Seaplane Carrier Mizuho

Mizuho was laid down at Kawasaki Shipbuilding Kobe, launched 16 May 1938, and commissioned 25 February 1939. She was the lead ship of the Mizuho-class, displacing approximately 10,930 tons and capable of carrying 24 floatplanes. She served as a fleet seaplane carrier supporting reconnaissance operations. At the outbreak of the Pacific War in December 1941, Mizuho belonged to the 11th Seaplane Tender Division and supported the invasion of the Philippines, beginning with the Legaspi landing. In early 1942 she went on to support the conquest of the Dutch East Indies. Late on 1 May 1942, while sailing from Yokosuka to the Inland Sea about 40 nautical miles off Omaezaki Cape in Shizuoka Prefecture — in waters relatively close to the Japanese home islands — Mizuho was torpedoed by the U.S. submarine USS Drum (SS-228). The attack was fatal; she capsized and sank at 04:16 on 2 May with the loss of 101 lives. Her loss so early in the war and so close to home waters was a significant shock, demonstrating the reach of American submarines in Japanese-controlled waters less than five months into the Pacific War.