Originally the name for the Zuiho was the Takasaki. The Takasaki was being built as a submarine tender but the IJN decided to complete the ship as an aircraft carrier. In December 1940 the Zuiho (Lucky Phoenix) was commissioned. The ship helped tocover the invasion of the East Indies, took part in the Battle of Santa Cruz, was at Guadalcanal ferrying aircraft to Truk in late 1942 and early 1943. It took part in the Battle of the Philippine Sea in June 1944 and the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944. During one of the four major encounters of the Battle of Leyte Gulf; the Battle of Cape Engano the Zuiho was one of the IJN ships acting as decoys. On October 25, 1944 the Zuiho and others were sunk.
