List of cruiser classes of the Imperial Japanese Navy

This is a list of cruisers of the Imperial Japanese Navy built between 1885 and 1945.

Armoured cruisers (Sōkō jun'yōkan)

Ship	Builder	Class and type	Displacement (tons)	Commissioned into IJN	Fate
Asama	Armstrong Whitworth, UK	Asama-class armoured cruiser	9,700	18 March 1899	30 November 1945; Scrapped
Tokiwa	Armstrong Whitworth, UK	Asama-class armoured cruiser	9,700	18 May 1899	9 August 1945; destroyed by USN aircraft at Ominato
Yakumo	Stettiner Vulcan AG, Germany	Armoured cruiser	9,646	20 June 1900	20 July 1946; scrapped
Azuma	Saint-Nazaire shipyards, France	Armoured cruiser	9,307	28 July 1900	15 February 1944; Scrapped
Izumo	Armstrong Whitworth, UK	Izumo-class armoured cruiser	9,750	25 September 1900	24 July 1945; destroyed at mooring by USN aircraft at Kure
Iwate	Armstrong Whitworth, UK	Izumo-class armoured cruiser	9,750	18 March 1901	26 July 1945; destroyed at mooring by USN aircraft at Kure
Kasuga	Gio. Ansaldo & C., Italy	Kasuga-class armoured cruiser	7,680	4 January 1904	18 July 1945; destroyed at mooring by USN aircraft at Yokosuka
Nisshin	Gio. Ansaldo & C., Italy	Kasuga-class armoured cruiser	7,689	7 January 1904	18 January 1942; scuttled 1936
Tsukuba	Kure Naval Arsenal, Japan	Tsukuba-class armoured cruiser	13,750	14 January 1907	14 January 1917; Accidental explosion
Ikoma	Kure Naval Arsenal, Japan	Tsukuba-class armoured cruiser	13,750	28 March 1908	20 September 1923; Scrapped
Ibuki	Kure Naval Arsenal, Japan	Ibuki-class armoured cruiser	14,636	11 November 1907	20 September 1923; Scrapped
Aso	La Seyne-sur-Mer, France	Bayan-class armoured cruiser	7,726	30 November 1908	1 April 1931; Retired; subsequently expended as target off Izu Oshima
Kurama	Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, Japan	Ibuki-class armoured cruiser	14,636	28 February 1911	20 September 1923; Scrapped

Note that the four Tsukuba and Ibuki class armoured cruisers were re-classed as "battlecruisers" by the Imperial Japanese Navy in 1912.

Battlecruisers (jun'yōsenkan)

See also: Kongō class battlecruiser

Ship	Builder	Class and type	Displacement (tons)	Commissioned into IJN	Fate
Kongō	Vickers Shipbuilding, Barrow-in-Furness	Kongō-class battlecruiser	26,230	16 August 1913	21 November 1944; sunk by USS Sealion in the Formosa Strait
Hiei	Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, Japan	Kongō-class battlecruiser	26,230	4 August 1914	13 November 1942; sunk by USN ships and aircraft in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
Haruna	Kawasaki, Kobe	Kongō-class battlecruiser	26,230	19 April 1915	28 July 1945; sunk by USN aircraft at Kure
Kirishima	Mitsubishi, Nagasaki	Kongō-class battlecruiser	26,230	19 April 1915	15 November 1942; sunk by USS Washington in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal

Heavy cruisers (jū jun'yōkan)

