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Katori
Class overview
Name	Katori class
Builders	Mitsubishi Heavy Industries,Yokohama
Operators	Imperial Japanese Navy
Cost	6,600,000 JPY (Katori andKashima)[1] 7,200,000 JPY (Kashii)[2]
Built	1938–1940
In commission	1940–1945
Planned	4
Completed	3
Cancelled	1
Lost	2
Retired	1
General characteristics
Type	Cruiser
Displacement	5,890 long tons (5,985 t) normal 6,180 long tons (6,279 t) full load
Length	129.77 m (425 ft 9 in)
Beam	15.95 m (52 ft 4 in)
Draught	5.75 m (18 ft 10 in)
Propulsion	2-shaft geared turbines, plus diesel motors 3 Kampon boilers 8,000 shp (6,000 kW)
Speed	18knots (21 mph; 33 km/h)
Range	9,000 nautical miles (17,000 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h)
Complement	315 + 275midshipmen
Armament	4 ×140 mm (5.5 in)/50 cal. guns (2×2) 2 ×127 mm (5 in)/40 cal. AA guns (1×2) 4 ×Type 96 AA guns (later increased to 30) 8 ×13.2 mm (0.52 in) AA guns 4 × 533 mm (21 in)torpedo tubes (2×2)
Armour	Gun turrets: 10 mm (0 in) Conning tower: 10 mm (0 in)
Aircraft carried	1 ×floatplane
Aviation facilities	1catapult

TheKatori-class training cruisers (香取型練習巡洋艦,Katori-gata renshū-jun'yōkan) were originally ordered by theImperial Japanese Navy (IJN) to serve astraining ships in the 1937 and 1939 Supplementary Naval budgets. During thePacific War, they were used as administrativeflagships for various fleets, such assubmarine command and control, and to command escort squadrons. The ships were upgraded as the war progressed with additionalanti-aircraft guns anddepth charges.

Originally ordered by the IJN in the 1937 and 1939 Supplementary Naval budgets, theKatori-class cruisers were purpose-designed to replace the agingarmored cruisers in the officer training role, and as such differed from other IJN cruisers in several aspects. Built to commercial standards to minimize cost, theKatori class had a lowerlength-to-beam ratio than was usual for cruisers, giving the ships greaterinitial stability for trainees unfamiliar with lives at sea. Unusually for IJN ships, theKatori class had mixed steam turbine/diesel propulsion, intended to maximize the ships' instructional value rather than speed: even at a combined 6,000 kW (8,000 shp) the maximum speed was only 33 km/h (18 kn), too slow for conventional cruiser duties.

The main armament of each ship was four 140 mm (5.5 in) guns in two twin-gun turrets, the same type used on thelight cruiserYūbari, in "A" and "Y" positions. These were supplemented by a pair of 127 mm (5 in) AA guns in "X" position, two pairs of 25 mm AA guns, and two pairs of 533 mm (21.0 in)torpedoes. Four single 50 mm saluting guns were also carried. Afloatplane could be launched by acatapult mounted amidships.

Katori (香取)

Built byMitsubishi Heavy Industries atYokohama shipyard. Commissioned 20 April 1940. Assigned to theSixth Fleet, based atKwajalein. On 1 February 1942, was attacked by torpedo-bombers fromUSS Enterprise, and sustained damage. Repaired atYokosuka. During theAmerican attack onTruk on 17–18 February 1944, was attacked by aircraft and hit by a torpedo. Several hours later was attacked again, and sunk by 16-inch (406mm) shells fromUSS Iowa (BB-61). No survivors were recovered. Struck from the Navy List 31 March 1944.

Kashima (鹿島)

Built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries at Yokohama. Commissioned 31 May 1940. From December 1941, flagship of theFourth Fleet 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.

Kashii (香椎)

Built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries at Yokohama. Commissioned 15 July 1941. Assigned to theSouthern 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 Heavy Industries at Yokohama. Laid down on 23 August 1941, construction stopped on 6 November 1941, later scrapped.

• Lacroix, Eric &Wells II, Linton (1997).Japanese Cruisers of the Pacific War. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.ISBN 0-87021-311-3.
• Senshi Sōsho Vol.31,Naval armaments and war preparation (1), "Until November 1941", Asagumo Simbun (Japan), November 1969

Media related toKatori class cruisers at Wikimedia Commons

• CombinedFleet.com:Katori class
• CombinedFleet.com:Katori history

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• Katori-class cruisers
• World War II cruisers of Japan

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