Akitsu Maru 1/700 scale Imperial Japanese Army Aircraft Carrier

The Akitsu Maru was a very unique vessel of the Imperial Japanese Navy and historically has been considered as one of the first amphibious assault ships in naval history. The Akitsu Maru was an IJN landing craft depot ship but also an escort aircraft carrier. The ship was fitted with a flight deck above the hull, but had no hangar, so the aircraft were stored below the flight deck on the original main deck. She was completed in January 1942, and took part in the Java landing operation in February of the same year. In 1943, she was equipped with the Kayaba Ka-1, an autogyro for anti-submarine use. The Akitsu Maru was sunk by the submarine Queenfish on 15 November 1944, while she engaged in the Philippines operation assigned to Convoy Hi-81.