(REQ) IJN Ryujo (WARNING:BIG PICTURES)

Faith · 09-06-18, 08:07 AM

This is the last missing carrier of importance in the japanese roster to be added.

IJN Ryujo ("Prancing Dragon")

Built to exploit a loophole in the Washington Treaty, Ryujo was designed as a 8000 ton carrier carrying a minimal airfleet in a single vessel. Due to changing requirements, the ship was finished with a second hangar and a heavy AA suit, making her overweight, top heavy and unstable. Despite several reconstruction, those issues were never fully solved.

With Kido Butai at Pearl Harbor, Ryujo was the only carrier available to provide air support for the invasion of South East Asia and Indonesia. For 4 months, she jumped from one point to another, escorting invasion convoys, assisting in the invasion of Davao, Legaspi, Jolo, Palembang, as well as attacking shipping fleeing from Singapore.
Participating separately from the main carrier force during the Indian Ocean Raid, she struck and sunk 9 vessels assisted by her escorts, for an approximate 34000t of shipping.

For the Midway operation, she was joined by the brand new carrier Junyo. Together they provided air support for the Kiska and Attu landings, as well as sticking Dutch Harbour. Throughout June and early July, she stayed in northern waters befroe being reassigned south. With the invasion of Guadalcanal, Ryujo, participates in the GA Operation against the island.On August 24th, while separated from the main fleet to launch her aircraft, Ryujo is spotted by a PBY Catalina. In the early afternoon, the ship is attacked and sunk by bombers and torpedo bombers from USS Saratoga. She capsized in the early evening.

Statistics, as completed (Wikipedia, consulted on 13/05/2018 at 10:02)
Type: Light aircraft carrier
Displacement (standard): 8,000 t (7,900 long tons)
Displacement (normal): 10,150 t (9,990 long tons)
Length: 179.9 meters (590 ft 3 in) (o/a)
Beam: 20.32 meters (66 ft 8 in)
Draught: 5.56 meters (18 ft 3 in)
Installed power: 65,000 shp (48,000 kW), 12 × Kampon water-tube boilers
Propulsion: 2 × shafts ,2 × geared steam turbines
Speed: 29 knots (54 km/h; 33 mph)
Range: 10,000 nmi (19,000 km; 12,000 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Complement: 600 (934 after modernization)
Armament: 6 × twin 12.7 cm Type 89 dual-purpose guns, 12 × twin 13.2 mm Hotchkiss machine guns
Aircraft carried: 48
Aviation facilities: 6 × Arrestor wires

Additional Details and Modifications - (By Anthony Tully and Gilbert Casse):

9 May 1933:
Originally designed with only a single hanger, the Navy doubled her aircraft stowage requirement to 48 aircraft in order to give her a more useful air group. This necessited the addition of a second hanger atop the first. Coupled with the vessel's light displacement and narrow beam, the end result produces an unacceptable degree of instability in rough seas despite being fitted with Sperry gyro-stabilization.
No Island is installed; her navigating and control bridge is located just under the forward lip of the flight deck in a long glassed-in "greenhouse". Her hanger box is set back 23 m (75 ft) from the ship's stem, giving the carrier a distinctive open bow. Her 156 m (512 ft) flight deck is extended well beyond the aft end of the hangers and is supported by twin steel pillars. Six transverse arrester wires are installed on the flight deck. Two elevators service the upper and lower hangers and connect them with the flight deck.

The boiler uptakes are trunked to the ship's starboard side, approximately amidships, and exhausted horizontally just below flight deck level through two small horizontal funnels, the ends of which are supported by heavy bracing.
As completed, her primary AA armament consists of six 12.7-cm (5.0")/40 Type 89 gun mounts, three on either side of the carrier's hull. Six-quad Type 93 13.2 mm MGs mounts completes her armament.

General Layout. Note aft position of rear elevator and hangar arrangements.

