It is a Japanese L2D, a licensed and modified version of the DC-3/C-47.

C.T.

My 'logic' went as follows - the plane looked like a C-47, but something felt off about it AND the characters at the nose gave me a general location.  It did not have the insignia of the Nationalists/KMT/ROC.  The only other nation that operated C-47/DC-3 and variants in Asia that would be of interest was the Japanese, who had their own license to build their own version. 

However, as Wonderduck noted, the most telling feature to determine whether it was a C-47/DC-3 or L2D is hidden by the angle of the photo.  That would have been an immediate give-away.

C.T.

Also is Pete is correct about the extra windows in the cockpit.  In retrospect, that was the first thing about the plane that made it look 'off' to me, though it took me a while to realize exactly what.

C.T.

only lists that ship under "oilers", not "airship tenders".

Small wonder, since PATOKA kept her hull designation as a fleet oiler even after she was converted to dock and support the ZRs.  She only changed her designation later when she was assigned as a seaplane tender for a short while.

I have been watching Accel World when the photo was posted so Andy had already answered the question before I could read who could participate.

C.T.

If we are going to be speculating...If the battle had been delayed by a few days, PACFLEET would have had 4 carrier decks in the area of operation, though the boost airpower might not have been as significant.

I wonder if Newport was asked to wargame the battle again, like they did for the 40th anniversary.   That always make for an amusing piece of trivia.

C.T.

I remember reading Walter Lord's Incredible Victory and being moved from reading the introduction/forward where that passage comes from.  It was very fitting, in my view. 

C.T.