Hosho

13.3

Hōshō

Aircraft Carrier | Japan | Tier IV

Tech Tree Position

stock

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General

Research price11000 exp

Purchase price1,000,000

Hit Points31,000

Secondary Armament #1

140 mm/50 3rd Year Type on a single mount4 х 1 pcs.

Firing Range3.5 km.

Rate of Fire7.5 shots/min.

Reload Time8 sec.

HE Shell140 mm HE Type0

Maximum HE Shell Damage2,400

Initial HE Shell Velocity850 m./s.

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell10 %

AA Defense

13 mm/76 Type 93 on a twin mount6 х 2 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second12

. . . Firing Range1.2 km.

Maneuverability

Maximum Speed25 knot

Turning Circle Radius740 m.

Rudder Shift Time11.1 sec.

Concealment

Surface Detectability Range8.56 km.

Air Detectability Range6.46 km.

Battle Levels

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13.3

Hōshō

Aircraft Carrier | Japan | Tier IV

Tech Tree Position

stock

 top

General

Research price11000 exp

Purchase price1,000,000

Hit Points31,800

Secondary Armament #1

140 mm/50 3rd Year Type on a single mount4 х 1 pcs.

Firing Range3.5 km.

Rate of Fire7.5 shots/min.

Reload Time8 sec.

HE Shell140 mm HE Type0

Maximum HE Shell Damage2,400

Initial HE Shell Velocity850 m./s.

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell10 %

AA Defense

25 mm/60 Type 96 on a twin mount6 х 2 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second16.2

. . . Firing Range2.49 km.

Maneuverability

Maximum Speed25 knot

Turning Circle Radius740 m.

Rudder Shift Time7.9 sec.

Concealment

Surface Detectability Range8.56 km.

Air Detectability Range6.46 km.

Battle Levels

12345678910

IV

1,000,000

Hōshō — Japanese Tier IV aircraft сarrier.

The first vessel in the world to be completed as a purpose-built aircraft carrier. This ship was moderately sized and could carry a small air group. For her size, she was armed with an impressive artillery setup and had decent speed and manoeuvrability.

Modules

	Hit Points (HP)	Armor (mm)	Armor (mm)	Main Turrets (pcs.)	Secondary Gun Turrets (pcs.)	AA Mounts (pcs.)	Torpedo Tubes (pcs.)	Hangar Capacity (pcs.)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
Hōshō (A)	31,000	6	20		4	6				0	100,000
Hōshō (B)	31,800	6	20		4	6				3,000	250,000

	Speed (knot)	IDS_SHIP_PARAM_SQUADRON_MED_DAMAGE (HP/min)	IDS_SHIP_PARAM_SQUADRON_AMMO_AMOUNT	Hit Points (HP)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
A4N	108			1,150		0	50,000

	Maximum Torpedo Damage (HP)	Speed (knot)	Hit Points (HP)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
B4Y Jean	5,800	97	1,380		0	50,000

	Maximum Bomb Damage (HP)	Speed (knot)	Hit Points (HP)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
D1A Susie		98	1,360		0	50,000

	Maximum Speed (knot)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
Propulsion: 30,000 hp	25		0	40,000

Compatible Upgrades

Slot 1
Slot 2

Player Opinion

Performance

Being the first IJN carrier in the line, Hosho features a simple load-out that is easy for players new to carriers to use. She is a bomber-friendly guidance for players, as it's squadron load-out boasts two 4-man squadrons of torpedo bombers, allowing for players to test out a variety of ways in which they can bomb their target. Moreover, Hosho holds a maximum of one squadron-full of reserves for each squadron, which is much more forgiving than her USN counterpart. However, it's single fighter squadron may be problematic when the Hosho has to deal with its USN carrier counterpart, Langley. Also note that Hosho does not contain any dive-bombers, which means Captains will not gain any experience in their use until they unlock Zuiho; an experience Langley Captains will sure to exploit. They key to success in Hosho is leaning how to properly overwhelm your target with two torpedo squadrons, whilst using your fighter squadron to protect your strike aircraft from harassment. Preferred targets to strike will be slow, unaware, and isolated. In all, she is a good carrier that can teach newcomers to carrier play that favors bombing the enemy.

