Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:03:25-1:04:23

Why Amagi was so vulnerable on the slipway

An incomplete capital ship on a slipway had few realistic protections against earthquake damage because the hull was not ready to float or secure independently.

Amagi Class BattlecruisersCapital ShipsGreat Kanto EarthquakeNaval ConstructionShipyards
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Question

What could Japan have done to protect Amagi from earthquake damage?

Short answer

Very little at that construction stage; only a sufficiently complete, watertight hull could have been floated or secured, and Amagi was not ready.

Notes

There was little Japan could have done for Amagi while the ship remained incomplete on the building slip. A sufficiently complete and watertight hull might have been floated or secured in a dock so that it could move without breaking loose. Amagi had not reached that condition, removing the main theoretical escape from the earthquake's effects. A large hull can be structurally impressive while still lacking the basic integrity needed to survive the loss of its supporting infrastructure.