Sendai-class cruiser


The Sendai-class light cruisers were a class of three warships operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy. The vessels in the class were named after rivers according to the navy's light cruiser naming rule. They participated in numerous actions during the Pacific War and were mainly used as destroyer flotilla leaders.

Design

The Sendai-class light cruisers were a development of the preceding. Their boilers were better located, and they had four funnels instead of three. Each ship was designed with a flying-off platform and hangar, but did not actually carry aircraft until a catapult system was installed in 1929.

Ships in class

Eight additional 5,500-ton cruisers were planned to be built under the Eight-eight fleet Program. Four Sendai-class light cruisers were authorised to be constructed in Japan in 1921 and were laid down, but the last — Kako — was scrapped on the slipway in accordance with the regulations of the 1922 Washington Naval Treaty. The other three were sunk during World War II. Another four units were authorised to be built to the same design in 1922, but were cancelled following the signing of the Treaty after Japan decided that future cruiser construction would focus on heavy cruisers.
ShipKanjiBuilderLaid downLaunchedCompletedFate
川内Mitsubishi Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Nagasaki Yard16 February 192230 October 192329 April 1924Sunk during the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay, 2 November 1943
Jinzū RiverKawasaki Dockyard Company, Kobe Yard4 August 19228 December 192331 July 1925Sunk during the Battle of Kolombangara, 13 July 1943
Naka River Yokohama Dock Company10 June 192224 March 192530 November 1925Hull was burned by earthquake, later scrapped; Laid down once again, 24 May 1924; Sunk during Operation Hailstone, 17 February 1944
Kako加古Sasebo Naval Arsenal15 February 1922Discontinued by Washington Naval Treaty on 17 March 1922 and scrapped; naval budget was used for the of the same name
Ayase綾瀬Cancelled and re-planned as Furutaka in March 1922
Minase水無瀬rowspan=3 rowspan=3 rowspan=3 rowspan=3 Cancelled following the Washington Naval Treaty
Otonase音無瀬----Cancelled following the Washington Naval Treaty
----Cancelled following the Washington Naval Treaty

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