aoshima (1186)

This is a plastic model kit, which comes unassembled and unpainted. So glue, model paints and other basic modelling tools are additionally required. The IJN Taiyo was a Japanese escort aircraft carrier that saw action during World War II. Taiyo was built in 1941 and was originally intended as a transport ship, but was later adapted to the role of an escort aircraft carrier. During the war, Taiyo participated in numerous operations in the Pacific, including the Battle of Guadalcanal and the Battle of the Solomon Islands. In May 1943, Taiyo was severely damaged during an attack by the American submarine USS Nautilus. Despite the damage, Taiyo was repaired and returned to service. In April 1944, Taiyo participated in Operation I-Go, which was an attempt by the Japanese fleet to destroy the American invasion force in the Solomon Islands. During the operation, Taiyo was hit by a torpedo from an American aircraft, which caused an explosion on board and a fire that contributed to its sinking. Only about 150 crew members survived, out of the more than 1,000 who were on board at the time of the attack. Taiyo was one of many Japanese aircraft carriers that were destroyed during the war. Her role as an escort carrier was important, but she lacked adequate weapons and armor, which made her an easy target for American air and sea attacks.  

Chuyo (Japanese: Soaring Hawk) was a Japanese light aircraft carrier, the keel of which was laid in 1938, launched in May 1939, and commissioned in the Imperial Japanese Navy in November 1942. The length of the ship was 180.4 m, width 22.5 m, and a full displacement of 19,800 tons. The maximum speed of the aircraft carrier Chuyo was only around 21 knots, and its main armament was 27 airplanes. In 1940, with the planned war in the Pacific, the command of the Japanese Navy decided to expand its air force by rebuilding ocean passenger ships under construction or already launched. One of the carriers created in this way was Chuyo - originally the Nitta Maru transatlantic liner. At the beginning of the war, Nitta Maru was confiscated by the fleet and served as a transport unit, but after the catastrophic losses suffered at Midway (the loss of as many as 4 aircraft carriers!), It was decided to convert it into an aircraft carrier. The works lasted from August to November 1942. Due to its low maximum speed and a small air group, it can be classified as an escort aircraft carrier. Chuyo during World War II took a very limited part in combat operations. It served primarily as a training unit and often sailed with its sister ships Taiyo and Unyo. In December 1943, she was sunk by the American submarine USS Sailfish. This is an injection-plastic ship model kit.

Unyo (Japanese: Cloud-Ripping Hawk) was a Japanese light aircraft carrier, the keel of which was laid in 1938, launched in October 1939, and commissioned in the Imperial Japanese Navy in May 1942. The length of the ship was 180.4 m, width 22.5 m, and a full displacement of 19,800 tons. The maximum speed of the aircraft carrier Unyo was only around 21 knots, and its main armament consisted of 27 on-board planes. Originally, the Unyo was a transatlantic liner called Yawata Maru belonging to one of the Japanese shipping lines, which was built at the Mitsbushi shipyards in Nagasaki. At the outbreak of the war with the USA, it was commandeered by the fleet and served as a transport unit, but in the period from November 1941 to May 1942, work was undertaken to convert it into an aircraft carrier. Due to its low maximum speed and a small air group, it can be classified as an escort aircraft carrier. During World War II, Unyo took a very limited part in combat operations. It served primarily as a training unit and often sailed with its sister ships Taiyo and Chuyo. Interestingly, during its service, Unyo withstood two torpedo attacks by American submarines, and only the third attack by the USS Barb in September 1944 led to the sinking of Unyo. This is an injection-plastic ship model kit.

The Tone was a Japanese heavy cruiser the keel of which was laid in 1934, launched in November 1937, and commissioned in the Imperial Japanese Navy in November 1938. The ship was 189 m long, 19.4 m wide, and had a full displacement of 15,400 tons. Cruiser Tone's top speed was 35 knots. The main armament at the time of the launch was 8 203 mm guns in four turrets, two guns each, and the additional armament included: 12 127 mm guns and 12 610 mm torpedo tubes. The Tone was the first cruiser of the type to bear the same name - the Tone. Initially, units of this type were planned to be built based on the already proven project of the Mogami cruisers, but due to the withdrawal of Japan from the disarmament systems, and especially from the London Treaty of 1932, it allowed the designers to deeply redesign new units, e.g. by adding a larger number of seaplanes, which allowed the Tone-class ships to perform reconnaissance functions in relation to their own groups of aircraft carriers. In the course of operations during the Second World War, the cruiser Tone took part in many operations. At its very beginning, it took part in the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and later in the Japanese fleet's raid on the Indian Ocean (April 1942). He also fought at Midway in June 1942, and from August of that year fought in the waters around Gudalcanal. In the course of the Battle of Leyte (October 1944), the cruiser was badly damaged and was sent to the Home Islands for repair. There, at the base in Kure, it was sunk by American on-board planes on July 24, 1945. This is an injection-plastic ship model kit.

