The initial air-group plans treated the ships as heavy strike carriers, with about seventy-two aircraft and large dive- and torpedo-bomber components. As the war progressed, the planned complement fell toward roughly forty-eight aircraft even while the fighter share increased. Pilot losses were only part of the problem after Midway: Japan also lacked experienced fitters, maintenance engineers, and supervisors able to keep a large air group serviceable. The 1943 plan paired the intended A7M fighter with Nakajima C6N reconnaissance aircraft, showing that scouting remained part of the carrier's planned aviation system. The A7M did not arrive in the needed numbers, forcing continued reliance on the Zero, while newer D4Y and B6N strike aircraft were also scarce. By late 1944 the projected carriers could be functionally half empty, making further hull completion a poor use of resources until the aviation system caught up.
Chapter · 30:10-34:09
Air groups shrank as Japan lost pilots, fitters, and aircraft
Planned Unryu air groups moved from heavy strike formations toward smaller complements as Japan lost trained people and failed to field new aircraft in time.