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Description
A pride of the Japanese Space Defense Force when the Sōryū launched in 2185- this new class of aircraft carriers were some of the best and most modern in the world. They served dutifully till the end of the decade, bolstering Japan's carrier aviation field in both training and readiness.

The Sōryū-Class are a line of 5 fleet carriers designed by Japan in the early 2180s, with each ship launching in a year succession one after another. Each carrier had an air compliment of 60 aircraft, which was considered above average for carriers designed in that time frame. To launch all its aircraft, these carriers had 4 elevators spread throughout the ship, with two outlying on the port side for ease of logistics when they are docked. Additionally, they're one of two classes, the other being the Shōkaku-Class, to posses the powerful 127mm Type 83 anti-aircraft cannons; the largest anti aircraft cannons fielded by Japan up until 2201. However, this came at the cost of no dedicated offensive armament, with the carriers' Type 83's being their only means of actually dealing with hostile ships.

When war with Garmillas broke out in 2191- most people anticipated that the Sōryū-Class would be able to stop the invaders. This was actually true for a while- with these carriers helping secure Japanese air dominance up until 2194 using their large airwings. However, once the Garmillas forces started deploying their own large carriers, that had much more capable aircraft than the current Japanese ones, the Sōryūs started taking the backfoot in engagements. The first carrier to go down was the JSDFS Kaga, being sunk early into 2195 by a Garmillas air raid. Since then, the Sōryūs were deployed more cautiously, but that didn't prevent JSDFS Okakū from being sank two years later in an engagement near the asteroid belt.

By late 2198, the Sōryūs were still considered fairly modern carriers, and by then more advanced Japanese airframes had replaced the old ones. Thus, the Sōryū and her sisters were once again on par with their Garmillas adversaries. Despite this, none of them saw any combat action until the Yamato and the Splinter Fleet left to go to Iscandar. The Sōryū and Akagi were in Japan and had been given orders to follow the Yamato out and escort her on her voyage. However the Hiryū was still in a UN repair base, and was soon commandeered by UN Security for fear of her desertion too. The Hiryū was then handed back to the crew, who never got the order from Japan to leave for Iscandar, and commissioned into the UN Security Fleet to hunt down her sisters.

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Usage and Copyright
My work usually would fall under Shipbucket's jurisdiction unless stated otherwise. This specific work is based on an unofficial scale; SkaianScale (2 pixels = 1 meter). Credits to @ skaianDesitiny for creating the scale!
Personal restrictions apply for usage of my work, even outside of Shipbucket scales and templates-
-You may modify, edit, and repost my work with the aforementioned credits to me for the original drawing.
-You may not use any of my work for commercial use, credits or not.

Description
A pride of the Japanese Space Defense Force when the Sōryū launched in 2185- this new class of aircraft carriers were some of the best and most modern in the world. They served dutifully till the end of the decade, bolstering Japan's carrier aviation field in both training and readiness.

The Sōryū-Class are a line of 5 fleet carriers designed by Japan in the early 2180s, with each ship launching in a year succession one after another. Each carrier had an air compliment of 60 aircraft, which was considered above average for carriers designed in that time frame. To launch all its aircraft, these carriers had 4 elevators spread throughout the ship, with two outlying on the port side for ease of logistics when they are docked. Additionally, they're one of two classes, the other being the Shōkaku-Class, to posses the powerful 127mm Type 83 anti-aircraft cannons; the largest anti aircraft cannons fielded by Japan up until 2201. However, this came at the cost of no dedicated offensive armament, with the carriers' Type 83's being their only means of actually dealing with hostile ships.

When war with Garmillas broke out in 2191- most people anticipated that the Sōryū-Class would be able to stop the invaders. This was actually true for a while- with these carriers helping secure Japanese air dominance up until 2194 using their large airwings. However, once the Garmillas forces started deploying their own large carriers, that had much more capable aircraft than the current Japanese ones, the Sōryūs started taking the backfoot in engagements. The first carrier to go down was the JSDFS Kaga, being sunk early into 2195 by a Garmillas air raid. Since then, the Sōryūs were deployed more cautiously, but that didn't prevent JSDFS Okakū from being sank two years later in an engagement near the asteroid belt.

By late 2198, the Sōryūs were still considered fairly modern carriers, and by then more advanced Japanese airframes had replaced the old ones. Thus, the Sōryū and her sisters were once again on par with their Garmillas adversaries. Despite this, none of them saw any combat action until the Yamato and the Splinter Fleet left to go to Iscandar. The Sōryū and Akagi were in Japan and had been given orders to follow the Yamato out and escort her on her voyage. However the Hiryū was still in a UN repair base, and was soon commandeered by UN Security for fear of her desertion too. The Hiryū was then handed back to the crew, who never got the order from Japan to leave for Iscandar, and commissioned into the UN Security Fleet to hunt down her sisters.

- - - - -

Usage and Copyright
My work usually would fall under Shipbucket's jurisdiction unless stated otherwise. This specific work is based on an unofficial scale; SkaianScale (2 pixels = 1 meter). Credits to @ skaianDesitiny for creating the scale!
Personal restrictions apply for usage of my work, even outside of Shipbucket scales and templates-
-You may modify, edit, and repost my work with the aforementioned credits to me for the original drawing.
-You may not use any of my work for commercial use, credits or not.