Chikuma was a Japanese heavy cruiser the keel of which was laid in 1935, launched in March 1938, and commissioned in the Imperial Japanese Navy in May 1939. The ship was 189 m long, 19.4 m wide, and had a full displacement of 15,400 tons. The maximum speed of the cruiser Chikuma was 35 knots. The main armament at the time of the launch was 8 203 mm guns in four turrets, two guns each, and the additional armament included: 12 127 mm guns and 12 610 mm torpedo tubes. Chikuma was the second and final Tone-class cruiser. Initially, units of this type were planned to be built based on the already proven project of the Mogami cruisers, but due to the withdrawal of Japan from the disarmament systems, and especially from the London Treaty of 1932, it allowed the designers to deeply redesign new units, e.g. by adding a larger number of seaplanes, which allowed the Tone-class ships to perform reconnaissance functions in relation to their own groups of aircraft carriers. Cruiser Chikuma began her combat route in World War II by participating in the attack on the American base Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Shortly after (April 1942) he took part in the famous rally of the Japanese fleet to the Indian Ocean. Chikuma also fought in the Battle of Midway (June 1942), and the ship's seaplanes were the first to detect the USS Yorktown aircraft carrier. The combat trail ended in the Battle of Leyte, when Chikuma was sunk by American aircraft on October 25, 1944. This is an injection-plastic ship model kit.

Takao was a Japanese heavy cruiser the keel of which was laid in 1927, launched in May 1930, and commissioned in the Imperial Japanese Navy in May 1932. The length of the ship at the time of launching was 192.5 m, width 18.03 m, and the actual full displacement, after modernization - 15,800 tons. The cruiser Takao's top speed was up to 35.5 knots. At the outbreak of World War II, the main armament was 10 203 mm guns in five turrets, two guns each, and the additional armament included: 8 127 mm guns and as many as 16 610 mm torpedo tubes! Takao was the first cruiser of the type to bear the same name - ie the Takao. Cruisers of this type were built respecting the limitations of the Washington Disarmament Treaty signed by the government in Tokyo in 1922. The ships of this type are clearly based on the design of the Myoko-class cruisers. The changes concerned: the use of new main artillery cannons, improved armor, expansion of the bow superstructure and better layout of the torpedo armament. Emphasis was also placed on high top speed. The pursuit of such extreme goals led to the creation of ships with powerful artillery and torpedo armament, great speed, but with a lower range than assumed, average sea bravery and with considerable stability problems. Subsequent modernizations on the first two ships of this type partially eliminated these disadvantages, but did not completely eliminate them. Takao's combat trail in World War II began as early as December 1941 with support for Japanese landings in Malaya. In February of the same year, it took part in the attack on Port Darwin, and from May to July it took part in the fighting in the Aleutian region. In October, however, he fought in the battle near the island of Santa Cruz. In July 1943, in connection with an air attack on the Truk base in which he was located at that time, he suffered serious damage and was sent to Japan to a repair shipyard. Takao did not return to the line until January 1944. He took part in the Battle of Leyte Bay, suffering severe damage again, but survived it and, retreating from the battle, entered Singapore. The ship remained there until the end of the Pacific War. He was sunk by the British on October 27, 1946. This is an injection-plastic ship model kit.

Atago was a Japanese heavy cruiser the keel of which was laid in 1927, launched in June 1930, and commissioned in the Imperial Japanese Navy in March 1932. The length of the ship at the time of launching was 203.8 m, width 20.4 m, and the actual full displacement, after modernization - 15,200 tons. The cruiser Atago had a maximum speed of 35.5 knots. At the outbreak of World War II, the main armament was 10 203 mm guns in five turrets, two guns each, and the additional armament included: 8 127 mm guns and as many as 16 610 mm torpedo tubes! Atago was the second Takao-class cruiser. Cruisers of this type were built respecting the limitations of the Washington Disarmament Treaty signed by the government in Tokyo in 1922. The ships of this type are clearly based on the design of the Myoko-class cruisers. The changes concerned: the use of new main artillery cannons, improved armor, expansion of the bow superstructure and better layout of the torpedo armament. Emphasis was also placed on high top speed. The pursuit of such extreme goals led to the creation of ships with powerful artillery and torpedo armament, great speed, but with a lower range than assumed, average sea bravery and with considerable stability problems. Subsequent modernizations on the first two ships of this type partially eliminated these disadvantages, but did not completely eliminate them. The cruiser Atago's combat route in World War II began as early as December 1941 with support for Japanese landings in Malaya and the Philippines. In June 1942, it took part in the Battle of Midway, but it survived without major damage. Then it operated in the Solomon Islands and took part in the Battle of Santa Cruz Island (October 1942) and the battles in the Guadalcanal area. In November 1943 it was damaged as a result of an American air raid on the base in Truk in which it was located at that time. The damage turned out to be so serious that the ship had to return to Japan for repairs. It did not enter the Atago line until the beginning of 1944. In June 1944 he took part in the Battle of the Philippine Sea, and in October of the same year - in Leyte Bay. There she was sunk by the American submarine USS Darter on October 23, 1944. This is an injection-plastic ship model kit.

