IJN Chuyo
by Paul Helfrich

1/700 IJN Chuyo (Aoshima)

The Chuyo was one of three small carriers converted by the Japanese from liners in the early days of WWII. Her sister ships were the Taiyo and the Unyo. She entered the Combined Fleet in December 1942 and spent most of her career as an aircraft ferry, running back and forth between Yokosuka and Truk. After just one year in service, she was torpedoed by the submarine USS Sailfish on December 4, 1943 and sank with heavy loss of life.

Aoshima issued kits of all three small carriers as part of the original 1/700 waterline series. In keeping with how she was actually used in her short life, I decided to build her as an aircraft ferry and the focal point of a mini-harbor diorama. Other ships in the diorama are Hasegawa's supply sub and Skywave's subchaser.