Ship	Builder	Class and type	Displacement (tons)	Commissioned into IJN	Fate
Furutaka	Mitsubishi, Nagasaki	Furutaka-class heavy cruiser	9,150	31 March 1926	12 October 1942; Sunk by USN cruisers, Battle of Cape Esperance
Kako	Kawasaki, Kobe	Furutaka-class heavy cruiser	9,150	30 July 1926	10 August 1942; Sunk by USS S-44 off New Ireland (island)
Aoba	Mitsubishi, Nagasaki	Aoba-class heavy cruiser	10,822	20 September 1927	28 July 1945; Sunk by USN aircraft, Kure, raised and scrapped post war.
Kinugasa	Kawasaki, Kobe	Aoba-class heavy cruiser	10,822	30 September 1927	14 November 1942; Sunk by USN aircraft at Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
Myōkō	Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, Japan	Myōkō-class heavy cruiser	13,300	31 July 1929	8 June 1946 ; Scuttled in the Strait of Malacca after surrender to the Royal Navy
Nachi	Kure Naval Arsenal, Japan	Myōkō-class heavy cruiser	13,300	28 November 1928	5 November 1944; Sunk by USN aircraft at Manila Bay
Ashigara	Kawasaki, Kobe	Myōkō-class heavy cruiser	13,300	8 February 1929	8 June 1945; Sunk by HMS Trenchant in Bangka Strait
Haguro	Mitsubishi, Nagasaki	Myōkō-class heavy cruiser	13,300	25 April 1929	16 May 1945; Sunk by Royal Navy at Battle of the Malacca Strait
Takao	Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, Japan	Takao-class heavy cruiser	15,490	31 May 1932	29 October 1946; Sunk as a target ship in the Strait of Malacca after surrender to the Royal Navy
Atago	Kure Naval Arsenal, Japan	Takao-class heavy cruiser	15,490	30 March 1932	23 October 1944; Sunk by USS Darter at in Palawan Passage during the Battle of Leyte Gulf
Chōkai	Mitsubishi, Nagasaki	Takao-class heavy cruiser	15,490	30 June 1932	25 October 1944; Sunk by USN during Battle off Samar
Maya	Kawasaki, Kobe	Takao-class heavy cruiser	15,490	30 June 1932	23 October 1944; Sunk by USS Dace at in the Palawan Passage during the Battle of Leyte Gulf
Mogami	Kure Naval Arsenal, Japan	Mogami-class heavy cruiser	13,440	28 July 1935	25 October 1944; Scuttled after Battle of the Surigao Strait
Mikuma	Mitsubishi, Nagasaki	Mogami-class heavy cruiser	13,440	29 August 1935	6 June 1942; Sunk by USN aircraft, Battle of Midway
Suzuya	Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, Japan	Mogami-class heavy cruiser	13,440	31 October 1937	25 October 1944; Scuttled after Battle off Samar
Kumano	Kawasaki, Kobe	Mogami-class heavy cruiser	13,440	31 October 1937	25 November 1944; Sunk by USN aircraft at Santa Cruz, Philippines
Tone	Mitsubishi, Nagasaki	Tone-class heavy cruiser	15,200	20 November 1938	24 July 1945; Sunk at Etajima, Hiroshima, raised and scrapped post war.
Chikuma	Mitsubishi, Nagasaki	Tone-class heavy cruiser	15,200	20 May 1939	25 October 1944; Sunk at Battle off Samar

Protected cruisers (Bōgo jun'yōkan) & unprotected cruisers (Mubōbina jun'yōkan)