First Refit:

In June-September 1933 RYUJO undergoes sea trials and training exercises for her air group consisting of 9 Mitsubishi Type 13 B1M2 (+3 spares) attack aircraft and 3 Nakajima Type 3 (+2 spares) A1N1 fighters. A maximum speed of 29 knots is achieved but the vessel is deemed very wet under moderate sea conditions due to much shipping water by the bows and a general lack of stability. Because of this and findings made from the inquiry to the disaster to torpedo boat TOMOZURU on 12 March 1934, on 26 May 1934 RYUJO enters dock at Kure Naval Yard for a refit and extensive modifications to address stability problems. Changes include strengthening of the keel, addition of ballast keel, addition of enlarged bulges to either side of the hull and the removal of the aft two-twin 12.7-cm AA gun mountings to reduce top weight. Those are replaced at the same location by two-twin Type 96 25 mm AA guns mountings. The flight deck is also widened between the forward 12.7-cm (5.0")/40 Type 89 gun mounts and the forward elevator. The funnels are moved up the hull side and now are curving downward; the forward funnel is also enlarged. Those modifications serve to keep the flight deck clear of smoke and fumes. On 20 August 1934 the refit is completed. Displacement is increased to 10,600-ton standard. Undocked.

For just over a year things remained as they were, but on 25 September 1935 the RYUJO among other ships was notably damaged in the "Fourth Fleet Incident" by a typhoon that struck during fleet exercises. Light carriers RYUJO and HOSHO, several cruisers and destroyers suffer damage to their flight decks and superstructure, RYUJO also suffers the flooding of its hangar. The bridge area is heavily buckled and dished in below the windows.

Second Refit:

To incorporate the lessons learned from the "Fourth Fleet Incident", on 11 October 1935 RYUJO enters dock at Kure Naval yard for repairs and refit. Reduced to a reserve ship class status. During the next seven months alterations are made to improve the ship's seaworthiness. The carrier's distinctive low forecastle is raised one deck higher by 3.1 m (10 ft) and some flair added to prevent shipping waters in heavy seas. The arrester wires are modernized to stop a 6,000-kg (13,000 lb) aircraft. RYUJO's bridge and front flight deck are rounded; this modification shortens the flight deck by 2 m (6.5 ft). On 31 May 1936 the refit is completed and the carrier undocked.
During the summer from June to August 1936 the carrier undergoes sea trials that confirm a definite improvement on seaworthiness in light and moderate sea conditions. Others trials are undertaken regarding bomb-diving tactics with 12 (+4 spares) Aichi Type 94 D1A "Susie" carrier-bombers. The latter are also deemed satisfactory. Her aircraft complement also consists of 24 (+8 spares) Nakajima A4N1 fighters. The Japanese are then satisfied, and RYUJO returns to active duty in September 1936 as flagship of Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Sato Saburo's (34) CarDiv 1 with light carrier HOSHO. Her aircraft complement consists of Yokosuka Type 92 B3Y1 attack planes, Aichi Type 94 D1A1 "Susie" carrier-bombers and Nakajima Type 90 A2N1 fighters due to shortage of the A4N1 version.

Third Refit

On 15 November 1939 arrives at Kure, wheupon RYUJO is reduced to reserve ship status. Starting in December and lasting through January 1940 the carrier undergoes various repairs and a reshaping of her flight deck which narrows it back to the original width between the forward 12.7-cm (5.0”)/40 Type 89 gun mounts and the forward elevator.

Fourth Refit

On 28 April 1942 enters Kure Naval Base’s drydock for maintenance and refit. It appears RYUJO now received an AA upgrade. Though some sources state that RYUJO's light AA armament was altered at the outbreak of the war, given her schedule, May 1942 seems more likely for when RYUJO’s light AA six-quad Type 93 13.2 mm MGs are probably replaced by six-triple Type 96 25mm guns. She retains amidships her two-twin Type 96 25 mm guns.

Loss of RYUJO

During the Battle of the Eastern Solomons, despite conflicting reports, the most reliable affirm three confirmed bomb hits and a fourth very probable, with one torpedo hit in the starboard engine room as per this diagram of the damage reported to RYUJO. What is of interest is how much of the damage was concentrated near the edge of the flight deck starboard, which might explain the lack of obvious damage in verticals noted in her TROM. Note the torpedo hit to starboard in the engine room and a bomb hit just forward of it in nearly the same area but likely breaching the transverse bulkhead and opening the aftmost starboard boiler room as well; the resultant inundation of both compartments causing great flooding. It is worth noting that one of the better attested U.S. torpedo hit claims is one on the port forward, and the Japanese do note an "effective near-miss" with underwater damage in this area. Another torpedo by luck passed under the stern. - (Tully)

Details

Frontal view of Ryujo, pre refit, 19th June 1933

Rear view of Ryujo, pre refit, 19th June 1933

Another rear view of Ryujo, date unknown

An aerial view of Ryujo after it's first reconstruction, sometime between 1934 and 1937

Starboard shot of Ryujo during the final stages of construction, date unknown

Profile Morskie diagrams showing Ryujo at different stages of her life. the is the only picture I've found which shows the raised forecastle and taller prow.

