IJN Hyuga Sunk in Shallow Water

Hybrid battleship-carrier IJN Hyuga wrecked and leaking oil off Nasake Shima, Kure, Japan. She was sunk in shallow water by Curtiss SB2C Helldivers from Air Group 87 from USS Ticonderoga (CV-14) and other aircraft from Task Group 38.3. Ten 1000-pound armor-piercing bombs strike the ship and many others land nearby, opening her to the sea. Rear Admiral Kiyoshi Kusagawa, who was recalled from retirement to skipper the ship, is killed on the bridge. Hyuga was converted into a hybrid in late 1943. She could launch fourteen Yokosuka D4Y2 Suisei (Allied codename "Judy") dive-bombers and eight Aichi E16A Zuiun (Allied codename "Paul") seaplanes but not recover them. The aircraft would land on conventional carriers or an airstrip. However, lack of speed, lack of fuel and trained pilots prevented Hyuga from contributing meaningful air power to any of the engagements she was in. The concept, forced upon the Imperial Japanese Navy when they lost their carriers and pilot corps at the Battle of Midway, was never successful, and deprived the Navy of an operational battleship for several crucial months during her refit.