flight deck. This arrangement, atypical of most Japanese carriers, was similar to that successfully employed on and and would later be repeated on . Three Type 96 searchlights were positioned along the outer edges of the flight deck: two on the port side and one to starboard, just aft of the island. Like the collapsible crane, these could be lowered below flight deck level to prevent interference with normal flight activity. A fourth searchlight was mounted to the starboard side of the carrier's island on a projecting sponson. Armament Taihōs armament comprised 12 of the brand-new /65 caliber Type 98 anti-aircraft guns arranged in six twin-gun turrets: three on the port side and three to starboard. The guns were electro-hydraulically powered; however, in the event of a power failure they could function manually at reduced effectiveness. Operated by a crew of 11, the average firing rate was 15 rounds per minute with a maximum effective horizontal range of and a maximum effective vertical range of . In addition, Taihō carried 17 triple-mount anti-aircraft cannons (51 barrels total). Sixteen of these were mounted on sponsons just below flight deck level: eight to port, six to starboard and two at the stern. The 17th unit was positioned on the flight deck, just ahead of the island. The triple-mounts were electrically powered (though manual operation was possible) and normally required a crew of nine. They had a practical firing rate of 110–120 rounds per minute and a maximum effective range of . The Type 96 cannon was the Japanese Navy's standard small-caliber anti-aircraft weapon from 1936 through the end of the war in 1945 and was an adaptation of a French design. Additionally, there were 25 portable type 96 guns which was usually hung on hangar walls and after the plane departed was secured on metal fittings which usually holds the aircraft on the deck. Taihō had two Type 94 triaxially stabilized fire control directors, one mounted on the flight deck ahead of the island and one amidships on the port side, just below flight deck level. These controlled the gun turrets and were electro-hydraulically powered. The triple-mount cannons were controlled by seven Type 95 fire control units, each of which could direct the fire of two or three mounts. Radar Taihōs original design made no provisions for radar installation as the Imperial Japanese Navy did not possess any shipborne surface, fire control