Akagi was an aircraft carrier built for the Imperial Japanese Navy. Though she was laid down as an Amagi-class battlecruiser, Akagi was converted to an aircraft carrier while still under construction
Akagi conducting flight operations, April 1942
Akagi on 6 April 1925, prior to her launch at Kure
Akagi on trials off the coast of Iyo, 17 June 1927, with all three flight decks visible. In fact, the intermediate deck was not a flight deck.
Akagi underway in 1929 with aircraft on the upper flight deck and two 20 cm gun turrets on the middle flight deck
Hōshō was the world's first commissioned ship that was built as an aircraft carrier, and the first aircraft carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Commissioned in 1922, the ship was used for testing c
Japanese aircraft carrier Akagi
…into aircraft carriers of up to 33,000 long tons (34,000 t) displacement. The IJN had decided, following the launch of its first aircraft carrier, Hōshō, to construct two larger, faster carriers for operations with major fleet units. The incomplete hulls of Amagi and Akagi were thus selected for completion…
Aerial view of Hōshō as completed in December 1922
Hōshō conducts full-power trials with funnels swiveled up near Tateyama, Japan, on 4 December 1922
A view of the underside of Hōshō's narrow flight deck looking from the forecastle forward, October 1945
Hōshō (middle) compared with other aircraft carriers constructed during the same time period