This is a list of cruisers of the Imperial Japanese Navy built between 1885 and 1945.
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.
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
Miyuki was the fourth of twenty-four Fubuki-class destroyers, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) following World War I.
Fuji (富士) was the lead ship of the Fuji class of pre-dreadnought battleships built for the Imperial Japanese Navy by the British firm of Thames Iron Works in the late 1890s. The ship participated in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905, including the Battle of Port Arthur on the second day of the war with her sister Yashima. Fuji fought in the Battles of the Yellow Sea and Tsushima and was lightly damaged in the latter action. The ship was reclassified as a coastal defence ship in 1910 and served as a training ship for the rest of her career. She was hulked in 1922 and finally broken up for scrap in 1948.
Akigumo(秋雲, "Autumn Clouds") was one of 19 Kagerō-class destroyers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy during the 1930s.
Hatsuzuki (初月) was an Akizuki-class destroyer of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Her name means "New Moon " or "(another name of) August". In the Battle off Cape Engaño, to cover the escape of allied ships, Hatsuzuki single-handedly faced an overwhelming force of four cruisers and at least 9 destroyers for two hours before she was sunk with only 8 survivors.
Takanami (高波) was a Yūgumo-class destroyer of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Her name means "Tall Wave".
Naganami was a Yūgumo-class destroyer of the Imperial Japanese Navy.
Hamanami was a Yūgumo-class destroyer of the Imperial Japanese Navy.
Akishimo was a Yūgumo-class destroyer of the Imperial Japanese Navy.
Ikoma (生駒) was the second vessel in the two-ship Tsukuba class of armoured cruisers in the Imperial Japanese Navy. She was named after Mount Ikoma located on the border of Osaka and Nara prefecture. On 28 August 1912, Ikoma was re-classified as a battlecruiser.
Design B-65 was a class of cruisers planned by the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) before and during World War II. The IJN referred to this design as a 'Super Type A' cruiser; It was larger than most heavy cruisers but smaller than most battlecruisers, and as such, has been variously described as a 'super-heavy cruiser,' a 'super cruiser,' or as a 'cruiser-killer.' As envisioned by the IJN, the cruisers were to play a key role in the Night Battle Force portion of the "Decisive battle" strategy which Japan hoped, in the event of war, to employ against the United States Navy.
Kurama (鞍馬) was the final vessel of the two-ship Ibuki class of armored cruisers in the Imperial Japanese Navy. Kurama was named after Mount Kurama located north of Kyoto, Japan. On 28 August 1912, the Ibukis were re-classified as battlecruisers.
Sakura was one of 18 Matsu-class destroyers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during the final stages of World War II. Completed in late 1944, the ship was assigned to convoy escort duties in February 1945. She was slightly damaged when she struck a mine in May. Sakura sank after striking another mine near Osaka on 11 July with heavy loss of life.
The Shimane Maru class was a pair of auxiliary escort carriers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during World War II.
The Hashidate-class gunboat was a class of two Imperial Japanese Navy gunboats which served during World War II. The class consisted of two vessels, Hashidate and Uji. During World War II the number of their AA guns was increased and they were also equipped with depth charges.
The Kasagi-class cruiser was a class of two protected cruisers of the Imperial Japanese Navy built in the United States at the end of the 19th century.
The Yamashio Maru class consisted of a pair of auxiliary escort carriers operated by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. They were converted from tankers. Only the name ship was completed during the war and she was sunk by American aircraft before she could be used.
The Maya class was a four-ship class of gunboats of the early Imperial Japanese Navy.
Yanagi was one of 18 Matsu-class escort destroyers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during World War II. Completed in early 1945, the ship was deployed to northern Japan for convoy escort duties in May. She was badly damaged during the American attacks on Hokkaido and northern Honshu in mid-July and was further damaged when they repeated those attacks on 9 August. Yanagi was scrapped in 1947.
Keyagi was one of 18 Matsu-class escort destroyers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during World War II. Completed in late 1944, little is known about her activities during the rest of the war. The ship was surrendered to the Allies at the end of the war and used to repatriate Japanese troops until 1947. Mid-year the destroyer was turned over to the United States and was later sunk as a target.
Nara was one of 18 Matsu-class escort destroyers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during World War II. Completed in November 1944, the ship was badly damaged when she struck a naval mine in June 1945. She was not repaired before the end of the war and was scrapped in 1948.