Sendai-class Light Cruiser

Sendai-class Light Cruiser

Country

This article refers to the entire Sendai-class; it is not about an individual vessel.

ww2dbaseThe Sendai-class light cruisers were built in the early to mid 1920s, thus were rather old by the time of WW2, but they performed effectively during the war nevertheless. Often used as destroyer flotilla command ships, they saw numerous actions throughout the Pacific Ocean. Of the three ships in this class, Jintsu possibly enjoyed the most fame for being Rear Admiral Raizo Tanaka's flagship, running the successful "Tokyo Express" transport missions to Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands.

ww2dbaseSources: Nihon Kaigun, Wikipedia.

Last Major Revision: Jan 2008

Sendai-class Light Cruiser Interactive Map

Photographs

Heavily retouched photograph of a Sendai-class light cruiser, circa 1924-25

Battleships Nagato, Kirishima, Ise, and Hyuga and a Sendai-class cruiser (foreground to background), circa early 1934

Sendai-class Light Cruiser Operational Timeline

10 Jun 1922	The keel of Naka was laid down by Mitsubishi-owned Yokohama Dock Company in Yokohama, Japan.
29 Apr 1924	Sendai was commissioned into service.
24 Mar 1925	Naka was launched at Yokohama, Japan.
15 Apr 1925	Commander Choji Inoue was named the chief equipping officer of Naka.
30 Nov 1925	Naka was commissioned into service; chief equipping officer Commander Choji Inoue was named her commanding officer.
1 Dec 1925	Commander Choji Inoue, commanding officer of Naka, was promoted to the rank of captain.
1 Dec 1926	Captain Kamezaburo Nakamura was named the commanding officer of Naka.
5 Apr 1927	Naka received a new commanding officer.
30 Nov 1929	Captain Chuichi Nagumo was named the commanding officer of Naka.
1 Dec 1930	Naka received a new commanding officer.
1 Dec 1931	Captain Koki Yamamoto was named the commanding officer of Naka.
1 Dec 1932	Captain Shigeru Sonoda was named the commanding officer of Naka.
15 Nov 1933	Naka received a new commanding officer.
15 Nov 1934	Captain Kasuke Abe was named the commanding officer of Naka.
25 May 1935	Captain Tadashige Daigo was named the commanding officer of Naka.
15 Nov 1935	Captain Aritomo Goto was named the commanding officer of Naka.
1 Dec 1936	Captain Koso Abe was named the commanding officer of Naka.
2 Aug 1937	Naka received a new commanding officer.
1 Dec 1937	Captain Chimaki Kono was named the commanding officer of Naka.
15 Nov 1938	Captain Shutoku Miyazato was named the commanding officer of Naka.
15 Dec 1938	Captain Tamotsu Takama was named the commanding officer of Naka.
15 Nov 1939	Captain Teruo Akiyama was named the commanding officer of Naka.
15 Oct 1940	Captain Matsuji Ijuin was named the commanding officer of Naka.
11 Aug 1941	Captain Yoshioki Tawara was named the commanding officer of Naka.
26 Nov 1941	Naka became the flagship of Rear Admiral Shoji Nishimura of Japanese 4th Destroyer Squadron; she departed the Terashima Strait near Sasebo, Japan.
28 Nov 1941	Naka arrived at Mako, Pescadores islands.
7 Dec 1941	Naka departed Mako, Pescadores islands to escort the Philippine Islands invasion force.
10 Dec 1941	While guarding transports which disembarked troops on Luzon, Philippine Islands, Naka was attacked by US B-17 bombers, P-35A fighters, and P-40B fighters, receiving slight damage from strafing.
12 Dec 1941	Naka departed Vigan, Luzon, Philippine Islands.
14 Dec 1941	Naka arrived at Mako, Pescadores islands.
18 Dec 1941	Naka departed Mako, Pescadores islands.
22 Dec 1941	Naka guarded transports as they disembarked 7th Tank Regiment and an infantry regiment of the Japanese 48th Infantry Division at Caba, Luzon, Philippine Islands; she departed for Mako, Pescadores islands later on the same day.
24 Dec 1941	Naka arrived at Mako, Pescadores islands.
29 Dec 1941	Naka departed Takao, Taiwan.
2 Jan 1942	Naka arrived at Davao, Mindanao, Philippine Islands.
7 Jan 1942	Naka departed Davao, Mindanao, Philippine Islands.
10 Jan 1942	Naka arrived at Tarakan, Dutch Borneo.
11 Jan 1942	Naka disembarked troops at Tarakan, Dutch Borneo.
21 Jan 1942	Naka departed Tarakan, Dutch Borneo.
23 Jan 1942	Naka protected transports during the invasion of Balikpapan, Dutch Borneo.
24 Jan 1942	Dutch submarine K XVIII fired four torpedoes at Japanese cruiser Naka off Borneo, Dutch East Indies, all of which missed; Naka gave pursue to the submarine unsuccessfully.