Pros:

• Has 16 torpedo bombers total, making it forgiving to lose some bombers during a run
• 2 torpedo squadrons provide fearsome striking capability
• Powerful propulsion, allowing it to keep up with the team
• Only fighters, and torpedo bombers; makes it easy to micromanage aircraft
• Slightly more stealthier than Langley

Cons:

• Has only 8 fighters, which makes it difficult to fight against Langley's potential 10 fighters
• No dive-bombers
• All Hosho squadrons are smaller than Langley’s
• Un-armoured. HE shells will cause significant damage

Research

Aircraft should be the main priority for research. Research Yokosuka B4Y torpedo bombers first, as the cruise speed and HP per plane may prove to be harsh when attempting bombing runs on nimbler ships. Then research the Mitsubishi A5M4 fighters to allow for some chance of fighting back against enemy carriers. The Hull is upgraded last as it provides only extra ship health, which is not vital to carriers.

For Co-op setup, researching fighters might prove to be useful, as it allows you to preoccupy and out-DPS the enemy fighter squadron while your bombers remain unmolested. Finish up with researching Bombers and Hull upgrades, respectfully.

Optimal Configuration

Upgrades

As a Tier IV carrier with only the first two upgrade slots (slots 1 and 4), the following upgrades are recommended on Hosho:

Slot 1

• Air Groups Modification 1, in order to improve the fighters' damage capabilities and increase their chances of winning dogfights.

Slot 4

• Damage Control System Modification 1, in order to reduce fire and flooding chance on the ship (as carriers rarely have their engine or rudder incapacitated due to being far from the surface ship fights).

Commander Skills

As Hosho is a Tier IV carrier with only one 4-man squadron of fighters and the only carrier no dive bombers, it's best to choose the following recommended skills. Players can opt to sacrifice Emergency Takeoff and Dogfighting Expert skills for Concealment Expert (which would reduce her detection to 7.1km when coupled with camouflage), but Hosho already has sufficient stealth and speed to avoid detection by enemy ships. Therefore, Concealment Expert is not a highly recommended skill. Priority Target and Incoming Fire Alert are not really necessary because when a carrier is detected, the ship often becomes a priority target for many players.

ATTENTION

• As of Update 0.6.3, this carrier can no longer use manual / Alt function attack.

Recommended Commander Skills
Cost (points)	Endurance		Attack		Support		Versatility
1	Priority Target Situational Awareness indicator will show the number of opponents currently aiming at you with main battery guns.	Preventative Maintenance -30% to the risk of incapacitation of main turrets, torpedo tubes, steering gear, engines.	Expert Loader -50% to reload time when shell type is switched.	Air Supremacy -5% aircraft restoration time. ★★★	Direction Center for Fighters +1 fighter to carrier fighter squadrons or catapult fighters.	Improved Engine Boost +10% Aircraft engine boost time.	Incoming Fire Alert Indicator of long-range enemy artillery fire.	Last Gasp Completely restores the engine boost for the last attack flight of the carrier's planes.
2	High Alert -10% to reload time of Damage Control Party consumable. ★★	Jack of All Trades -5% to reload time of all consumables.	Expert Marksman +2.5 deg/sec to traverse speed of guns with a caliber up to 139mm. +0.7 deg/sec to traverse speed of guns with a caliber above 139mm.	Torpedo Acceleration +5 knots to torpedo speed. -20% to torpedo range. ★★★	Smoke Screen Expert +20% to the radius of the smoke screen.	Improved Engines +2.5% Squadron speed.	Adrenaline Rush -0.2% to reload times of all types of armament for each 1% of total health lost. +0.2% squadron speed for each 1% of total health lost.	Last Stand The ship remains able to move and maneuver while the engine or steering gears are incapacitated.
3	Basics of Survivability -15% to time of repair, fire extinguishing, and recovery from flooding.	Survivability Expert +350 ship HP for each ship tier. +15 aircraft HP for each ship tier.	Torpedo Armament Expertise -10% to reload time of torpedo tubes. ★★★	Aircraft Armor Reduces continuous damage to aircraft in all AA defense zones. -10% continuous damage.	Basic Firing Training -10% to reload time of main battery guns with a caliber up to and including 139mm and all secondary battery guns. +10% to continuous damage from AA guns. ★	Superintendent +1 additional charge to all consumables mounted on a ship.	Demolition Expert +2% chance of HE shells causing a fire on target. +1% chance of rockets causing a fire on target. +5% chance of HE bombs causing a fire on target.	Vigilance +25% to detection range of enemy torpedoes.
4	Manual Fire Control for Secondary Armament Tightens dispersion of shells from secondary batteries. -15% for Tier I-VI ships. -60% for Tier VII-X ships. Manually selected target only.	Fire Prevention -10% to the risk of fire. The maximum number of fires on a ship is reduced to three.	Inertia Fuse for HE Shells +30% to the armor penetration capacity of HE shells. -1% chance of fire on target caused by shells <=139mm. -3% chance of fire on target caused by shells >139mm.	Sight Stabilization Speeds up the aiming of a carrier's aircraft. +5% attack aircraft aiming speed. +5% torpedo bomber aiming speed. +10% dive bomber aiming speed.	Advanced Firing Training +20% to firing range of main battery guns with a caliber up to 139mm and all secondary battery guns. +15% damage/sec. within the explosion radius of shells fired from long-range AA defenses. ★	Massive AA Fire Instantaneous Damage +100%. Priority AA sector cooldown +50%.	Radio Position Finding Shows the direction to the nearest enemy ship. The enemy is alerted that a bearing has been taken.	Concealment Expert -10% to the detection radius of all ships and aircraft. ★★
Key: ★★★ - Extremely Useful       ★★ - Frequently Useful       ★ - Occasionally Useful      No stars - Meh     Χ - Not recommended

