Taiho

Taihō or Taiho can refer to:

Taihō (era)

Taihō (大宝) was a Japanese era name (年号,, nengō,, lit. "year name") after a late 7th century interruption in the sequence of nengō after Shuchō and before Keiun. This period spanned the years from March 701 through May 704. The reigning emperor was Mommu-tennō (文武天皇).

History

In 701, also known as Taihō gannen (大宝元年), the new era name Taihō (meaning "Great Treasure") was proclaimed to memorialize the creation of the "great treasure" of codified organization and laws. The new era commenced on the 21st day of the 3rd month of 701.

Timeline

The system of Japanese era names was not the same as Imperial reign dates.

Events of the Taihō era

Japanese aircraft carrier Taihō

Taihō (大鳳) (meaning Great Phoenix), was an aircraft carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. Possessing heavy belt armor and featuring an armored flight deck (a first for any Japanese aircraft carrier), she represented a major departure in Japanese aircraft carrier design and was expected to not only survive multiple bomb, torpedo, or shell hits, but also continue fighting effectively afterwards.

Built by Kawasaki at Kobe, she was laid down on 10 July 1941, launched almost two years later on 7 April 1943 and finally commissioned on 7 March 1944. She sank on 19 June 1944 during the Battle of the Philippine Sea after suffering a single torpedo hit from the American submarine USS Albacore, due to explosions resulting from design flaws and poor damage control.

Design

Taihō was approved for construction in the 1939 4th Supplementary Programme. Her design was that of a modified Shōkaku. Under the Modified Fleet Replenishment Program of 1942, Taihō was to be the first of a new generation of Japanese aircraft carriers, which would include Taihō, 15 of a modified Hiryu design (which turned into the Unryu-class) and five of an improved Taiho design.