OT Navies in WWII

[dragoon500ly]

Japan fielded some intresting designs for her cruisers during the war.

The two light cruisers of the Tenryu class were Japan's first "modern" designs when they were launched in 1918. Very comparable to the British C-class cruisers they provided good service during the inter war years. By the start of WWII, they were too old for modernization. Tenryu was sunk in 1942. Tatsuta was sunk in 1944. Armed with four single mount 5.5-inch rifles

Starting in 1919, 5 light cruisers of the Kuma class were developed from experience gained from the Tenryu. They started the war with seven single mount 5.5-inch guns and two quad mount 24-inch torpedo tubes. Heavily modernized during the war, two, Oi and Kitakami were armed with four 5.5-inch and ten quad mounted 24-inch torpedo tubes (20 Long Lance torpedoes on the broadside!!!!!). Later modified to carry eight Kaiten suicide submarines. Four of the class were sunk in 1944, the Kitakami survived the war, damaged, and was scrapped in 1947.

The Nagara class of six light cruisers was laid down in 1921. They served as the flagships of destroyer squadrons. They started the war with seven single mount 5.5-inch guns and two quad mount 24-inch torpedo tubes.

As an experiment to mount the heaviest possible armament (two twin and two single mount 5.5-inchers and two twin 24-inch torpedo tubes) the Yubari only displaced 2,890 tons (compared to Nagara's 5,170 tons). Modernized during the war, Yubari was lost in 1944.

The last group of 5,000 ton light cruisers, the three Sendai class ships filled the same role as the Nagaras. They carried the same armament of seven single mount 5.5-inch rifles and two quad 24-inch torpedo tubes. All were lost in 1943/44.

The two Furutake class heavy cruisers took the lessons of the Yubari and applied them to a larger vessel. They mounted three twin 8in rifles and two quad 24-inch torpedo tubes. Both were lost in 1942.

An improved version of the Furutake, the two Aoba class cruisers entered service in 1926. Armed with three twin 8-inch and two quad 24-inch torpedo tubes. They operated with the Furutake class for many years. Kinugasa was lost in 1942 and the Aoba in 1945.

The Myoko class was the first of the 10,000 ton heavy cruisers and set the standard for the following classes. They mounted five twin 8-inch guns and four quad 24-inch torpedo tubes. One were lost in 1944 to US forces, and two were lost in 1945 to the British, the last, Myoko was heavily damaged in 1944 and was scuttled by the British in 1946.

An improved version of the Myokos, the four Takao class ships mounted five twin 8-inch guns and four quad 24-inch torpedo tubes. Made extensive use of light alloys and welding to control their weight. Three were lost in 1944 and the fourth, Takao, was severely damaged in Singapore harbor by the British midget submarines XE-1 and XE-3.

Originally laid down as light cruisers and mounting five triple 6.1-inch guns (in answer to the US Brooklyn class). The four Mogami-class were modified in 1939-1940 into heavy cruisers, mounting five twin 8-inch rifles and four triple 24-inch torpedo tubes. One was sunk in 1942 and the remaining three in 1944.

The two Tone class cruisers were modified Mogamis. Built to carry a larger number of floatplanes and act as fleet scouts. They mounted their four twin 8-inch guns forward of the bridge, they also carried four triple 24-inch torpedo tubes and five floatplanes. The Chikuma was lost in 1944 and the Tone was sunk in Kure harbor and scrapped after the war.

Designed as training ships, the three Katori class light cruisers became destroyer squadron flagships following the start of the war. They mounted two twin 5.5-inch rifles and two twin 24-inch torpedo tubes. One was lost in 1944, another in 1945 and the third, Kashima, survived the war, to be scrapped in 1947.

Designed as replacements for the older Nagaras, the four Agano class cruisers mounted three twin 6.1-inch rifles and two quad-mounted 24-inch torpedo tubes. Two were lost in 1944, a third, Yahagi, was sunk in the Last Sortie with Yamato and the fourth Sakawa, survived the war to be sunk in the Bikini nuclear test.

The last cruiser, the single Oyodo was a modified Agano. Armed with two triple 6.1-inch rifles, she was intended as a flagship for attack groups. In this role she carried six floatplanes. She was sunk in 1945.

Japanese heavy cruisers were powerful designs, built in excess of the pre war naval treaties. Their main armament was laid out in twin turrets, one of which could only fire to port or starboard, restricting their forward firing weapons to four rifles (compared to six on USN cruisers). They also mounted at least two 24-inch torpedo tubes with the deadly Type 93 Long Lance torpedo. In the fighting off Guadalcanal, they were deadly foes.

Their light cruisers were, for the most part, 1919-1920 designs and poorly suited for modern warfare. But they also carried the Long Lance torpedo, giving them the edge in surface actions.