Japoński lotniskowiec zaopatrzeniowy Shinano – analiza funkcjonalna. Część 1: Źródła koncepcji i geneza Shinano oraz losy programu budowy pancerników typu Yamato

Abstract

The Shinano aircraft carrier was created as a result of the reconstruction of the unfinished battleship of the Yamato type. The Japanese decision to stop its construction in the battleship configuration was right. The same applies to the fourth Yamato unit. With the development of naval technology at the time, further investment in battleships could not bring the Imperial Fleet any benefits that would justify incurring the enormous expenditure necessary to bring it into service. Also the decision to convert Shinano into an aircraft carrier was correct. Complete resignation from its completion would be tantamount to a huge waste of expenditure incurred so far. Aircraft carriers, however, constituted the most important weapon in the struggle of the fleets and at that time there was no competitive option for such use of the unfinished hull, which could potentially bring greater military benefits to the Japanese.