page_title: Japanese cruiser Ibuki (1943)
section_title: Construction
hierarchical_section_title: Japanese cruiser Ibuki (1943) / Construction
caption_attribution_description: The Japanese Light Cruiser Ibuki in Drydock at Sasebo-64 percent Scrapped, 14 March 1947
context_page_description: The Japanese cruiser Ibuki was a heavy cruiser built for the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. The lead ship of her class of two ships, she was ordered to be converted into a light aircraft carrier in 1943 before completion to help replace the aircraft carriers sunk during the Battle of Midway in mid-1942. The conversion was delayed and finally stopped in March 1945 in order to concentrate on building small submarines. Ibuki was scrapped in the Sasebo Naval Arsenal beginning in 1946.
context_section_description: Ibuki was laid down at the Kure Naval Arsenal, Kure, on 24 April 1942; however, her construction was suspended on 30 June. Construction resumed on 30 July to allow the ship to be launched as soon as possible. She was named after Mount Ibuki on 5 April 1943 as per the IJN's naming convention for first-class cruisers. The ship was launched on 21 May and construction was suspended in July until the IJN decided to convert her into a light aircraft carrier the following month. While plans were prepared for the conversion, she was towed to the Sasebo Naval Arsenal, Sasebo, by the submarine tender Jingei on 19–21 December.
  Completion of the ship was originally scheduled for March 1945, but it was rescheduled for August because of delays. Work continued until 16 March 1945, but it was halted when she was 80% complete to concentrate on the construction of small submarines needed to defend Japan against an American invasion. She was anchored in Ebisu Bay, near Sasebo, and surrendered there on 2 September along with the rest of the Japanese military. Ibuki was scrapped in Sasebo Naval Arsenal Drydock No. 7 from 22 November 1946 to 1 August 1947.
caption: Ibuki being scrapped, 14 March 1947
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