Hōshō (Japanese: 鳳翔, lit. "flying phoenix") was the first aircraft carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy, and while not the first aircraft carrier, she was the first purpose-designed aircraft carrier to be commissioned. The hull was still based on a cruiser design, but she was not a conversion. Hōshō was commissioned on 27 December 1922, thirteen months before the Royal Navy's first purpose-built carrier Hermes, which was designed before Hōshō. There is some contention over this point, however, in that Hōshō was originally conceived as a mixed aircraft carrier and seaplane tender and only during construction was her design modified to a dedicated carrier. She was the first purpose-designed aircraft carrier, but not the first purpose-designed dedicated aircraft carrier.