Maya was a Japanese heavy cruiser the keel of which was laid in 1928, launched in November 1930, and commissioned in the Imperial Japanese Navy in June 1932. The length of the ship at the time of launching was 203 m, width 18.3 m, and the actual full displacement, after modernization - 15,500 tons. The maximum speed of the Maya cruiser was 35.5 knots. At the time of launching, the main armament was 10 203 mm guns in five turrets of two guns, and the additional armament was, among others: 4 120 mm cannons and 8 610 mm torpedo tubes, later this number was increased to as many as 16 launchers! Maya was the third Takao-class cruiser. Cruisers of this type were built respecting the limitations of the Washington Disarmament Treaty signed by the government in Tokyo in 1922. The ships of this type are clearly based on the design of the Myoko-class cruisers. The changes concerned: the use of new main artillery cannons, improved armor, expansion of the bow superstructure and better layout of the torpedo armament. Emphasis was also placed on high top speed. The pursuit of such extreme goals led to the creation of ships with powerful artillery and torpedo armament, great speed, but with a lower range than assumed, average sea bravery and with considerable stability problems. Subsequent modernizations on the first two ships of this type partially eliminated these disadvantages, but did not completely eliminate them. The Maya combat trail in World War II began as early as December 1941 with support for Japanese landings in the Philippines. Then, until March 1942, Maya fought in the area of the Dutch East Indies. In the summer, he participated in the seizure of the Aleutians, and later fought in the Solomon Islands. In March 1943 he took part in the Battle of the Commander Islands. In the summer of 1944 he fought in the Battle of the Philippine Sea, but, despite high Japanese losses, he survived it. Cruiser Maya was sunk in the course of the fighting in Leyte Bay on October 23, 1944 as a result of a torpedo attack by the USS Dace submarine. This is an injection-plastic ship model kit. Features The 4th Takao-class heavy cruiser The third turret was removed by air raid at Rabaul Harbor, and anti-aircraft armament was strengthened. Bridge clear parts included Specifications Item Size: 31 x 11 x 4.2 cm Weight : 262g Scale: 1/700

Chokai was a Japanese heavy cruiser the keel of which was laid in 1928, launched in April 1931, and commissioned in the Imperial Japanese Navy in June 1932. The length of the ship at the time of launching was 203 m, width 19 m, and the actual full displacement, after modernization - 15,700 tons. The maximum speed of the cruiser Chokai was up to 35.5 knots. The main armament at the time of the launch was 10 203 mm guns in five turrets, two guns each, and the additional armament included: 4 127 mm guns and 8 610 mm torpedo tubes. Chokai was the fourth and final Takao-class cruiser. Cruisers of this type were built respecting the limitations of the Washington Disarmament Treaty signed by the government in Tokyo in 1922. The ships of this type are clearly based on the design of the Myoko-class cruisers. The changes concerned: the use of new main artillery cannons, improved armor, expansion of the bow superstructure and better layout of the torpedo armament. Emphasis was also placed on high top speed. The pursuit of such extreme goals led to the creation of ships with powerful artillery and torpedo armament, great speed, but with a lower range than assumed, average sea bravery and with considerable stability problems. Subsequent modernizations on the first two ships of this type partially eliminated these disadvantages, but did not completely eliminate them. The combat route of the cruiser Chokai in World War II began as early as December 1941 with support for Japanese landings in Malaya. Then, until March 1942, he fought with successes in the area of the Dutch East Indies. In June 1942, he took part in the Battle of Midway, but suffered no major damage in it. Later, he took part in the struggle in the Solomon Islands, and in August 1942 he fought in the Battle of Savo Island - one of the greatest successes of the Japanese light forces in the Pacific! The next important battles in which Chokai took part were: the Battle of the Philippine Sea and the Battle of Leyte Bay in 1944. In the course of a recent struggle, Chokai was sunk on October 25, 1944. This is an injection-plastic ship model kit.

