Nate Ledbetter wrote:
> Tony- (or anybody else who might know)
>
> Yes, the Kaga was obviously named after the province,
> but what about other aircraft carriers? Any idea as to
> the Shokaku, Zuikaku, Shoho, Zuiho, Soryu, Hiryu,
> Akagi?
>
> I don't recognize any of the words...
>
Nate:
The Kaga was originally launched as a battleship in 1926, and so was named
after a province like the other battleships. She wasn't modified into a
carrier till 1935. The Akagi was also originally built as a battle cruiser
and converted to a CV, so her name isn't consistent with Japanese CV names.
The "ryû" was common in CVs; it means "dragon." Other common elements in CV
names were "kaku" (crane), "hô" (phoenix), and "shô" (soar).
Sôryu is "blue dragon"; Hiryû is "flying dragon"; Shôkaku is "soaring
crane"; Shôhô is "soaring phoenix"; Zuikaku is "felicitous crane."
Tony