Ship	Builder	Class and type	Displacement (tons)	Commissioned into IJN	Fate
Naniwa	Armstrong Whitworth, United Kingdom	Naniwa-class protected cruiser	3,650	1 December 1885	12 August 1912; Grounded off coast of Urup, Kurile Islands
Takachiho	Armstrong Whitworth, United Kingdom	Naniwa-class protected cruiser	3,650	1 December 1885	17 October 1914; Torpedoed during Battle of Tsingtao
Unebi	Forges et Chantiers de la Gironde, France	Protected cruiser	3,615	October 1886	December 1886; Vanished in South China Sea
Yaeyama	Yokosuka Naval Arsenal	Unprotected cruiser	1,584	15 March 1890	1 April 1911; Scrapped
Chiyoda	John Brown & Company, United Kingdom	Protected cruiser	3,615	1 January 1891	28 February 1927; Expended as target
Chishima	Ateliers et Chantiers de la Loire, France	Unprotected cruiser	741	27 November 1892	30 November 1892; Collision with MV Ravenna, Seto Inland Sea
Matsushima	Société Nouvelle des Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerranée, France	Matsushima-class protected cruiser	4,217	5 April 1892	30 April 1908; Accidental explosion, Makung, Pescadores Islands
Itsukushima	Société Nouvelle des Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerranée, France	Matsushima-class protected cruiser	4,278	3 September 1891	12 March 1926; Scrapped
Hashidate	Yokosuka Naval Arsenal	Matsushima-class protected cruiser	4,287	26 June 1894	1 April 1922; Scrapped in 1927
Yoshino	Armstrong Whitworth, United Kingdom	Protected cruiser	4,150	30 September 1893	15 May 1904; Collided with Kasuga, Yellow Sea
Akitsushima	Yokosuka Naval Arsenal	Protected cruiser	3,100	31 March 1894	27 January 1927; Scrapped
Tatsuta	Armstrong Whitworth, United Kingdom	Unprotected cruiser	650	31 July 1894	26 March 1926; submarine tender from 1916 to 1926
Izumi	Armstrong Whitworth, United Kingdom	Protected cruiser	2,920	8 January 1895	1 April 1912; Scrapped
Saien	Stettiner Vulcan AG Germany	Protected cruiser	2,440	16 March 1895 (as prize of war)	30 November 1904; Mined off Port Arthur
Suma	Yokosuka Naval Arsenal	Suma-class protected cruiser	2,657	12 December 1896	5 April 1923; Scrapped 1927
Akashi	Yokosuka Naval Arsenal	Suma-class protected cruiser	2,657	30 March 1899	1 April 1928; Expended as a target 1930
Chitose	Union Iron Works, United States	Kasagi-class protected cruiser	4,900	1 March 1898	1 April 1928; Expended as target off Shikoku in 1931
Kasagi	William Cramp & Sons, United States	Kasagi-class protected cruiser	4,900	24 October 1898	8 October 1916; Grounded off Tsugaru Strait
Takasago	Armstrong Whitworth, United Kingdom	Protected cruiser	4,160	17 May 1898	13 December 1904; Mined off Port Arthur
Miyako	Kure Naval Arsenal	Unprotected cruiser	1,772	31 March 1899	14 May 1904; naval mine off Port Arthur
Chihaya	Yokosuka Naval Arsenal	Unprotected cruiser	1,238	9 September 1901	1 September 1929; training hulk to end of World War II
Niitaka	Yokosuka Naval Arsenal	Niitaka-class protected cruiser	3,366	27 January 1904	26 August 1923; Typhoon off Kamchatka
Tsushima	Kure Naval Arsenal	Niitaka-class protected cruiser	3,366	14 February 1904	1 April 1939; Sunk off Miura 1944
Otowa	Yokosuka Naval Arsenal	Protected cruiser	3,000	6 September 1904	10 August 1917; Grounded off Mie Prefecture
Suzuya	Schichau shipyards, Danzig, Germany	Protected cruiser	3,080	20 August 1906 prize of war	1 April 1913; Scrapped
Soya	William Cramp & Sons, United States	Protected cruiser	6,500	9 July 1907 prize of war	5 April 1916; Returned to Russia
Tsugaru	Admiralty Shipyard, Russia	Protected cruiser	6,932	22 August 1908 prize of war	1 April 1922; Decommissioned; scuttled 1923
Yodo	Kawasaki Yards, Kobe	Yodo-class protected cruiser	1,250	8 April 1908	1 April 1940; Decommissioned; scrapped 1945
Mogami	Mitsubishi Yards, Nagasaki	Yodo-class protected cruiser	1,350	16 September 1908	1 April 1928; Decommissioned; scrapped 1929
Tone	Sasebo Naval Arsenal	Protected cruiser	4,900	5 May 1910	1 April 1931; Expended as a target 1933
Chikuma	Sasebo Naval Arsenal	Chikuma-class protected cruiser	5,040	17 May 1912	1 April 1931; expended as target 1935
Hirado	Kawasaki Yards, Kobe	Chikuma-class protected cruiser	5,040	17 June 1912	1 April 1940; Decommissioned; scrapped 1947
Yahagi	Mitsubishi Yards, Nagasaki	Chikuma-class protected cruiser	5,040	27 June 1912	1 April 1940; Decommissioned; scrapped 1947

Light cruisers (Kei jun'yōkan)

