Wikipedia:Today's featured article/December 9, 2009

The Amagi class battlecruiser was a planned class of warship for the Imperial Japanese Navy, as part of the so-called Eight-eight fleet. The class was to have been composed of four ships: JAPANESE BATTLECRUISER Amagi, JAPANESE AIRCRAFT CARRIER Akagi, Atago, and Takao. The ships' design was essentially an enlarged version of the Tosa-class battleship battleship, but with a thinner armored belt and deck and a modified secondary battery arrangement. Limitations imposed by the 1922 Washington Naval Treaty prevented the class from being completed as designed. However, the treaty had a limited allowance for hulls already under construction to be converted into aircraft carriers. Amagi and Akagi were both intended for conversion, but an earthquake damaged Amagi's hull so extensively that the ship was scrapped. Akagi was refitted as an aircraft carrier and served with distinction during World War II as part of the Kido Butai before being sunk at the Battle of Midway. (more...)

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