KIDO BUTAI

IJN Akagi: Tabular Record of Movement

(Revised 5 November 2007)

© 1998 Anthony P. Tully


25 March 1927:
Converted from a battle-cruiser hull and completed at Yokosuka Navy Yard. Named AKAGI ("Red Castle") and commissioned. Until August 1940, was flagship of CarDiv 1, 1st Fleet and was in or around Yokosuka. In her original configuration, she sports three flight decks that form a series of ramps at the bow.

10 December 1928:
Captain Yamamoto Isoroku (future Chief of Combined Fleet) appointed as commanding officer.

1 November 1929:
Captain Yamamoto relieved; successor unknown.

April 1937:
Taken out of service and enters drydock for extensive modernization at Sasebo NavalYard.

31 August 1938:
Modernization complete; AKAGI emerges with the three flight decks removed. In theirplace is one single flight deck running nearly the length of the ship. Aircraft capacityis thus increased from 61 to 91.

5 September 1940:
Depart Yokosuka.

18 September 1940:
Depart Kure.

15 November 1940:
Assigned as special duty ship in Yokosuka Naval District.

25 March 1941:
Captain Hasegawa Kiichi assigned as commanding officer.

10 April 1941:
Becomes flagship of the newly organized First Air Fleet and assigned toCardiv 1, Air Fleet 1. Subsequent operations in and around Yokosuka orKyushu's coastal waters.

22 November 1941:
Arrives at Hittokappu Bay at Etorofu Island (in the Kuriles) as part of theassembling Mobile Force.

26 November: 1941
As Flagship of VADM Nagumo Chuichi's First Air Fleet, departsHittokapu Bay in the Kuriles leading the Carrier Striking Force ("KidoButai") in the "Hawaii Operation" ....the surprise attack on the U.S. Pacific Fleetat Pearl Harbor.

7 December 1941:
Two strike waves launched against Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. AKAGI's torpedo planes are instrumental in sinking the battleships USS OKLAHOMAand WEST VIRGINIA. Nagumo orders a withdrawal following recovery of the second attack wave.

23 December 1941:
Return with KAGA, SHOKAKU and ZUIKAKU to Hashirajima.

25 December 1941:
Arrive at Kure.

5 January 1942:
Carrier Striking Force (Car Divs 1, 5) departed Hashirajima, shifting over to Iwakuni.

8 January 1942:
Depart Iwakuni for Truk.14 January 1942:
Arrive at Truk.

17 January:
Departs Truk as part of the attack forces for the invasion of Rabaul and itsenvirons. Sorties with Crudiv 8.

20-22 January 1942:
Carried out air strikes against Rabaul, Kavieng, and Rabaul (again on the 22nd), respectively.

27 January 1942:
Returned to Truk.

1 February 1942:
Departs Truk in an attempt to catch the enemy carrier force thatattacked the Marshall Islands.

8 February 1942:
Arrives at Palau, having abandoned the pursuit of the American fleet.

15 February 1942:
Departs Palau with KAGA, CarDiv 2, and Crudiv 8, screened by DesRon 1 for the attacks on Davao and Port Darwin, Australia.

19 February:
Raid on Port Darwin launched. Sunk or damaged 9 ships, including the U.S. destroyer PEARY, and 18 aircraft destroyed.

21 February 1942:
Arrives at Staring Bay.

25 February 1942:
Departs Staring Bay with the Striking Force to cover the invasion of Java.

9 March 1942:
Return to Staring Bay after the fall of Java.

26 March-23 April:
Striking Force (less KAGA) departs Staring Bay with BatDiv 3, Crudiv 8, and DesRon 1 for "Operation C" ---the raid into the Indian Ocean. Strikes launched againstRoyal Navy bases at Columbo and Trincomalee, Ceylon. Important sinkings include the light carrier HMS HERMES and cruisers HMS CORNWALL and HMS DORSETSHIRE.

19 April 1942:
Less CarDiv 5, which detaches with screen to head for New Guinea for "Operation MO" (Battleof the Coral Sea) operations, the AKAGI and Striking Force departs Mako in high speed attempted pursuit of the "Doolittle Raiders" - carriers USSHORNET and ENTERPRISE, which have just struck the Tokyo Bay area with aircraft on the 18th.

22 April 1942:
Return to Hashirajima.

25 April 1942:
Captain Hasegawa relieved by Captain Aoki Taijiro.

27 May 1942:
0600 Departed Hashirajima for the Battle of Midway as flagship of VADM Nagumo's Carrier Striking Force (CarDivs 1, 2). CarDiv 5 unable to participate, due to damage to SHOKAKU and aircraft losses to ZUIKAKU suffered at Coral Sea on 8 May.

4 June 1942:
Launched strikes against Midway Island. Subsequently engaged and attacked by numerous enemy land and carrier-based aircraft. At 1026 attacked by three aircraft from U.S.S. ENTERPRISE (CV-6). One direct hit is scored amidships in the vicinity of the island, starting a fire in the hangars, a second rips through the fantail and explodes under the port quarter, while the third is a near-miss port-side forward. (Note 2). Although normally the damage would have been moderate, the vessel is currently engaged in preparing a strike,with the result that the single bomb hit induce explosions among armed and fueled aircraft within hangars and start a raging aviation gasoline fire. Since she was in a maximum turn at the time, AKAGI's rudder is damaged, and soon jams at 20 degrees to port, leaving her going in wide circles. Unable to command the fleet from her now, at 1046 VADM Nagumo Chuichi transferred flag first to NOWAKI, then to NAGARA. AKAGI's engines work erratically, with the ship starting and stopping, but she goes dead in the water for good at 1350. By 1600 all non-essential personnel have left the ship, though Captain Aoki and a damage control party remain aboard. The vessel burns through the evening and next night, but remains afloat.

5 June 1942:
Sunk: Scuttled by direct order of C-in-C Combined Fleet Admiral Yamamoto Isoroku.At 0520 sank bow first after two or three torpedo hits out of four fired into her starboard side -one each - by ARASHIO, HAGIKAZE, MAIKAZE and NOWAKI. Sank in position 30-30 N, 178-40 W. More than 1,070 survivors rescued, including her skipper, (now Captain Aoki Taijiro - who had replaced Hasegawa in the spring) - though he had to be ordered off the ship -, while only263 petty officers and men are lost. Survivors subsequently transferred from destroyers to MUTSU, one of the battleships in Yamamoto's Main Body.

25 September 1942:
Removed from Navy List.

Note:
First Japanese capital ship to be scuttled by own ships in the Pacific War.

Note 2:  Heretofore it has been generally reported that Akagi was struck by two bombs, one amidships, and the second on the rear of the flight deck.  However, in “Shattered Sword” we (Jon Parshall & Anthony Tully) make the case that the available facts indicate the bomb aft did not detonate on the flight deck, but exploded close beside the fantail.  For this reason, Akagi was in fact mortally wounded almost certainly by one hit alone, although the rudder damage did frustrate salvage efforts to an important degree.

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