fast enough to handle high-speed targets.

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