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aircraft carrier Shinano
Shinano** was a Japanese aircraft carrier during World War II, originally designed as the third battleship of the *Yamato*-class. However, after Japan's heavy losses in carriers at the Battle of Midway (1942), it was hastily converted into an aircraft carrier to bolster the Imperial Japanese Navy's depleted fleet.
**Key Facts:**
- **Displacement:** Approximately 72,000 tons (full load), making it the largest carrier of its time until the advent of postwar supercarriers.
- **Length:** 266 meters (872 feet).
- **Speed:** 27 knots (31 mph).
- **Armor:** Heavily armored for a carrier, retaining battleship-level protection.
- **Aircraft Capacity:** Designed to carry up to 47 planes, though its hangars prioritized storage and repair over rapid deployment.
**Service History:**
- **Launched:** October 1944, but rushed into service with incomplete construction and untested systems.
- **Fate:** On its maiden voyage from Yokosuka to Kure on November 29, 1944, it was torpedoed by the U.S. submarine *USS Archerfish (SS-311)*. Critical design flaws (e.g., inadequate watertight compartments) and crew inexperience led to its sinking within hours, marking one of the most dramatic naval losses in history.
**Legacy:**
*Shinano*'s short-lived career symbolizes Japan's desperate attempts to counter Allied naval superiority late in the war. Its sinking highlighted vulnerabilities in rushed military projects and remains a notable example of carrier warfare's risks.
