Watch the Discovery of a Lost Japanese Aircraft Carrier From World War II

For decades, the Japanese aircraft carrier Akagi rested unseen in the deep Pacific, known only through battle reports and survivor accounts. Sunk during the Battle of Midway in June 1942, the carrier played a role in early naval operations before meeting its end. Modern technology has now allowed researchers to view the wreck directly.

Akagi took part in early actions, including the attack on Pearl Harbor. At Midway, American dive bombers struck the ship, starting fires crews could not control. After severe damage, the carrier was abandoned and later scuttled, sinking into water more than three miles deep.

Finding Akagi in the Deep

The wreck was first located in 2019 by Vulcan Inc. using the research vessel R/V Petrel. Sonar mapping revealed the outline of a large carrier, and measurements confirmed it matched Akagi. The ship lies at about 17,300 feet within the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument near the Hawaiian island chain.

A Closer Look at the Wreck

The first visual survey was carried out by the Ocean Exploration Trust aboard E/V Nautilus during a NOAA-funded mission. The team also examined other World War II wrecks nearby, including Kaga and USS Yorktown. Video showed buckled metal, fire damage, and corrosion from long exposure to seawater.

Some marine life clings to the hull despite the depth. Researchers identified details on the bow, including remains of the imperial emblem once carried by Japanese warships.

The Red Castle at War

Akagi, meaning “Red Castle,” began construction in 1923 as a battlecruiser. Naval treaties forced a redesign, and she entered service as an aircraft carrier in 1927. After a rebuild in 1938, Akagi carried ninety one aircraft, reached thirty one knots, and operated with a crew of about two thousand sailors.

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