Japanese aircraft carrier Zuikaku

Zuikaku was a Shōkaku-class aircraft carrier built for the Imperial Japanese Navy. The ship was named after 瑞鶴. Kawasaki Kobe Shipyard laid her keel on 25 May 1938. She entered service on 25 September 1941, having been launched on 27 November 1939.

Two ships of the class were built. The class followed the Japanese aircraft carrier Hiryū and was succeeded by the Japanese aircraft carrier Taihō.

She displaced 31,598 long tons. She measured 257.5 m (845 ft) long with a beam of 29 m (95 ft). Her designed speed was 34.5 knots, and she carried a complement of 1,660.

Her main battery was 16 127 mm (5 in) guns in eight twin mountings. She carried 72 aircraft. Her machinery developed 160,000 shp.

She was in commission for 1,431 days of the Second World War. She was struck from the register on 26 August 1945.

She was sunk on 25 October 1944 by aircraft, at 19°20′N 125°51′E. The wreck survives.

Written from the harvested record. Every figure above is sourced; the wording is this site's own.