Katori class cruiser
Encyclopedia
The were originally ordered by the Imperial Japanese Navy
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
to serve as training ships in the 1937 and 1939 Supplementary Naval budget. During the Pacific War
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
, they were used as administrative flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
s for various fleets, such as submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
command and control, and to command escort squadrons. The ships were upgraded as the war progressed with additional anti-aircraft guns and depth charge
Depth charge
A depth charge is an anti-submarine warfare weapon intended to destroy or cripple a target submarine by the shock of exploding near it. Most use explosives and a fuze set to go off at a preselected depth in the ocean. Depth charges can be dropped by either surface ships, patrol aircraft, or from...
s.
Ships
(香取)Built by Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
, or MHI, is a Japanese company. It is one of the core companies of Mitsubishi Group.-History:In 1870 Yataro Iwasaki, the founder of Mitsubishi took a lease of Government-owned Nagasaki Shipyard. He named it Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works, and started the shipbuilding business on a full scale...
at Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
shipyard. Commissioned 20 April 1940. Assigned to the Sixth Fleet
IJN 6th Fleet
The was a fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II, primarily responsible for command of submarine operations.-History:The IJN 6th Fleet was formed on 15 November 1940, and was assigned general control of all Japanese submarine operations...
, based at Kwajalein
Kwajalein
Kwajalein Atoll , is part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands . The southernmost and largest island in the atoll is named Kwajalein Island. English-speaking residents of the U.S...
. On 1 February 1942, was attacked by torpedo-bombers from , and sustained damage. Repaired at Yokosuka
Yokosuka Naval Arsenal
was one of four principal naval shipyards owned and operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy, and was located at Yokosuka city, Kanagawa prefecture on Tokyo Bay, south of Yokohama...
. During the American attack
Operation Hailstone
Operation Hailstone was a massive naval air and surface attack launched on February 17–18, 1944, during World War II by the United States Navy against the Japanese naval and air base at Truk in the Caroline Islands, a pre-war Japanese territory.-Background:Truk was a major Japanese logistical base...
on Truk
Chuuk
Chuuk — formerly Truk, Ruk, Hogoleu, Torres, Ugulat, and Lugulus — is an island group in the south western part of the Pacific Ocean. It comprises one of the four states of the Federated States of Micronesia , along with Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap. Chuuk is the most populous of the FSM's...
on 17–18 February 1944, was attacked by aircraft and hit by a torpedo. Several hours later was attacked again, and sunk by 16 inches (406.4 mm) shells from . No survivors were recovered. Struck from the Navy List 31 March 1944.
(鹿島)
Built by Mitsubishi at Yokohama. Commissioned 31 May 1940. From December 1941, flagship of the Fourth Fleet
IJN 4th Fleet
The was a fleet designation of the Imperial Japanese Navy. The Fourth Fleet designation was used during three separate periods. The initial designation was for a group of ships that were assigned to work together during the Russo-Japanese conflict and the period of its immediate aftermath...
based at Truk. In 1942 covered the landings at Rabaul and Kavieng, Tulagi and Port Moresby, Rabaul, and New Guinea. In late 1943 reassigned to the Kure Training Division. In dry-dock from November 1943 until January 1944. Served as a transport ship, and modified for the anti-submarine role in late 1944. Struck from the Navy List on 5 October 1945. After the war used as a repatriation transport. Scrapped 1947.
(香椎)
Built by Mitsubishi at Yokohama. Commissioned 15 July 1941. Assigned to the Southern Expeditionary Fleet in 1941. In 1942 participated in the invasion of North Sumatra and Burma. In 1943 made transport runs carrying troops and supplies. In 1944 modified for anti-submarine warfare. On 12 January 1945, was attacked by US aircraft, was hit by a torpedo, then two bombs, and sank. Only 19 of 621 aboard were saved.
Kashihara (橿原)
Built by Mitsubishi at Yokohama. Laid down on 23 August 1941, construction stopped on 6 November 1941, later scrapped.