How many aircraft carriers did Japan use in World War 2?

Answer 1

31 counting all types of Carriers in the Imperial Japanese Navy.

However 4 were never completed. 1 was never commisioned. 1 was a training ship, and 2 were BBV's Battleship/Carrier Hybrids which only carried 14 Dive bombers and 8 Seaplanes each.

BTW the U.S.A. had an astounding 97 counting Carriers of all types. Not counting 38 escort carriers which were given to England as Lend Lease aid. Which would bring the total to 135.

Below are the details of the various carriers including when and where they were sunk.

Japanese Aircraft CarriersNameType(a/c)TonsCommisSunkByWhereCommentsHoshoCVL (21)7,50027Dec22--KureTraining shipAkagiCV (63)36,00025May2704June42CVMidway

KagaCV (72)36,80021Mar2804June42CVMidway

RyujoCVL (46)10,5009May3324Aug42CVEastSolomons

SoryuCV (63)17,50029Sep3704June42CVMidway

HiryuCV (63)17,5005July3905June42CVMidway

ZuihoCVL (24)11,20027Dec4025Oct44CVCapeEngano

ShokakuCV (72)27,00008Aug4119June44SS-244Marianas

TaiyoCVE (27)16,70015Sep4118Dec44SS-269off Luzon

ZuikakuCV (72)27,00025Sep4125Oct44CVCapeEngano

ShohoCVL (30)11,20026Jan4207May42CVCoral Sea

JunyoCV (45)24,10005May4209Dec44SSoff Sasebo

UnyoCVE (27)16,70031May4216Sep44SS-220S.ChinaSea

HiyoCV (45)24,10031July4220June44CV (50)Marianas

ChuyoCVE (27)16,70025Nov4204Dec43SS-192off Honshu

RyuhoCVL (31)13,40028Nov42--Kure

IseBBV-C 194328July45CVKure

HyugaBBV-C 194324July45CVKure

ChiyodaCVL (24)11,20031Oct4325Oct44CVCapeEngano

KaiyoCVE15,40023Nov4324July45CVBeppu Bay

ShinyoCVE17,50015Dec4317Nov44SS-411S.YellowSea

ChitoseCVL (24)11,20001Jan4425Oct44CVCapeEngano

TaihoCV (62)29,30007Mar4419June44SS-218Marianas

UnryuCVL17,30006Aug4419Dec44SS-395EastChinaSea

AmagiCVL17,10010Aug4428June45airKure

ShinanoCVB (70)62,00019Nov4429Nov44SS-311Inland Seaworld largestKatsuragiCV17,30015Oct44Not serviceKasagiCVL17,300incomplete85%IbukiCVL14,500incomplete80%AsoCV

incomplete60%IkomaCV

incomplete60%
Japan had 25 carriers in total though they varied widely in size.

Answer 2

The answer is dependent on how large the aircraft carrier was and which country built it. The MAC (Merchant Aircraft Carrier) was simply a merchant ship with a flight deck, and it carried six planes. The CVEs (ecsort carriers) used by the US and Britain carried less than 30 planes. US and Japanese Fleet carriers held 70-80 planes. British fleet carriers were about the same size as their US and Japanese counterparts, but they were designed differently, and they held only about 40-50 planes.

Answer 3

80-90 planes ww2 fleet us carriers