IJN Akagi

The Akagi was an aircraft carrier serving with the Imperial Japanese Navy during Japan's invasion and occupation of Hawaii during World War II.

The Akagi played a major part in the invasion of the American territory of Hawaii, including the attack on Pearl Harbor. It was also pivotal in fighting off the USA's first attempt to reclaim Hawaii in 1942, but was sunk a year later by a torpedo during the successful second attempt in 1943.

In World War II, under the command of Captain Kiichi Hasegawa, she was Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo's flagship for the Striking Force for the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941. She launched two waves of planes at Oahu, and provided continued airsupport for the invasion force that made land. In, June, 1942, under the command of Captain Tomeo Kaku (the outspoken Hasegawa having been replaced), and acting now as Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto's flagship, the Akagi helped turn back an attempted American invasion.

However, in 1943, the Akagki was hit by several divebombs and then by a torpedo admiships when a far superior American force arrived to reclaim Hawaii. Kaku, now an admiral himself, took the ships destruction upon himself, and went down with the ship.