Oyodo was a Japanese light cruiser of the Second World War. The keel for this unit was laid in 1941, the launch took place in April 1942, and the entry into service - in 1943. The length of the ship was 192 meters and a width of 15.7 meters. Full displacement reached approx. 11,400 tons, and maximum speed - approx. 34 knots. The deck armament, at the time of launching, consisted of: 6 155 mm guns, 8 100 mm AA guns and 18 25 mm cannons. Until 1944, the unit could operate six seaplanes. The Oyodo was built as the only unit of its class. It was designed as the flagship of a squadron of submarines that interacted with the main surface forces of the fleet. It places emphasis on a large swimming range, considerable autonomy, possibly large reconnaissance and reconnaissance possibilities as well as extensive communication equipment. Finally, a very unusual light cruiser was created, equipped with as many as 6 seaplanes, but with relatively weak main armament. It also differed from other ships of this type in the Japanese Navy by the lack of torpedo tubes. Oyodo, shortly after entering service, was directed to the Truk base in the Carolingian archipelago, but in February 1944 it returned to its mother waters. In the period of March-April 1944, the Oyodo underwent modernization, which included: strengthening the anti-aircraft armament, dismantling parts of the seaplane service equipment and installing a new Type 22 radar. The unit thus modernized took part in the Battle of Leyte Bay in October 1944 year where it was slightly damaged. The unit was sunk in an air attack at the Kure naval base on July 28, 1945. Aoshima's 1/700-scale "Waterline" series model kit of the Japanese Navy light cruiser Oyodo, with its characteristic large aircraft hangar renovated into a communications headquarters room, has been renewed with more precision! The parts structure is simple and easy to assemble for accurate reproduction; in addition to various equipment such as anti-aircraft guns, catapults and electric probes, a newly designed carrier-based aircraft has been added. Some of the parts are slide-molded for density and precision; in addition to armaments such as destroyer main guns and machine guns, carrier-based aircraft and various equipment have been updated. The outfitting parts (Type 96 25mm triple machine gun, direction finder antenna, No. 22 electric probe, No. 13 electric probe, Type 94 shooting device, 90cm signal searchlight, 110cm signal searchlight, Kure type 2 type 5 injection machine (aircraft catapult), 11m internal fire launch, 11m fire boat, 9m cutter, and Type 0 water reconnaissance aircraft) have been renewed with new molds. This is an injection-plastic ship model kit.

Katori was a Japanese light cruiser whose keel was laid in 1938, launched in June 1939, and commissioned in the Imperial Japanese Navy in April 1940. The length of the ship was 130 m, width 15.9 m, and a full displacement - 7,100 tons. The maximum speed of the cruiser Katori was only 18 knots. The main armament was 4 140 mm guns in two turrets with two cannons each, and the additional weapons were, among others: two 127 mm guns and two twin 533 mm torpedo tubes. Katori was the first cruiser of the type to bear the same name - that is, Katori. Originally, at the time of ordering, these types of units were planned as training ships, but during the Pacific War, they were adapted as light cruisers and performed various auxiliary functions in the Japanese fleet. The career of cruiser Katori during World War II began as the flagship of Vice Admiral Mitsumi Shimizu, who commanded Japanese submarines in the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941. In February 1942, the ship was severely damaged in an attack by American on-board planes near Kwajalein Island, and she sailed to Japan for repair. He returned to active service in the same year - 1942 -. In February 1944, Katori fought the American landing on the island of Truk, during which she was sunk by the battleship USS Iowa on February 19, 1944. This detailed kit of the IJN light cruiser Katori builds into a waterline model. Represents the early war configuration, with simplified masts, torpedo tubes, and less anti-aircraft armament.  This is an injection-plastic ship model kit.