Ship [1]	Builder	Class and type	Displacement (tons)	Commissioned into IJN	Fate
Tatsuta	Sasebo Navy Yard	Tenryū-class light cruiser	3,948	31 May 1919	13 March 1944; Sunk by USS Sand Lance east of Hachijojima
Tenryū	Yokosuka Naval Arsenal	Tenryū-class light cruiser	3,948	20 November 1919	18 December 1942; Sunk by USS Albacore E of Madang
Kuma	Sasebo Navy Yard	Kuma-class light cruiser	5,100	31 August 1920	10 March 1944; Sunk by HMS Tally-Ho west of Penang
Tama	Sasebo Navy Yard	Kuma-class light cruiser	5,100	29 January 1921	25 October 1944; Sunk by USS Jallao northeast of Luzon
Kiso	Mitsubishi, Nagasaki	Kuma-class light cruiser	5,100	29 January 1921	20 March 1944; Sunk by USN aircraft west of Cavite
Kitakami	Sasebo Navy Yard	Kuma-class light cruiser	5,100	15 April 1921	30 November 1945; scrapped 10 August 1946 – 31 March 1947
Ōi	Kawasaki, Kobe	Kuma-class light cruiser	5,100	10 October 1921	19 July 1944; Sunk by USS Flasher south of Hong Kong
Nagara	Sasebo Navy Yard	Nagara-class light cruiser	5,832	21 April 1922	7 August 1944; Sunk by USS Croaker off Amakusa
Natori	Mitsubishi, Nagasaki	Nagara-class light cruiser	5,832	15 September 1922	18 August 1944; Sunk by USS Hardhead east of Samar
Kinu	Kawasaki, Kobe	Nagara-class light cruiser	5,832	10 November 1922	26 October 1944; Sunk by USN aircraft in Sibuyan Sea
Yura	Sasebo Navy Yard	Nagara-class light cruiser	5,832	20 March 1923	25 October 1942; Scuttled off Savo Island after bombing by USAAF
Isuzu	Uraga Dock Company	Nagara-class light cruiser	5,832	15 August 1923	7 April 1945; Sunk by USN submarines off Sumbawa
Abukuma	Uraga Dock Company	Nagara-class light cruiser	5,832	26 May 1925	26 October 1944; Sunk by USAAF aircraft off Negros Island
Sendai	Mitsubishi, Nagasaki	Sendai-class light cruiser	5,195	29 April 1924	3 November 1943; Sunk by USN cruisers at Empress Augusta Bay
Jintsu	Kawasaki, Kobe	Sendai-class light cruiser	5,195	31 July 1925	13 July 1943; Sunk by USN cruisers off Kolombangara
Naka	Sasebo Navy Yard	Sendai-class light cruiser	5,195	30 November 1925	18 February 1944; Sunk by USN aircraft off Truk
Yūbari	Sasebo Navy Yard	Yūbari-class light cruiser	2,840	23 July 1923	28 April 1944; Sunk by USS Bluegill off Palau
Katori	Mitsubishi, Yokohama	Katori-class training cruiser	5,890	20 April 1940	18 February 1944; Sunk by USS Iowa off Truk
Kashima	Mitsubishi, Yokohama	Katori-class training cruiser	5,890	31 May 1940	5 October 1945; Scrapped
Kashii	Mitsubishi, Yokohama	Katori-class training cruiser	5,890	15 July 1941	20 March 1945; Sunk by USN aircraft, South China Sea
Agano	Sasebo Navy Yard	Agano-class light cruiser	6,650	31 October 1942	15 February 1944; Sunk by USS Skate north of Truk
Noshiro	Mitsubishi, Nagasaki	Agano-class light cruiser	6,652	30 June 1943	26 October 1944; Sunk by USN aircraft south of Mindoro
Yahagi	Sasebo Navy Yard	Agano-class light cruiser	6,650	29 December 1943	7 April 1945; Sunk by USN aircraft south of Kagoshima
Sakawa	Sasebo Navy Yard	Agano-class light cruiser	6,652	30 November 1944	10 October 1945; war prize to USA, expended at atomic bomb test at Bikini Atoll on 2 July 1946
Ōyodo	Kure Naval Arsenal	Ōyodo-class light cruiser	8,164	28 February 1943	25 July 1945; Sunk by USN aircraft at Kure
Ioshima	Harima Shipyards	Ioshima-class light cruiser	2,526	28 June 1944	19 September 1944; Sunk by USS Shad south of Cape Omaezaki
Yasoshima	Kiangnan Dockyard, China	Ioshima-class light cruiser	2,448	25 September 1944	25 November 1944; Sunk by USN aircraft west of Luzon

See also

• List of Japanese battleships
• List of Japanese battlecruisers
• List of destroyers of Japan
• Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy

Citations

1. Jentschura, Jung & Mickel, pp. 104–113

Bibliography

• Jentschura, Hansgeorg; Jung, Dieter & Mickel, Peter (1977). Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869–1945. Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute. ISBN   978-0-87021-893-4.
• Friedman, Norman (1985). "Japan". In Gray, Randal (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. pp. 221–251. ISBN   0-87021-907-3.
• Sturton, Ian (1980). "Japan". In Chesneau, Roger (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. pp. 167–217. ISBN   0-85177-146-7.
• Watts, A. J. (1979). "Japan". In Chesneau, Roger & Kolesnik, Eugene M. (eds.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. New York: Mayflower Books. pp. 216–239. ISBN   0-8317-0302-4.