AU Profile - The 玄鶴 (Genkaku)-class aircraft carriers were a fairly numerous class of purpose-built escort carriers, much like the Commencement Bay-class carriers were for the United States Navy. Churned out in large numbers, the compact carriers were designed to convoy the merchant vessels of Japan throughout the sea lanes of the Pacific.

PS - 玄鶴 (Genkaku) means "Black Crane". Naming convention follows the Shokaku-class i.e. 翔鶴, "Soaring Crane".