Kashima was a Japanese light cruiser the keel of which was laid in 1938, launched in September 1939, and entered service with the Imperial Japanese Navy in May 1940. The length of the ship was 130 m, width 15.9 m, and a full displacement - 7,100 tons. Cruiser Kashima's maximum speed was only 18 knots. The main armament was 4 140 mm guns in two turrets, two cannons each, and the additional armament was, among others: two 127 mm guns and two twin 533 mm torpedo tubes. Kashima was the second Katori-class cruiser in succession. Originally, at the time of ordering, these types of units were planned as training ships, but during the Pacific War, they were adapted as light cruisers and performed various auxiliary functions in the Japanese fleet. The career of cruiser Kashima during World War II began in January 1942, when the unit supported the Japanese landing on Rabaul. In May 1942, she took part in Operation MO, i.e. the landing of Japanese troops in New Guinea, which prevented her from taking part in the Battle of the Coral Sea. In 1944, the unit performed primarily transport functions, including: transporting Japanese soldiers to Okinawa and Taiwan. At the end of 1944, Kashima underwent a thorough modernization, which significantly increased its potential for ZOP (Fighting Submarines) activities. In light of this, it is not surprising that Kashima has been on anti-submarine patrol in the South China Sea since February 1945. After the war, the cruiser was taken over by the Americans and served as a transport unit, and by July 1947 the ship was scrapped. A detailed waterline kit of the IJN's Kashima. Represents the late war configuration with more complex masts, additional AA batteries, and lack of torpedo tubes.  This is an injection-plastic ship model kit.

The Kashii was a Japanese light cruiser whose keel was laid in 1939, launched in October 1940, and commissioned in the Imperial Japanese Navy in July 1941. The ship was 130 m long, 15.9 m wide, and her full displacement was 6,200 tons. The cruiser Kashii's maximum speed was only 18 knots. The main armament was 4 140 mm guns in two turrets, two cannons each, and the additional armament was, among others: two 127 mm guns and two twin 533 mm torpedo tubes. Kashii was the third and final Katori-class cruiser. Originally, at the time of ordering, these types of units were planned as training ships, but during the Pacific War, they were adapted as light cruisers and performed various auxiliary functions in the Japanese fleet. The career of cruiser Kashii during World War II began in December 1941, when she shielded convoys heading towards Indochina. In March 1942, he took part in Operation T, i.e. the landing of Japanese troops in northern Sumatra. In the summer of 1942, Kashii was on patrol duty in the eastern Indian Ocean, making cruises around the Andaman Islands, among others. In early 1943, he returned to the waters surrounding Indochina and southern China, where he again escorted convoys for much of that year. In March and April 1944, Kashii - like its twin Kashima later - underwent a thorough modernization, which significantly increased its potential for ZOP (Fighting Submarines) activities. After these changes, he returned to convoy service. The cruiser Kashii was sunk on January 19, 1945 by American on-board planes. Aoshima's detailed kit of the Kashi builds into a waterline model.  This is an injection-plastic ship model kit.

This kit includes parts to build two complete waterline models, one each of the IJN gunboats Seta and Hira. Small kits and in great detail! Some gunboats at the time had interiors as elaborate as consulates, which is why it was called "gunboat diplomacy." The Seta Hira was an official naval vessel bearing the chrysanthemum crest. The kit is reproduced with the utmost precision and includes two ships.

Katata was a Japanese river gunboat under which the keel was laid in April 1922, launched in July 1922, and commissioned in the Imperial Japanese Navy in October 1923. The length of the ship at the time of launching was 56.1 m, width 8.23 m, and displacement - about 340 tons. The maximum speed of the Katata gunboat was 16 knots. The main armament at the time of the launch was 2 80mm guns and 6 7.7mm machine guns. In 1940 and 1943, 7.7 mm machine guns were replaced by 13.2 mm machine guns, and finally by 25 mm anti-aircraft guns. Katata was the second-highest Set's gunboat gunner. Vessels of this type (4 ships in total) were created as specialized units intended for inland navigation. From the very beginning, it was also assumed that they would have a relatively low draft and displacement, while maintaining quite strong - for this class of ships - on-board armament. Of course, this made it de facto impossible to sail in open waters, and the seaworthiness of Set's gunboats was low. Nevertheless, they were well suited for the role for which they were intended. The Katata gunboat was built at the Harima shipyard in the city of Aioi, and later transported in sections to Shanghai and assembled there. The vessel sailed on the Yangtze for almost the entire 1920s. It also took an active part in the Japanese-Chinese war (1937-1945). In December 1944, it was severely damaged by an American air raid, and in April 1945 the Katata gunboat was sunk. This is an injection-plastic ship model kit. Features 1/700 Scale Plastic Model Kit Waterline Series Set includes parts to build two waterline ships, the Katata and the Hozu. Ready to assemble plastic model kit. Paints and cement (not included) are needed to complete the model. Side cutters, modeling knife and tweezers are also recommended. Product sold without glue and paint. Specifications Item Size: 29.0cm x 11.0cm x 4.0cm