Consumables

As a carrier at Tier IV, Hosho has access to only Damage Control Party.

Camouflage

Type 1, 2, or 5 camouflage can be equipped for credits; Types 1 or 5 are recommended at a minimum to reduce chances of being detected by the enemy.

Signals

As a carrier, Hosho can only mount at most four signals at a time and has no risk of detonating. Players should mount Equal Speed Charlie London (for faster XP grinding / increased XP gain per battle), Zulu Hotel (when coupled with Equal Speed Charlie London greatly helps increase commander (re)training), and Juliet Whiskey Unaone (to have a better chance at causing flooding and dealing damage via flooding). However, Juliet Whiskey Unaone is not highly recommended if the player wishes to conserve the signal for later tiers.

Recommended Signal Flags
Combat
Juliet Charlie -100% to the risk of magazine detonation.	Juliet Yankee Bissotwo -20% to flooding duration.	India Yankee -20% to fire duration.	Hotel Yankee -20% to damage received when ramming the enemy. +50% to damage dealt when ramming the enemy.	Victor Lima +1% chance for HE bombs and shells with a caliber above 160mm causing a fire. +0.5% chance for bombs and smaller shells causing a fire. +4% chance of torpedoes causing flooding.	India X-Ray +1% chance for HE bombs and shells with a caliber above 160mm causing a fire. +0.5% chance for bombs and smaller shells causing a fire. +5% to the risk of your ship's magazine detonating.
Juliet Whiskey Unaone +15% chance of causing flooding. +5% to the risk of your ship's magazine detonating. ★★	Mike Yankee Soxisix +5% to secondary battery maximum firing range. -5% to maximum dispersion of secondary battery shells. -5% to secondary battery loading time.	November Echo Setteseven +5% continuous AA damage at all ranges. +5% damage from flak bursts.	Sierra Mike +5% to the ship's maximum speed. ★	November Foxtrot -5% reload time on all consumables.	India Delta +20% to the amount of HP recovered when Repair Party  is used.
X-Ray Papa Unaone +10% action time of a Smoke Generator .	Sierra Bravo +10% action time of Hydroacoustic Search  -10% reload time of Defensive AA Fire .

Note: Use of the Juliet Charlie signal makes detonation impossible.

Gallery

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Historical Info

Hosho, 1924

Construction

Builder: Asano Shipbuilding Company; Yokohama, Japan

Laid down: 16 December 1920

Launched: 13 November 1921

Builder: Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, Yokosuka, Japan

Completed: 10 January 1922.

Commissioned: 27 December 1922

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Specifications

Displacement: 7,470 tons, standard

Length: 168.1m

Beam: 17.9m

Draft: 6.17m

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Machinery

8 Kampon boilers, 2 Parsons turbines

2,695 tons of fuel oil; 940 tons of coal

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Performance

26 knots at 30,000 shaft horsepower

8,680 nautical miles at 12 knots

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Armament

Secondary

Four (4 x 1) 140mm/50 3rd Year Type

Anti-Aircraft

Two (2 x 1) 80mm/40 3rd Year Type

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Aircraft

Total

15 aircraft

Fighters

Nine (9) Mitsubishi 1MF

Torpedo Bombers

Six (6) Mitsubishi B1M3

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Complement

550 men

Design

First considered in the 1918 Naval shipbuilding programme, Hosho was to be built as a seaplane carrier, akin to HMS Campania. Although the keel was laid down, this plan was soon revised after Japanese naval attachés observed the desirable characteristics of HMS Furious, such as close to 30 knots of speed and more than 35 onboard aircraft. Not to be left behind, Hosho was proposed to become a full aircraft carrier with similar capabilities.

