Displacement 10000 tons loaded, length 551ft, beam 59ft, draught 20ft 4in, two shaft geared steam turbines 30000shp, speed 25 knots, eight twin 25mm AA guns, 11 'Kate' torpedo bombers, complement of 550.  The Hosho was converted from a naval oiler the Hiryu and commissioned in 1922.  Originally there was an 'island' navigation bridge, but this was soon removed.  Saw action in the Sino-Japanese war in the 1930's and used as a training carrier during WWII.  The Hosho was one the few Japanese carriers to survive the war.

Displacement 42000 tons loaded, length 855ft, beam 102ft 8in, draught 28ft 3in, four shaft geared steam turbines 133000shp, speed 31 knots, six 200mm (7.9in), six 120mm (4.7in), 14 twin 25mm AA guns, 21 zero fighters, 21 'Val' dive bombers, 21 'Kate' torpedo bombers, complement 1340.  Completed in 1927 with a flush deck.  A small island and full length deck was added 10 years later in a re-build.  It was the flag ship of Vice Admiral Nagumo at Pearl Harbor.  Was with the force that sunk the Hermes aircraft carrier.   At Midway was attacked by aircraft from the Enterprise, was badly damaged and sunk by Japanese destroyer.

Displacement 43650 tons loaded, length 812ft 4in, beam 106ft 7in, draught 31ft 2in, 4 shaft geared steam turbines 127400 shp, speed 28.5 knots, 10 200mm (7.9in), 16 127mm (5in) and eight twin 25mm AA guns, 90 aircraft (fighters, dive-bombers, torpedo-bombers), complement 2016.  Originally laid down as a battleship but then converted to a carrier.  Was one of the six Pearl Harbor carriers.  Heavily involved in the Pacific war.  Sunk at Midway by aircraft from the Enterprise on the 4th June 1942.

Displacement 14000 tons loaded, length 590ft 6in, beam 68ft 3in, draught 23ft 4in, 2 shaft geared steam turbines 65000 shp, speed 29 knots, four twin 127mm (5in), 12 twin 25mm AA guns, 24 Zero fighters and 12 bombers, complement 924.  Built to limited tonnage to meet the Washington Treaty.  The final tonnage was over the limit, but nothing was said by the Japanese.   Completed in 1933.  Found to be top heavy due to the double hanger.  Supported the Philippine amphibious landings.   Sunk during an attempt to reinforce Guadacanal.  Attacked by aircraft from Enterprise and Saratoga.

Displacement 19800 tons loaded, length 746ft 6in, beam 69ft 11in, draught 25ft, 4 shaft geared steam turbines 152000 shp, speed 34.5 knots, six twin 127mm (5in), 14 twin 25mm AA guns, 21 Zero fighters, 21 Val dive-bombers, 21 'Kate' dive-bombers, complement 1100.   First sailed in 1937.  The design for speed and large aircraft complement meant it was not built to take punishment.  Part of the Midway attack fleet.  Attacked and sunk on 4th June 1942 by aircraft from the Yorktown.

Displacement 21900 tons loaded, length 746ft, beam 73ft 2in, draught 25th 7in, 4 shaft geared steam turbines 152000 shp, speed 34.4 knots, six twin 127mm (5in), seven triple 25mm, five twin 25mm AA guns, 64 aircraft, complement 1100.  Saw action at Pearl Harbor and Wake Island.  Launched aircraft to attack Miday on 4th June only to be attacked later in the day by aircraft from the Enterprise.  Badly damaged and sunk by a Japanese destroyer.   However, did not sink until the following day.

Displacement 32000 tons loaded, length 844ft 9in, beam 85ft 4in, draught 29ft 2in, 4-shaft geared steam turbines 160000shp, speed 34.2 knots, eight twin 127mm (5in) dual purpose, 12 triple 25mm AA guns, 27 fighters, 27 dive bombers and 18 torpedo bombers, complement 1660.  Commissioned in 1941.  Took part in Pearl Harbor as part of Carrier Division 5.  Damaged 26 Oct 1942 by dive-bombers from the Hornet.  Sunk 19 June 1944 by torpedoes from the submarine USS Cavalla. 

Displacement 14200 tons loaded, length 672ft, beam 59ft 8in, draught 21ft 8in, 2-shaft geared steam turbines 52000shp, speed 28.2 knots, four twin 127mm (5in) dual purpose and four twin 22mm AA guns, 30 aircraft, complement 785.  A conversion from a vessel that was to be a submarine tender.  Joined the fleet in Jan 1941.  Escaped destruction at Midway.  Destroyed at the Battle of Cape Engano.

Displacement 14200 tons loaded, length 672ft, beam 59ft 8in, draught 21ft 8in, 2-shaft geared steam turbines 52000 shp, speed 28.2 knots, four twin 127mm (5in) dual purpose and four twin 25mm AA guns, 30 aircraft, complement 785.  Converted from a submarine tender.  Entered service January 1942.  Attacked by aircraft from the Lexington on 7th May 1942.  A second strike from the Yorktown followed which sunk the carrier.

Displacement 26950 tons, length 719ft 2in, beam 87ft 7in, draught 26ft 11in, 2 shaft geared steam turbines 56000 shp, speed 25 knots, 12 127mm (5in) DP and 24 25mm AA guns, 53 aircraft, complement 1200.  Converted from a line.  Entered service mid 1942.  At Santa Cruz her aircraft damaged the battleship South Dakota in October 1942.  Damaged at the battle of the Philippine Sea.  Repaired for service was damaged again in December 1944 and did no re-enter service

Displacement 37270 tons loaded, length 854ft 8in, beam 90ft 10in, draught 31ft 6in, 4-shaft geared steam turbines 180000 shp, speed 33.3 knots, six twin 100mm (3.9in) AA and 15 triple 25mm AA guns, 30 Yokosuka "Judy" dive-bombers, 27 Mitsubishi Zero fighters, 18 Nakajima 'Jill' torpedo-bombers.  Commissioned March 1944.  Torpedoed at the Battle of the Philippine  Sea the submarine Albacore.  However, the carrier did not sink until it suffered a large explosion probably caused by gasoline vapour from damaged fuel tanks

Displacement 22550 tons loaded, length 745ft 5in, beam 72 ft 2in, draught 25th 7in, 4-shaft geared steam turbines 152000, speed 34 knots, 12 127mm (5in) DP and 51 to 89 25mm AA guns, 64 aircraft, complement 1450.  The build was planned to commence in 1942, but due to lack of materials and other demands were note completed until August 1944.  Entered the war late on and was sunk in December 1944 by the submarine Redfish.

Displacement 71900 tons loaded, length 872ft, beam 119ft, draught 33ft 10in, 4-shaft geared steam turbines 150000 shp, speed 27 knots, 16 127mm (5in) DP and 145 25mm AA guns and 12 28-barrel AA rocket launchers, initially 18 aircraft, later 47, complement 2400.   A conversion from an incomplete battleship.   Never entered service.  Was sunk whilst being transferred for final fitting-out by a submarine on 29th Nov 1944.

Displacement 17850 tons standard, length 590ft 11in, beam 73ft 10in, draught 26ft 3in, 2-shaft geared steam turbines 25000 shp, eight 120mm (4.7in) guns ansd eight 25mm AA guns, 27 aircraft, complement 800.  An escort carrier built from a converted mercantile vessel.  Converted in 1941.  Sunk in late 1944 by the submarine Rasher.