Sources

(All internet sources consulted 13/05/2018)
http://combinedfleet.com/ships/ryujo
http://www.carrierbuilders.net/eleme...nt.php?id=1211
https://ww2db.com/photo.php?source=a...eigntype_id=25
http://pwencycl.kgbudge.com/R/y/Ryujo_class.htm
http://remorika.com/the-japanese-lig...ujo-and-taiyo/

(As usual, these threads are to give information and data to potential modders who may find a liking to this ship)

propbeanie · 09-06-18, 09:37 AM

We've been wanting her for FotRSU for a while:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...14#post2559514

The Shoho or Ryuho might be kit-bashing starting points, I dunno, since I don't do 3D (and it doesn't want me to)... but both of them are smaller, light carriers... maybe we can convince Zuikaku1944 to take on the project...

s7rikeback · 09-07-18, 05:31 PM

Area 51 - Interim Folder... It's been there for a fair while... looks fairly close to Faiths pictures... Please remember this unit has NOT had CapnScurvy's water resistant special treatment on the .sim file. So may act slighly different in-game for FotrsU, compared to other units.

Faith - it's also in ths pack from Miner1436

Faith · 09-08-18, 02:34 AM

That's a pretty accurate model of Ryuho. So many goodies I wasn't aware existed.
It could work, with the exception of the hull. Ryujo had a very characteristic hull shape, and no ship I know has something quite like it, except maybe Mogami.
But if it makes a convincing illusion of Ryujo, I think most people will be happy with it.

