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Correct on the Operation they all participated in together, although they were never in a task force together, but parceled out to other groups/task forces.

There was some thought of bringing these carriers together after the loss of Akagi, Kaga, Hiryu, and Soryu. These 4 surviving carriers would have carried around 95 aircraft. The 8 aircraft on the Hosho were obsolete B4Y1 biplane torpedo bombers. This leaves 87 modern aircraft. The Kate torpedo bombers were of the B5N1 variant that had been replaced by the B5N2 variant on the IJN fleet carriers already sunk.
Against this the USN had around 120 - 125 aircraft still available on their 2 surviving carriers. Quality of the aircrews would probably been in favor of the USN at this point.

So withdrawal was probably prudent as this point for the IJN forces.


Junyo and Ryujo are Neptuns. Zuiho is actually an Optatus model although only the manufacturer marking of OPT and the carrier name is on the bottom. No number is on the bottom of the carrier and I never saw it advertised in any of his lists.
I managed to get that one on eBay from Pamonty who owns the Optatus line.
Comparison of the Neptun Zuiho (top) and the Optatus Zuiho (bottom)


I agree on the IJN Ryuho. The only one available I have seen is the 3D printed one from Masters of Military.

The IJN Hosho is a C.O.B. Contructs 3D printed model. The Trident T-1051A on top the COB Constructs model on the bottom. This close-up makes it much easier to see the differences.