The Nitta Maru was a Japanese passenger ship (so-called transatlantic) from the interwar period and World War II. The keel for this unit was laid in 1938, the launch took place in May 1939, and entry into service took place in 1940. The total length of the ship was 170 meters and a width of 22.5 meters. The maximum speed did not exceed 22-23 knots. At the time of launching, the vessel had no on-board armament. Nitta Maru was able to take up to 285 passengers on board. The Nitta Maru was built at the Nagasaki shipyard owned by Mitsubishi as the leader of its class. At the time of designing, it was assumed that the ship would provide the highest possible comfort of travel - especially for first-class passengers - which, among other things, resulted in the installation of an air-conditioning system in the cabins. It was assumed that the unit would serve connections, especially between Japan and Europe. However, from the moment of launching to the beginning of 1941, the unit operated mainly on the connection with the USA, calling most often at the port of San Francisco. In 1942, Nitta Maru was taken over by the Japanese Navy and converted into a Chuyo escort carrier. This is an injection-plastic ship model kit.

The Yawata Maru was a Japanese passenger ship (the so-called transatlantic liner) from the interwar period and World War II. The keel for this unit was laid in December 1938, the launch took place in October 1939, and the entry into service took place in July 1940. The total length of the ship was 170 meters and a width of 22.5 meters. The maximum speed did not exceed 22-23 knots. At the time of launching, the vessel had no on-board armament. The Yawata Maru was built at the Nagasaki shipyard owned by Mitsubishi as the second Nitta Maru unit for the Nippon Yusen shipping line. It is worth adding that the construction of the ship was partially supported by the Japanese Imperial Navy, which assumed that when the war broke out, it would take it over and quickly convert it into an escort aircraft carrier. At the same time, at the time of designing, it was assumed that the ship would provide the highest possible comfort of travel - especially for first-class passengers. It was also assumed that the unit would operate mainly between Japan and Europe, but the outbreak of World War II thwarted these plans and Yawata Maru operated primarily in the Pacific. At the end of 1941, Yawata Maru was commandeered by the Japanese Navy and converted into the Unyo aircraft carrier. He entered service in this role in May 1942. This is an injection-plastic ship model kit.

Kasuga Maru is a Japanese passenger ship from World War II. The keel for this unit was laid in January 1940, and the launch took place in September of the same year. The full displacement of the ship at the time of launching was approximately 20,300 tons, length - 180.2 m, and width 22.5 meters. The maximum speed was around 25 knots. Kasuga Maru was commissioned by the Nippon Yusen shipping lines, and its construction took place at a shipyard in Nagasaki, owned by Mitsubishi. The vessel was one of the three Nitta Maru ships, which were to carry out passenger transport mainly on routes leading to Europe and - to a lesser extent - to the United States. At the same time, however, ships of this type were built in such a way that they could be converted into light aircraft carriers as easily and as quickly as possible. For this reason, their construction was co-financed by the Japanese Navy. The latter reason meant that as early as 1941 Kasuga Maru found its way to the Navy, where it was rebuilt into the Taiyo aircraft carrier. This is an injection-plastic ship model kit.

Hatsuharu was a Japanese destroyer whose keel was laid in 1931, launched in February 1933, and commissioned in the Imperial Japanese Navy in September 1933. The length of the ship at the time of launching was 109.5 m, width 10 m, and the actual full displacement - 1,800 tons. Destroyer Hatsuharu's top speed was up to 36 knots. The main armament at the time of the launch was 5 127 mm guns in two twin turrets and one single turret, and the secondary armament was 2 40 mm cannons, depth charge launchers and nine 610 mm torpedo tubes. Hatsuharu was the first destroyer of the type with the same name, ie Hatsuharu. Designing destroyers of this type was based on the very successful Fubuki class, but the provisions of the disarmament treaty of 1930 had to be respected, which forced the maximum displacement to be limited to 1,850 tons. The result was a ship with capabilities similar to the Fubuki class, but with weaker torpedo armament. What's more - also on the Hatsuharu type, the ship's stability and the overall strength of the structure had to be improved later. Finally, at the outbreak of the war, units of this type were as good as their Allied counterparts, but had less combat capabilities than the earlier chronological type of Fubuki! Destroyer Hatsuharu began its participation in World War II by supporting amphibious operations in the Dutch East Indies in January-February 1942. In May this year, he took part in an action against the Aleutian Islands. He served in the North Pacific until October. Then it underwent a thorough reconstruction, which lasted until September 1943 and mainly consisted in enhancing the anti-aircraft capabilities of the ship. After reconstruction and renovation, it served as a shield unit for aircraft carriers Unyo and Zuiho. The unit fought in the Battle of Leyte Bay (October 1944), but survived without major damage. The destroyer Hatsuharu was sunk on November 13, 1944. Aoshima's waterline kit of the Japanese Navy destroyer Hatsuharu depicts the ship as it appeared in 1933.  This is an injection-plastic ship model kit.