09-06-18, 08:07 AM	#1
Faith Bosun Join Date: Aug 2017 Posts: 64 Downloads: 73 Uploads: 6	(REQ) IJN Ryujo (WARNING:BIG PICTURES) This is the last missing carrier of importance in the japanese roster to be added. IJN Ryujo ("Prancing Dragon") Built to exploit a loophole in the Washington Treaty, Ryujo was designed as a 8000 ton carrier carrying a minimal airfleet in a single vessel. Due to changing requirements, the ship was finished with a second hangar and a heavy AA suit, making her overweight, top heavy and unstable. Despite several reconstruction, those issues were never fully solved. With Kido Butai at Pearl Harbor, Ryujo was the only carrier available to provide air support for the invasion of South East Asia and Indonesia. For 4 months, she jumped from one point to another, escorting invasion convoys, assisting in the invasion of Davao, Legaspi, Jolo, Palembang, as well as attacking shipping fleeing from Singapore. Participating separately from the main carrier force during the Indian Ocean Raid, she struck and sunk 9 vessels assisted by her escorts, for an approximate 34000t of shipping. For the Midway operation, she was joined by the brand new carrier Junyo. Together they provided air support for the Kiska and Attu landings, as well as sticking Dutch Harbour. Throughout June and early July, she stayed in northern waters befroe being reassigned south. With the invasion of Guadalcanal, Ryujo, participates in the GA Operation against the island.On August 24th, while separated from the main fleet to launch her aircraft, Ryujo is spotted by a PBY Catalina. In the early afternoon, the ship is attacked and sunk by bombers and torpedo bombers from USS Saratoga. She capsized in the early evening. Statistics, as completed (Wikipedia, consulted on 13/05/2018 at 10:02) Type: Light aircraft carrier Displacement (standard): 8,000 t (7,900 long tons) Displacement (normal): 10,150 t (9,990 long tons) Length: 179.9 meters (590 ft 3 in) (o/a) Beam: 20.32 meters (66 ft 8 in) Draught: 5.56 meters (18 ft 3 in) Installed power: 65,000 shp (48,000 kW), 12 × Kampon water-tube boilers Propulsion: 2 × shafts ,2 × geared steam turbines Speed: 29 knots (54 km/h; 33 mph) Range: 10,000 nmi (19,000 km; 12,000 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) Complement: 600 (934 after modernization) Armament: 6 × twin 12.7 cm Type 89 dual-purpose guns, 12 × twin 13.2 mm Hotchkiss machine guns Aircraft carried: 48 Aviation facilities: 6 × Arrestor wires Additional Details and Modifications - (By Anthony Tully and Gilbert Casse): 9 May 1933: Originally designed with only a single hanger, the Navy doubled her aircraft stowage requirement to 48 aircraft in order to give her a more useful air group. This necessited the addition of a second hanger atop the first. Coupled with the vessel's light displacement and narrow beam, the end result produces an unacceptable degree of instability in rough seas despite being fitted with Sperry gyro-stabilization. No Island is installed; her navigating and control bridge is located just under the forward lip of the flight deck in a long glassed-in "greenhouse". Her hanger box is set back 23 m (75 ft) from the ship's stem, giving the carrier a distinctive open bow. Her 156 m (512 ft) flight deck is extended well beyond the aft end of the hangers and is supported by twin steel pillars. Six transverse arrester wires are installed on the flight deck. Two elevators service the upper and lower hangers and connect them with the flight deck. The boiler uptakes are trunked to the ship's starboard side, approximately amidships, and exhausted horizontally just below flight deck level through two small horizontal funnels, the ends of which are supported by heavy bracing. As completed, her primary AA armament consists of six 12.7-cm (5.0")/40 Type 89 gun mounts, three on either side of the carrier's hull. Six-quad Type 93 13.2 mm MGs mounts completes her armament. General Layout. Note aft position of rear elevator and hangar arrangements. First Refit: In June-September 1933 RYUJO undergoes sea trials and training exercises for her air group consisting of 9 Mitsubishi Type 13 B1M2 (+3 spares) attack aircraft and 3 Nakajima Type 3 (+2 spares) A1N1 fighters. A maximum speed of 29 knots is achieved but the vessel is deemed very wet under moderate sea conditions due to much shipping water by the bows and a general lack of stability. Because of this and findings made from the inquiry to the disaster to torpedo boat TOMOZURU on 12 March 1934, on 26 May 1934 RYUJO enters dock at Kure Naval Yard for a refit and extensive modifications to address stability problems. Changes include strengthening of the keel, addition of ballast keel, addition of enlarged bulges to either side of the hull and the removal of the aft two-twin 12.7-cm AA gun mountings to reduce top weight. Those are replaced at the same location by two-twin Type 96 25 mm AA guns mountings. The flight deck is also widened between the forward 12.7-cm (5.0")/40 Type 89 gun mounts and the forward elevator. The funnels are moved up the hull side and now are curving downward; the forward funnel is also enlarged. Those modifications serve to keep the flight deck clear of smoke and fumes. On 20 August 1934 the refit is completed. Displacement is increased to 10,600-ton standard. Undocked. For just over a year things remained as they were, but on 25 September 1935 the RYUJO among other ships was notably damaged in the "Fourth Fleet Incident" by a typhoon that struck during fleet exercises. Light carriers RYUJO and HOSHO, several cruisers and destroyers suffer damage to their flight decks and superstructure, RYUJO also suffers the flooding of its hangar. The bridge area is heavily buckled and dished in below the windows. Second Refit: To incorporate the lessons learned from the "Fourth Fleet Incident", on 11 October 1935 RYUJO enters dock at Kure Naval yard for repairs and refit. Reduced to a reserve ship class status. During the next seven months alterations are made to improve the ship's seaworthiness. The carrier's distinctive low forecastle is raised one deck higher by 3.1 m (10 ft) and some flair added to prevent shipping waters in heavy seas. The arrester wires are modernized to stop a 6,000-kg (13,000 lb) aircraft. RYUJO's bridge and front flight deck are rounded; this modification shortens the flight deck by 2 m (6.5 ft). On 31 May 1936 the refit is completed and the carrier undocked. During the summer from June to August 1936 the carrier undergoes sea trials that confirm a definite improvement on seaworthiness in light and moderate sea conditions. Others trials are undertaken regarding bomb-diving tactics with 12 (+4 spares) Aichi Type 94 D1A "Susie" carrier-bombers. The latter are also deemed satisfactory. Her aircraft complement also consists of 24 (+8 spares) Nakajima A4N1 fighters. The Japanese are then satisfied, and RYUJO returns to active duty in September 1936 as flagship of Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Sato Saburo's (34) CarDiv 1 with light carrier HOSHO. Her aircraft complement consists of Yokosuka Type 92 B3Y1 attack planes, Aichi Type 94 D1A1 "Susie" carrier-bombers and Nakajima Type 90 A2N1 fighters due to shortage of the A4N1 version. Third Refit On 15 November 1939 arrives at Kure, wheupon RYUJO is reduced to reserve ship status. Starting in December and lasting through January 1940 the carrier undergoes various repairs and a reshaping of her flight deck which narrows it back to the original width between the forward 12.7-cm (5.0”)/40 Type 89 gun mounts and the forward elevator. Fourth Refit On 28 April 1942 enters Kure Naval Base’s drydock for maintenance and refit. It appears RYUJO now received an AA upgrade. Though some sources state that RYUJO's light AA armament was altered at the outbreak of the war, given her schedule, May 1942 seems more likely for when RYUJO’s light AA six-quad Type 93 13.2 mm MGs are probably replaced by six-triple Type 96 25mm guns. She retains amidships her two-twin Type 96 25 mm guns. Loss of RYUJO During the Battle of the Eastern Solomons, despite conflicting reports, the most reliable affirm three confirmed bomb hits and a fourth very probable, with one torpedo hit in the starboard engine room as per this diagram of the damage reported to RYUJO. What is of interest is how much of the damage was concentrated near the edge of the flight deck starboard, which might explain the lack of obvious damage in verticals noted in her TROM. Note the torpedo hit to starboard in the engine room and a bomb hit just forward of it in nearly the same area but likely breaching the transverse bulkhead and opening the aftmost starboard boiler room as well; the resultant inundation of both compartments causing great flooding. It is worth noting that one of the better attested U.S. torpedo hit claims is one on the port forward, and the Japanese do note an "effective near-miss" with underwater damage in this area. Another torpedo by luck passed under the stern. - (Tully) Details Frontal view of Ryujo, pre refit, 19th June 1933 Rear view of Ryujo, pre refit, 19th June 1933 Another rear view of Ryujo, date unknown An aerial view of Ryujo after it's first reconstruction, sometime between 1934 and 1937 Starboard shot of Ryujo during the final stages of construction, date unknown Profile Morskie diagrams showing Ryujo at different stages of her life. the is the only picture I've found which shows the raised forecastle and taller prow. Sources (All internet sources consulted 13/05/2018) http://combinedfleet.com/ships/ryujo http://www.carrierbuilders.net/eleme...nt.php?id=1211 https://ww2db.com/photo.php?source=a...eigntype_id=25 http://pwencycl.kgbudge.com/R/y/Ryujo_class.htm http://remorika.com/the-japanese-lig...ujo-and-taiyo/ (As usual, these threads are to give information and data to potential modders who may find a liking to this ship)

