Re The Hosho, I just consulted The Aircraft Carrier Story 1908 - 1945 by Guy Robbins which says:
"Assistance was given to the Japanese in every area, from training to design details for their first carrier. As with the American Langley, it was decided to convert a trails carrier before building the two projected carriers. On 19 December 1919, Hosho (7,470 tons) had been laid down as (contrary to many reports) a tanker.
Launched in November 1921 and fitted out with Britich aid on the lines of the Hermes, she was in fact completed first (December 1922), but was not, as so often claimed, designed from the start as an aircraft carrier. Hosho, flew off and landed her first aircraft on 22 February 1923, only a few months after the Americans' first landing on Langley. Her role was to pioneer flying off and on to decks and deck training, and her equipment included British - type longitudinal arrestor gear."
"Assistance was given to the Japanese in every area, from training to design details for their first carrier. As with the American Langley, it was decided to convert a trails carrier before building the two projected carriers. On 19 December 1919, Hosho (7,470 tons) had been laid down as (contrary to many reports) a tanker.
Launched in November 1921 and fitted out with Britich aid on the lines of the Hermes, she was in fact completed first (December 1922), but was not, as so often claimed, designed from the start as an aircraft carrier. Hosho, flew off and landed her first aircraft on 22 February 1923, only a few months after the Americans' first landing on Langley. Her role was to pioneer flying off and on to decks and deck training, and her equipment included British - type longitudinal arrestor gear."
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