Aoshima's waterline kit of the Japanese Navy destroyer Nenohi depicts the ship as it appeared in 1933. This is an injection-plastic ship model kit.

Hatsushimo was a Japanese destroyer whose keel was laid in 1933, launched in November 1933, and commissioned in the Imperial Japanese Navy in September 1934. The length of the ship at the time of launching was 109.5 m, width 10 m, and the actual full displacement - 1,800 tons. Destroyer Hatsushimo's top speed was up to 36 knots. The main armament at the time of the launch was 5 127 mm guns in two twin and one single turret, and the secondary armament was two 40 mm cannons, depth charge launchers and nine 610 mm torpedo tubes. Hatsushimo was the fourth Hatsuharu-class destroyer. Designing destroyers of this type was based on the very successful Fubuki class, but the provisions of the disarmament treaty of 1930 had to be respected, which forced the maximum displacement to be limited to 1,850 tons. The result was a ship with capabilities similar to the Fubuki class, but with weaker torpedo armament. What's more - also on the Hatsuharu type, the ship's stability and the overall strength of the structure had to be improved later. Finally, at the outbreak of the war, units of this type were as good as their Allied counterparts, but had less combat capabilities than the earlier chronological type of Fubuki! Destroyer Hatsushimo began its participation in World War II - in a not very effective way, i.e. by patrolling mother waters in search of American submarines. In January and February 1942, he supported Japanese amphibious operations in the region of the Dutch East Indies. In the summer of 1942, Hatsushimo fought in the Aleutian region, and in March 1943 he took part in the Battle of the Commander Islands. Then he performed a patrol and escort service in the waters of the North Pacific. In April 1944, the ship was modernized: it received a new radar and its anti-aircraft armament was strengthened. In October of the same year, he took part in the Battle of Leyte Bay. In April 1945, he took part in Operation Ten-Go, but was not sunk. The destroyer Hatsushimo sank on July 30, 1945 as a result of hitting a mine. Aoshima's detailed kit of the IJN Destoyer Hatsushimo builds into a waterline model of the ship as it appeared in 1945.  This is an injection-plastic ship model kit.

Hatsuharu was a Japanese destroyer whose keel was laid in 1931, launched in February 1933, and commissioned in the Imperial Japanese Navy in September 1933. The length of the ship at the time of launching was 109.5 m, width 10 m, and the actual full displacement - 1,800 tons. Destroyer Hatsuharu's top speed was up to 36 knots. The main armament at the time of the launch was 5 127 mm guns in two twin turrets and one single turret, and the secondary armament was 2 40 mm cannons, depth charge launchers and nine 610 mm torpedo tubes. Hatsuharu was the first destroyer of the type with the same name, ie Hatsuharu. Designing destroyers of this type was based on the very successful Fubuki class, but the provisions of the disarmament treaty of 1930 had to be respected, which forced the maximum displacement to be limited to 1,850 tons. The result was a ship with capabilities similar to the Fubuki class, but with weaker torpedo armament. What's more - also on the Hatsuharu type, the ship's stability and the overall strength of the structure had to be improved later. Finally, at the outbreak of the war, units of this type were as good as their Allied counterparts, but had less combat capabilities than the earlier chronological type of Fubuki! Destroyer Hatsuharu began its participation in World War II by supporting amphibious operations in the Dutch East Indies in January-February 1942. In May this year, he took part in an action against the Aleutian Islands. He served in the North Pacific until October. Then it underwent a thorough reconstruction, which lasted until September 1943 and mainly consisted in enhancing the anti-aircraft capabilities of the ship. After reconstruction and renovation, it served as a shield unit for aircraft carriers Unyo and Zuiho. The unit fought in the Battle of Leyte Bay (October 1944), but survived without major damage. The destroyer Hatsuharu was sunk on November 13, 1944. Aoshima's detailed kit of the IJN Destoyer Hatsuharu builds into a waterline model of the ship as it appeared in 1945.  This is an injection-plastic ship model kit.

