IJN fleet

Victory at Sea: IJN fleet

For centuries, Japan’s policy of isolation (sakoku) was focused on coastal defence, to ward off foreign vessels. However, as other seafaring nations made advances it eventually became clear that Japan could no longer ignore the rest of the world. As an island power, it needed a modern navy. Japan turned to Great Britain and swiftly created a powerful modern fleet. It was this capable and confident navy that would emerge to fight the American Pacific Fleet.

The Japanese understood early the potential of airpower and created an effective carrier arm. In addition to carriers, the Imperial Japanese Navy possessed a powerful battleship force, including the world’s largest and most powerful battleships, the Yamato and Musashi. The Imperial Japanese Navy’s potential was demonstrated at the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. With armour-piercing bombs and torpedoes, Japanese aircraft inflicted enormous damage on the American Pacific Fleet, at anchor.

Midway was the turning point of the naval war in the Pacific, and from then on, the Imperial Japanese Navy could do little against the increasing carrier strength of the US Navy. As the victorious Allies closed in on the Japanese home islands, the Imperial Japanese Navy fought desperately to hold them off. Kamikaze planes and other suicide weapons were employed, and eventually, Imperial Japanese Navy warships made death rides against US forces.

Contents:
- Kongo class battleship - Kongo 1941
- Shokaku class carrier - Zuikaku
- Mogami class cruiser - Suzuya 1944
- Mogami class cruiser - Mikuma 1942
- Agano class cruiser - Yahagi 1943
- Kagero class Destroyer 1941 x3
- Fighter Aircraft - Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero x 4 flights
- Ship Cards and Damage Sliders
- Assembly instructions

Vessels are supplied in Warlord Resin and are unassembled and unpainted.