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Ever wondered about: even the long range camp´s doesn´t include the arrival of the SHINANO (as BB). Does anybody has a clue about a estimated historical correct date of the availability of that beast if it had been finished along schedule? (for the purpose of modifiying sc´s)

Thanks,
Ralf

Well, let's see...

The Yamato and the Musashi each took four years to complete. The Shinano was laid down in May of 1940, so that'd be 1944, even assuming that nothing diverted attention or resources away.

.....and wartime production always is about diversion and reallocation.  She just would've been another huge target for the American planes.

Just a cut and paste from http://www.history.navy.mil/index.html

Looks like Shinano never made it to sea as a BB - not sure how much of a delay the decision to convert the BB to CV cost, but at the latest it would have been seen as a BB in Nov 44.


"Shinano, a 68059-ton aircraft carrier, was converted from a battleship while under construction at Yokosuka, Japan. She was the largest aircraft carrier built prior to the late 1950s. Hastily completed in November 1944, she was sunk on the 29th of that month by the U.S. Navy submarine Archerfish."

According to the ONI 41-42 ( Japanese Naval Vessels - as seen by U.S. Naval Intelligence ); the Shinano was not known to exist as at 9/9/43.
BB's 13 ( TOSA ? ) & 14 ( Owari ? ) were "Reported Building" at March 43.

Hope this helps.

The conversion was started when Shinano was about 50% complete. Of course, this delayed her even more. I'd say mid-44 is about right. Got my data out of Conway's, BTW...

from all what I know, the importance of SHINANO´s construction was downgraded after PH, and by about April 1942 all work came to halt anyway. (according to A. Yoshimura "Battleship Musashi", p.124). So there was already some delay - independent from the Midway-caused pause...