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A history of the brief life of the Nobile N-3: "Nobile N-3: The [Japanese] Navy's first semi-rigid type, the N-3 was almost 263ft long with a maximum diameter of 49ft and a hydrogen capacity of 274,700ft 3 . It was powered by two Maybach 245hp six cylinder in-line water-cooled engines, each driving a two bladed pusher propeller, mounted in streamlined nacelles abreast of each other below, close to and about half way along the envelope. A well glazed enclosed cabin for the crew of 7/12 was fixed direct to and almost at the front of the envelope keel, with horizontal stabilisers and dorsal/ventral rudders at the envelope rear for flight control. It had a range of 1250 miles at a cruising speed of about 60mph. The N-3 arrived in Japan during January 1927 and was assembled in the Zeppelin shed at Kasumigaura by Maj.Gen.Umberto Nobile and a team of Italian technicians. It made a successful first flight on 6 th April with a crew of six Japanese and six Italians, after which it operated satisfactorily and joined naval manoeuvres south of Tokyo on 22 nd October 1927. Unfortunately strong winds resulted in an emergency landing on Kozu-shima Island, where all the crew managed to disembark. After they had done so a sudden gust of wind carried the airship out to sea, where it exploded and was totally destroyed. Its one claim to fame was in being the fastest Japanese airship." www.j-aircraft.com/research/jas_jottings/japanese_airship...

see also

It's a Jap battleship

Japanese battleship Haruna? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_battleship_Haruna

The Japanese battleship Hyūga had been converted to a hybrid battleship/aircraft carrier in 1943; Hyūga and her sister ship Ise had their two aft 356 mm (14 in) turrets and barbettes removed. They were replaced by a small flight deck and hangar to launch a squadron of aircraft. You can see the raised deck on the stern. From 24 thru 28 July 1945, Hyūga was attacked (during the bombing of Kure) by American aircraft from the aircraft carriers USS Essex, Ticonderoga, Randolph, Hancock, Bennington, Monterey, and Bataan; her crew ran the ship aground in shallow waters on 27 July. ( Raised and scrapped 2 July 1946-4 July 1947). en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_battleship_Hy%C5%ABga

Massimo Foti Both battleships were sunk during the same attack!

Absolutely Beautiful photo, rare

For what is worth, the plane looks like a Kawanishi H8K: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawanishi_H8K