Victory at Sea: Akagi
The Akagi (赤城, "Red Castle") was one of Japan’s first large aircraft carriers. It was originally laid down as an Amagi-class battlecruiser, but the stipulations of the Washington Treaty resulted in her conversion to an aircraft carrier. Straddling the line between carrier and dreadnought to keep both options open, the Akagi was designed to be quickly converted to a capital ship. It carried turret barbettes, magazines and other equipment to support big gun turrets, and the wooden flight deck and hangar deck were designed to be quickly stripped off, making room for turrets to be mounted. However, by the mid-1930s, the admirals believed the aircraft carrier to be the equal of the capital ship and Akagi was extensively rebuilt to improve aircraft handling capacity, ending the need for converting it to a capital ship.
Akagi's aircraft served in the Second Sino-Japanese War in the late 1930s. With the formation of the First Air Fleet in 1941, she became its flagship, and remained so until her sinking.
Notable actions include the attack on Pearl Harbo, invasion of Rabaul, the bombing of Darwin, Australia, the Indian Ocean Raid, and the Battle of Midway
It was at Midway in June of 1942, were she would participated in her last Battle. Her aircraft bombarding the American-held atoll. However, US aircraft originating from Midway, and the US carriers Enterprise, Hornet and Yorktown attacked Akagi and three other Japanese fleet carriers. Dive bombers from USS Enterprise severely damaged Akagi, forcing friendly escorting destroyers to scuttle her to avoid her falling into US hands.
The loss of four Japanese carriers at the Battle of Midway was a key defeat for Japan, decisively shifting the balance of power in the Pacific theater.
*Models supplied unassembled and unpainted