09-06-18, 09:37 AM	#2
propbeanie CTD - it's not just a job Join Date: May 2016 Location: One hour from Music City USA! Posts: 9,735 Downloads: 439 Uploads: 2	We've been wanting her for FotRSU for a while: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...14#post2559514 The Shoho or Ryuho might be kit-bashing starting points, I dunno, since I don't do 3D (and it doesn't want me to)... but both of them are smaller, light carriers... maybe we can convince Zuikaku1944 to take on the project... __________________ "...and bollocks to the naysayer/s" - Jimbuna

09-07-18, 05:31 PM	#3
s7rikeback I break things Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Merry Old England Posts: 771 Downloads: 1106 Uploads: 10	Light Carrier Ryuho Class - by Miner1436 Area 51 - Interim Folder... It's been there for a fair while... looks fairly close to Faiths pictures... Please remember this unit has NOT had CapnScurvy's water resistant special treatment on the .sim file. So may act slighly different in-game for FotrsU, compared to other units. Faith - it's also in ths pack from Miner1436 __________________ Last edited by s7rikeback; 09-07-18 at 05:42 PM.

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09-08-18, 02:34 AM	#4
Faith Bosun Join Date: Aug 2017 Posts: 64 Downloads: 73 Uploads: 6	That's a pretty accurate model of Ryuho. So many goodies I wasn't aware existed. It could work, with the exception of the hull. Ryujo had a very characteristic hull shape, and no ship I know has something quite like it, except maybe Mogami. But if it makes a convincing illusion of Ryujo, I think most people will be happy with it.