Taiyo

History of Service

Feburary 1941
Passenger Liner KASUGA MARU was used to transport military cargos until March.

May 1941 ~ September 1941
Conversion in an escort carrier took place.

15 September 1941
Commissioned and assigned to CarDiv 5, First Air Fleet, later assigned to CarDiv 4.

November 1941
Shipment of fighters to Palau.

April 1942
Bombed at Rabaul, but no damage.

August 1942
Assigned to Operation "KA".

Ferried planes to the Marshall Island.

Changed the name to TAIYO.

September 1942
Hit by a torpedo from submarine USS Trout, but able to reach and repair at Turk.

April 1943
Attacked by submarine USS Tunny, hit by two torpedos. However, she was only damaged slightly.

August 1943
Attacked by four torpedos from submarine USS Pike, no damage.

September 1943
Attacked by submarine USS Cabrilla. One torpedo hit, she lost power but towed by UNYO to Yokosuka for repair.

May 1944 ~ June 1944
Escorted convoy HI-61 and later 62 to Singapore.

July 1944
Ferried planes to Manila, later joined with SHINYO and KAIYO escorting convoy HI-69.

August 1944
Escorted convoy HI-71 to Singapore.

18 August 1944
Hit by a torpedo fired from submarine USS Rasher. The av-gas tank exploded and the ship was on fire and sank.

October 1944
Scrapped from the Navy List.