Japanese Ships

[CP_Admin]

Dear Pilots,

Feel free to share any information, resources or references about Japanese ships that fought in the Pacific Theater 1941-1945. We have good references, but can always use more. We hope to create many big beautiful warships. The IJN had a very powerful fleet at the start of the Pacific War. We hope to do it justice.

Thanks in advance!

The Combat Pilot Team

[Amarok]

Here is a good overview of the Imperial Japanese Navy 1912-1945.
 

Edited May 24, 2023 by Amarok

[wheelsup_cavu]

I have found this site to be fairly informative.

http://www.combinedfleet.com/kaigun.htm

Quote

Imperial Japanese Navy Page

http://www.combinedfleet.com/kaigun_files/chain.gif

At the beginning of the Second World War, the Japanese Navy (or, in the Japanese language, Nihon Kaigun, or even Teikoku Kaigun, the Imperial Navy) was arguably the most powerful navy in the world. Its naval aviation corps, consisting of 10 aircraft carriers and 1500 topnotch aviators, was the most highly trained and proficient force of its kind. Its 11 (soon to be 12) battleships were among the most powerful in the world. And its surface forces, armed with the superb 24" Type 93 (Long Lance) torpedo, were incomparable night fighters. How and why this impressive force was eventually crushed by the U.S. Navy is a subject that has fascinated me practically forever. New to this site? Feel free to start with pictures of Japanese warships, their detailed information, their guns, torpedoes, sensors, their names, and the officers who led them in combat. On this site, you can also find out more about Imperial Navy's Airforce?. Or, if you want to get more in-depth, try Tony Tully's Untold Tales of the Imperial Japanese Navy, or my Special Features section, which has some really neat stuff as well. You can also check out the bibliography, the wargames page, the links page, and what's new on the site. Finally, you can learn a little about us.

 

Wheels

[Rjel]

Not sure if these are of any value. These feature some structural plan sheets. There appears to be other Japanese ship classes listed at Internet Archives too.

https://archive.org/details/yn628ga1935

https://archive.org/details/yn700ga193x/00 - cover photo.jpg

[Props]

These books may be useful

Aircraft Carriers and Seaplane Carriers: Selected Photos from the Archives of the Kure Maritime Museum (The Japanese Naval Warship Photo Albums series)(available on Amazon) 

The Japanese Aircraft Carrier Akagi (Super Drawings in 3d) by Stefan Draminksi - If I remember correctly there is a series of these as well dedicated to IJN ships

Soryu, Hiryu, and Unryu Class Aircraft Carriers in the Imperial Japanese Navy during WW2 by  Lars Ahlberg (Author), Hans Lengerer (Author)

There are more but this is a good start. 

 

[charon]

Merchant Ship Shapes

[BBonus]

http://www.combinedfleet.com/kaigun.htm

[Aruberikku]

 EDIT: Just noticed today on the Discord that Stefan is part of the CP team, so you probably have these! 😄

The Anatomy of the Ship series from Stefan Dramiński (Osprey Publishing) has some books that could be really useful to create 3D models.

They start by talking about the ship in general, giving technical info and some historical background. Then you get these really nice drawings/3D models showing shots from all angles (of the ship in general as well as details on the inside and outside).

There's two about Japanese ships:

• The Aircraft Carrier Hiryū
• Battleships Yamato and Musashi

I added some samples (from "The Aircraft Carrier Hiryū") to give you an idea:
And some higher resolution images of the samples below for those interested: Pic 1, Pic 2 & Pic 3.

Edited February 1 by Aruberikku