Hiryu—how many aircraft?

[duodenumnums]

I’m working on Aoshima’s 1/700 Hiryu and I’m wondering how many planes to display on the deck. Most photos I’ve found have her with nothing on the deck. If she was getting her planes ready to launch, how many would she have on the deck? I’m ok with stretching some realism. Also I have 15 Zekes, 12 Vals, and 12 Kates.

[Dan K]

A rare photo of Hiryu launching aircraft below. This was her initial strike against Yorktown, wiith 6 Zeros and 18 Vals.

Generally, speaking, the carriers operated in two ship divisions, with each CV contributing half of a mixed strike package. So, one CV contributes a full deck load of Vals, the other a full load of Kates, while both contribute Zeros to the strike package and to the CAP. There were, of course, variations on this, but I've outlined what was standard operation procedure.

A full deckload for Hiryu was generally 21 to 24 aircraft. Possibly 27 with more Zeros. 18 was the typical maximum deckload of Vals or Kates.

So, it would be entirely reasonable for you stage 9+ Zeros and 12 of either the Vals or Kates on deck. You could also use all the Kates and, say, 3 Vals for ASW work. Or the opposite, with 3 Kates for scout duty.

My two cents. Dan

[G-Opt]

How sure are we this photo shows launches during the BOM? And what does that date of 1 June 1942 refer to, I wonder?

Just curious...

[Dan K]

The photo in this volume has been mis-dated. There's been separate discussions about the date given. Clearly, it's not June 1; no deck load launches were conducted by the Kido Butai on the approach to Midway. According to various Japanese sources, this photo was taken of Hiryu launching the Takahashi strike against Yorktown on the 4th. I think Shattered Sword also places this on the 4th.

[G-Opt]

Thanks for that. I always wondered since it is so similar to those images in COMBINEDFLEET AT ITS ZENITH...

[duodenumnums]

Thanks everyone!