30 Jan 1942	Naka departed Balikpapan, Dutch Borneo.
19 Feb 1942	Naka departed Jolo, Philippine Islands.
25 Feb 1942	Naka departed Makassar, Celebes, Dutch East Indies.
2 Mar 1942	Naka patrolled off Kragan, Java, Dutch East Indies.
8 Mar 1942	Naka departed Kragan, Java, Dutch East Indies.
12 Mar 1942	Naka arrived at Makassar, Celebes, Dutch East Indies.
14 Mar 1942	Naka was named the flagship for the Christmas Island invasion force.
18 Mar 1942	Naka was assigned to the Seizure Force for the invasion of Christmas Island.
26 Mar 1942	Naka departed Makassar, Celebes, Dutch East Indies.
29 Mar 1942	Naka departed Bantam Bay, Java, Dutch East Indies.
31 Mar 1942	Naka supported the landing on Christmas Island as the invasion force's flagship; submarine USS Seawolf attempted a torpedo attack on Naka at 0949 hours but failed to score hits.
1 Apr 1942	Japanese cruiser Naka was hit by a torpedo from US submarine USS Seawolf (of three fired) off Christmas Island, causing serious damage. She would be towed to Bantam Bay, Java, Dutch East Indies for repairs.
2 Apr 1942	Natori towed Naka toward Bantam Bay, Java, Dutch East Indies.
3 Apr 1942	Naka arrived at Bantam Bay, Java, Dutch East Indies under tow by Natori.
6 Apr 1942	Naka completed her temporary repairs at Bantam Bay, Java, Dutch East Indies and departed for Singapore.
10 Apr 1942	Naka arrived at Seletar Naval Base, Singapore.
28 Apr 1942	Naka departed Seletar Naval Base, Singapore and arrived at Keppel Harbour, Singapore.
29 Apr 1942	Naka entered the drydock at Keppel Harbour, Singapore.
2 Jun 1942	Naka exited the drydock at Keppel Harbour, Singapore.
3 Jun 1942	Naka departed Singapore.
8 Jun 1942	Naka arrived at Mako, Pescaore islands.
9 Jun 1942	Naka departed Mako, Pescaore islands.
12 Jun 1942	Naka arrived at Yokosuka, Japan.
15 Jun 1942	Naka was named a special reserve vessel; she departed Yokosuka, Japan.
21 Jun 1942	Naka arrived at Maizuru, Japan.
26 Jun 1942	Naka entered drydock at Maizuru, Japan.
6 Jul 1942	Naka exited drydock at Maizuru, Japan.
7 Jul 1942	Captain Ryuji Nakazato was named the commanding officer of Naka while the ship was at Maizuru, Japan.
8 Sep 1942	Sendai, Yugure, and seven other destroyers sortied from Shortland Islands, Solomon Islands against US landings at Taivu, Guadalcanal. The force sank patrol craft USS YP-346 at 2240 hours off Tulagi.
1 Oct 1942	Captain Banjiro Takagi was named the commanding officer of Naka while the ship was at Maizuru, Japan.
25 Feb 1943	Captain Yoshijiro Imaizumi was named the commanding officer of Naka while the ship was at Maizuru, Japan.
1 Apr 1943	Naka was assigned to Japanese 14th Cruiser Division while the ship was at Maizuru, Japan.
5 Apr 1943	Naka completed her repairs at Maizuru, Japan and departed the port.
6 Apr 1943	Naka arrived at Hashirajima, Japan.
20 Apr 1943	Naka departed Hashirajima, Japan.
22 Apr 1943	Naka arrived at Yokosuka, Japan.
25 Apr 1943	Naka departed Yokosuka, Japan.
30 Apr 1943	Naka arrived at Truk, Caroline Islands.
15 May 1943	Naka departed Truk, Caroline Islands.
18 May 1943	Naka arrived at Jaluit Atoll, Marshall Islands.
15 Jun 1943	Naka departed Jaluit Atoll, Marshall Islands.
18 Jun 1943	Naka arrived at Truk, Caroline Islands.
21 Jun 1943	Ryuho, Yukikaze, Naka, and Yugure arrived at Truk, Caroline Islands. Yugure would begin a period of maintenance and refitting at Truk.
22 Jun 1943	Naka departed Truk, Caroline Islands.
25 Jun 1943	Naka arrived at Nauru and disembarked 412 troops of No. 2 Yokosuka Special Naval Landing Force; she departed later in the day.
28 Jun 1943	Naka arrived at Truk, Caroline Islands.
6 Jul 1943	Sendai and Yugure departed Truk, Caroline Islands.
9 Jul 1943	Sendai and Yugure arrived at Shortland Islands, Solomon Islands. Yugure, Yukikaze, Tanikaze, and Hamakaze departed later on the same day, escorting a troop transport mission to Kolombangara in the Solomon Islands.
12 Jul 1943	Cruisers USS Honolulu, USS St. Louis, and HMNZS Leander escorted by destroyers USS Nicholas, USS O’Bannon, USS Radford, USS Jenkins, and USS Chevalier joined with destroyers USS Gwin, USS Woodworth, USS Buchanan, and USS Maury. Together, these ships sailed up the New Georgia Sound (The “Slot”) toward Kolombangara. Yugure, Yukikaze, Hamakaze, and Kiyonami departed Shortland Islands, Solomon Islands, escorting a troop transport mission involving light cruiser Jintsu to Kolombangara, New Georgia Group, Solomon Islands. The two forces engaged in the Battle of Kolombangara that lasted into the next morning.