Very often, the date of birth of naval aviation in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN for short, Japanese Nippon Kaigun) is March 16, 1923, when Lieutenant Sunishi Kira landed in his plane on board the Hosho aircraft carrier, which, moreover, entered service a year earlier (1922). It should be added, however, that in the course of the 1920s, many Japanese naval officers saw aircraft carriers as supporters of battleships and battleships, bearing in mind the great success of Admiral Heihachiro Togo at Tsushima in 1905. The technical level of the then Japanese on-board aircraft was also not the highest. However, this state of affairs began to change in the 30s of the 20th century, among others, due to the later Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, who perceived the main weapon in the naval war in aircraft carriers. He was a strong supporter of the development of Japanese on-board aviation, which translated into the construction or modernization of such ships as Kaga, Akagi, Hiryu, Soryu and Zuikaku. Also, Japanese aviation structures not only reached the world leaders, but began to set standards in them, including the famous Mitsubishi A6M Zeke fighter or the Nakajima B5N Kate torpedo plane. This intense development led to the fact that when the war in the Pacific broke out, the IJN had 10 aircraft carriers, on which over 500 on-board machines were based, with well-trained crews. The first months of struggle in the Pacific showed how dangerous this weapon was. It should be remembered, however, that already during that war, the IJN had considerable problems, for example, to replace the A6M Zeke plane on a mass scale or to introduce a successful B5N successor to the line, i.e. the B6N Tenzen torpedo plane. Also, the process of training sea pilots turned out to be flawed and was distanced by the solutions used in the US Navy. A set of 1/700-scale plane models for use with ship models or dioramas. Includes 9 Kawanishi E16K Shiun "Norm" and 6 Aichi E16A Zuiun "Paul" floatplanes. This is an injection-plastic aircraft model kit.

The I-1 was a Japanese submarine cruiser that entered service with the Imperial Japanese Navy in March 1926. The length of the ship at the time of launching was 98 m, width 9.1 m, and the underwater displacement - 2,800 tons. The maximum speed of the I-1 on the surface was up to 18 knots. The main armament was six 533 mm torpedo tubes with 14 spare torpedoes, and the secondary armament was two 140 mm guns. I-1 could descend to a maximum depth of 80 meters. The I-1 was an ocean-going submarine cruiser - the first of four units of the same type as the I-1. Its strong artillery armament - for submarines - predestined it to fight on the surface with enemy merchant ships and enemy light surface ships. Similar design assumptions were also used on other submarines launched in the 1920s and 1930s, including the French Surcouf. Activities during World War II showed that such a concept of using submarines, in view of the rapid development of aviation, turned out to be completely wrong. The I-1 began its combat career in the Pacific War by firing multiple shots at American positions in Hawaii in December 1941. In March 1942, the Dutch transport ship Siantar sank. In August 1942 it was converted into a unit to support the special operations and covert landing of the Japanese marines. Until January 1943, it supported Japanese land-sea operations in the Guadalcanal area. The I-1 was lost by the Japanese fleet on January 29, 1943. The I-6 was a Japanese submarine whose keel was laid in 1932, launched in March 1934, and commissioned in the Imperial Japanese Navy in 1935. The length of the ship at the time of launching was 98.5 m, width 9 m, and underwater displacement - 3,060 tons. The maximum speed of the I-6 on the surface was up to 20 knots. The main armament was six 533 mm torpedo launchers, and the secondary armament was a single 127 mm gun and one 13.2 mm anti-aircraft machine gun. The ship also took one Yokosuka E6Y1 seaplane on board. The I-6 was an ocean-going submarine of the Junsen II sub-type, based on the experience and many solutions used on the I-5. Compared to its predecessor, the I-6 differed significantly in the underwater displacement, it was slightly larger, it also had other diesel engines with a much higher maximum power, which had a positive impact on the surface speed of the ship. The immersion depth has also improved (from 75 to 80 meters). The secondary armament was also slightly different. When the war in the Pacific broke out, the I-6 participated in the actions of the Japanese fleet against the base at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Shortly thereafter, in January 1942, I-6 severely damaged the USS Saratoga aircraft carrier, and in April of the same year it sank two commercial vessels RMS Clan Ross and RMS Bahadar. In the summer of 1942, I-6 was directed to the Aleutów region, but at the beginning of 1943 it was transferred to the South Pacific. The ship was lost as a result of an accident or enemy action on June 30 or early July 1944. Aoshima's 1/700-scale "Waterline" series model kit of the Japanese Navy special submarine I-400, known as a secret weapon of the Japanese Navy, has been renewed with more precision! The parts structure is simple and easy to assemble for accurate reproduction; newly designed weapons such as a 25mm triple machine gun have been added. Some of the parts are slide-molded for density and precision; in addition to armaments such as destroyer main guns and machine guns, carrier-based aircraft and various equipment have been updated. The outfitting parts (Type 96 25mm triple machine gun and 40-caliber 14cm single gun) have been renewed with new molds. This is an injection-plastic ship model kit.