As Japan’s first purpose-built carrier, her design was based of a converted cruiser hull, which limited her tonnage to under 8,000 tonnes and no armour to speak of. For propulsion, eight boilers fed to two turbines, generating 30,000 shaft horsepower, which in speed trials pushed the vessel to 26 knots. For a ship of her size, she had an impressive range of above 8,000 nautical miles. Unique to Hosho, she carried an onboard gyrostabilizer to reduce rolling during rough seas.

As a purpose-built carrier, Hosho had a full, unobstructed flight deck that was slightly tilted down to aid aircraft acceleration. Originally built, Hosho had an island superstructure on the starboard side, which held the bridge and aircraft control centre. Hosho’s two hangars were designed to house different aircraft. The smaller, forward hanger housed fighters, while the rear, larger hangar housed bombers. Originally built, Hosho’s aircraft complement was 15 aircraft, split between fighters and torpedo bombers.

For close-in defence, Hosho was armed with four 140mm naval guns, which were considered to be a heavy battery for a ship of this tonnage, at that time. Carrier doctrine was non-existent at this time, and so designers considered artillery combat a possibility with aircraft carriers. Conversely, not much was considered for anti-aircraft defence; she was originally armed with two 80mm high-angle guns, positioned near the back of the ship.

Throughout her carrier, Hosho underwent some modifications. The most significant change was in 1924, when the island was deleted and the funnels were moved to the side of the ship, in order to provide an unobstructed flight deck. Furthermore, the funnels could swivel to lie horizontally, to eject gasses away from the deck. Her AA armament, seen to be ineffective was replaced with various numbers of 25mm cannons throughout the War. Finally, in late 1944, Hosho’s flight deck was extended to make landings easier.

Aircraft Carrier Hosho was laid down in 16 December 1920 by the Asano Shipbuilding Company, and launched 13 November 1921. She was completed at the Yokosuka Naval Arsenal on 10 January 1922.

Service

Commissioned into the Imperial Japanese Navy on 27 December 1922, Hosho spent the first few years of her service life laying the foundation and groundwork for the budding Japanese carrier doctrine. This is when her first major reconstruction occurred, in order to better accommodate aircraft handling operations.

With tensions rising in China in the early 1930s, Hosho – along with the rest of the Third Fleet – was stationed near Shanghai and covered Japanese operations through February and March. She was the first IJN ship to conduct aerial operations; mainly in the way of air-superiority, bomber escort, and airfield raids.

From late 1935 to early 1936, Hosho was spending time in the dockyards after suffering damage from a typhoon while undergoing a training sortie with the Fourth Fleet. The entire first half of the flight deck had to be rebuilt and reinforced after the original one collapsed and had to be cutaway. Also while in the dockyards, measures were taken to decrease her top weight; funnels permanently swivelled horizontally, aircraft crane and upper deck aviation fuel tanks were deleted.

Hosho was stationed back in China with the Third Fleet after the Second Sino-Japanese War commenced in the late 1930s. During the summer of 1937, Hosho’s air groups were tasked with bomber interdiction and close-air support to assist the Imperial Japanese Army operations near Shanghai. By autumn of 1937, Hosho, along with Ryujo, operated off the south China coast conducting further raids against Chinese airfields.

By the winter, she was relegated to reserve status and transferred her aircraft to Ryujo. Although out-dated, the Navy realized her service life could be extended as a training carrier, and as such modifications were made by late 1939.

When the Second World War commenced, Hosho was pressed into service as secondary air-defence for the Main Body of Battleships for the Combined Fleet for not only the raid on Pearl Harbour, but Midway as well. With the Japanese defeat, Hosho returned to mainland Japan to resume training duties.

In order to service the larger and more modern aircraft that were coming into service in late 1944, Hosho had her flight deck enlarged, and new aircraft handling gear installed. She dutifully trained new pilots until the end of the war.

Her only postwar duties of note were repatriation efforts; ferrying Japanese servicemen and civilians back home from their stations overseas, until 1947, when Hosho was decommissioned and scrapped.

Historical Gallery

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  Hosho as built.

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  Hosho's external appearance in 1922.

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  Hosho's external appearance in 1924.

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  Hosho's external appearance in 1936.

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  Hosho's external appearance in 1945.

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  Hosho stationed in Shanghai.

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  Kaga and Hosho during the Second Sino-Japanese War

References

• Stille, M., Bryan, T. (2005) Imperial Japanese Navy Aircraft Carriers: 1921-45. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing Ltd.
• Chesneau, R., Gardiner, R. (1980). Conway’s All the World’s Fighting Ships, 1922-1946. London, UK: Conway Maritime Press.
• Sha, S. K. (1964). Japanese Aircraft Carriers and Destroyers: Vol 2. London, UK: Macdonald & Co. Ltd.
  

Ships of Japan

Aircraft Carriers