13 Jul 1943	Shortly after midnight, cruisers USS Honolulu, USS St. Louis, and HMNZS Leander escorted by destroyers USS Nicholas, USS O'Bannon, USS Radford, USS Jenkins, USS Chevalier, USS Gwin, USS Woodworth, USS Buchanan, and USS Maury engaged Japanese cruiser Jintsu and destroyers Yukikaze, Hamakaze, Yugure, Mikazuki, and Kiyonami in New Georgia Sound north of Kolombangara. Japanese Type 93 torpedoes damaged Honolulu, St. Louis, and Leander. Destroyers Woodworth and Buchanan were damaged in a collision. Jintsu was sunk by cruiser gunfire and a torpedo. Destroyer Yukikaze was damaged. Destroyer USS Ralph Talbot went to the aid of USS Gwin, badly damaged by a torpedo, and took aboard 155 officers and men. USS Maury took another 53 officers and men. Ralph Talbot then scuttled Gwin with torpedoes. The Japanese were able to land 1,200 men nevertheless.
19 Jul 1943	Naka arrived at Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands.
20 Jul 1943	Naka arrived at Mili Atoll, Marshall Islands.
21 Jul 1943	Naka arrived at Wotje Atoll, Marshall Islands.
24 Jul 1943	Naka arrived at Truk, Caroline Islands.
3 Sep 1943	Naka departed Truk, Caroline Islands.
8 Sep 1943	Naka arrived at Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands.
9 Sep 1943	Naka arrived at Taroa, Maloelap Atoll, Marshall Islands and disembarked troops.
10 Sep 1943	Naka arrived at Truk, Caroline Islands.
12 Sep 1943	Naka departed Truk, Caroline Islands, escorting oiler Shiretoko and damaged aircraft transport Fujikawa Maru.
15 Sep 1943	Naka arrived at Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands.
19 Sep 1943	Naka departed Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands.
20 Sep 1943	Naka arrived at Mili Atoll, Marshall Islands.
21 Sep 1943	Naka arrived at Wotje Atoll, Marshall Islands.
24 Sep 1943	Naka arrived at Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands.
25 Sep 1943	Naka departed Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands.
26 Sep 1943	Naka arrived at Jaluit Atoll, Marshall Islands.
29 Sep 1943	Naka departed Jaluit Atoll, Marshall Islands.
3 Oct 1943	Naka arrived at Truk, Caroline Islands.
11 Oct 1943	Naka departed Truk, Caroline Islands.
18 Oct 1943	Naka arrived at Shanghai, China.
21 Oct 1943	Naka departed Shanghai, China with 485 troops of Japanese 17th Division.
28 Oct 1943	Naka arrived at Truk, Caroline Islands.
1 Nov 1943	Naka departed Truk, Caroline Islands.
3 Nov 1943	Naka was slightly damaged by near misses by B-24 Liberator bombers 111 kilometers north of Kavieng, New Ireland at 1129 hours; 7 were killed, 20 were wounded.
4 Nov 1943	Naka received 166 troops and anti-tank guns from transport Kiyosumi Maru and then disembarked them at Kavieng, New Ireland at 1700 hours.
5 Nov 1943	Naka arrived at Rabaul, New Britain; later that day, she was slightly damaged by near misses by US carrier aircraft.
6 Nov 1943	Naka departed Rabaul, New Britain.
9 Nov 1943	Naka arrived at Truk, Caroline Islands.
21 Nov 1943	Naka departed Truk, Caroline Islands.
22 Nov 1943	Naka arrived at Ponape, Caroline Islands and embarked about 700 troops intended for Tarawa, Gilbert Islands.
23 Nov 1943	Naka departed Ponape, Caroline Islands.
25 Nov 1943	Naka arrived at Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands.
30 Nov 1943	Naka departed Kwajalein, Marshall Islands.
1 Dec 1943	Naka arrived at Mili Atoll, Marshall Islands, disembaked troops, and departed.
2 Dec 1943	Naka departed Kwajalein, Marshall Islands.
1 Jan 1944	Naka departed Truk, Caroline Islands and took damaged transport Kiyozumi Maru in tow southwest of Truk.
7 Jan 1944	Captain Yoshimasa Sutezawa was named the commanding officer of Naka.
8 Jan 1944	Naka arrived at Truk, Caroline Islands with damaged transport Kiyozumi Maru in tow.
17 Feb 1944	Naka departed Truk, Caroline Islands. She was discovered, attacked, and sunk by the third attack wave of SB2C Helldiver and TBF Avenger carrier aircraft 65 kilometers west of Truk; about 240 were killed, 210 survived including commanding officer Captain Yoshimasa Sutezawa.
31 Mar 1944	Naka was struck from the Japanese Navy list.

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Sendai-class Light Cruiser