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{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
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{{Infobox ship
{{Infobox ship image
 
 
|Ship image=[[File:Japanese cruiser Kinugasa.jpg|300px]]
 
|Ship image=[[File:Japanese cruiser Kinugasa.jpg|300px]]
 
|Ship caption=Heavy cruiser ''Kinugasa'' on commissioning at Kobe
 
|Ship caption=Heavy cruiser ''Kinugasa'' on commissioning at Kobe
 
|module={{Infobox ship career|embed=yes
}}
 
{{Infobox ship career
 
|Hide header=
 
 
|Ship country=Japan
 
|Ship country=Japan
 
|Ship flag=[[File:Naval Ensign of Japan.svg|50px|Japanese Navy Ensign]]
 
|Ship flag=[[File:Naval Ensign of Japan.svg|50px|Japanese Navy Ensign]]
 
|Ship name=''Kinugasa''
 
|Ship name=''Kinugasa''
 
|Ship namesake=[[Mount Kinugasa]]
 
|Ship namesake=[[Mount Kinugasa]]
|Ship owner=
 
|Ship operator=
 
|Ship registry=
 
|Ship route=
 
 
|Ship ordered=1923 Fiscal Year
 
|Ship ordered=1923 Fiscal Year
 
|Ship builder=Kawasaki Heavy Industries
|Ship awarded=
 
|Ship builder=[[Kawasaki Heavy Industries]]
 
|Ship original cost=
 
|Ship yard number=
 
|Ship way number=
 
 
|Ship laid down=24 October 1924
 
|Ship laid down=24 October 1924
 
|Ship launched=24 October 1926
 
|Ship launched=24 October 1926
|Ship sponsor=
 
|Ship christened=
 
|Ship completed=
 
|Ship acquired=
 
 
|Ship commissioned=30 September 1927<ref>Lacroix, ''Japanese Cruisers'', p. 794</ref>
 
|Ship commissioned=30 September 1927<ref>Lacroix, ''Japanese Cruisers'', p. 794</ref>
|Ship recommissioned=
 
|Ship decommissioned=
 
|Ship maiden voyage=
 
|Ship in service=
 
|Ship out of service=
 
|Ship renamed=
 
|Ship reclassified=
 
|Ship refit=
 
 
|Ship struck=15 December 1942
 
|Ship struck=15 December 1942
|Ship reinstated=
 
|Ship homeport=
 
|Ship identification=
 
|Ship motto=
 
|Ship nickname=
 
|Ship honours=
 
|Ship honors=
 
|Ship captured=
 
 
|Ship fate=sunk 13 November 1942 by [[United States Navy]] and [[United States Marine Corps|USMC]] aircraft during [[Naval Battle of Guadalcanal]] at {{coord|08|45|S|157|00|E}}
 
|Ship fate=sunk 13 November 1942 by [[United States Navy]] and [[United States Marine Corps|USMC]] aircraft during [[Naval Battle of Guadalcanal]] at {{coord|08|45|S|157|00|E}}
|Ship status=
 
|Ship notes=
 
|Ship badge=
 
 
}}
 
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
+
|module2={{Infobox ship characteristics|embed=yes
|Hide header=
 
|Header caption=
 
 
|Ship class=[[Aoba class cruiser]]
 
|Ship class=[[Aoba class cruiser]]
 
|Ship type=[[heavy cruiser]]
 
|Ship type=[[heavy cruiser]]
|Ship tonnage=
 
 
|Ship displacement=8,300 tons (standard); 9,000 (final)
 
|Ship displacement=8,300 tons (standard); 9,000 (final)
|Ship tons burthen=
 
 
|Ship length=185.17 meters
 
|Ship length=185.17 meters
 
|Ship beam=15.83 meters (initial) <br/> 17.56 meters (final)
 
|Ship beam=15.83 meters (initial) <br/> 17.56 meters (final)
|Ship height=
 
 
|Ship draught=5.71 meters (initial) <br/> 5.66 meters (final)
 
|Ship draught=5.71 meters (initial) <br/> 5.66 meters (final)
|Ship draft=
 
|Ship depth=
 
|Ship hold depth=
 
|Ship decks=
 
|Ship deck clearance=
 
|Ship ramps=
 
|Ship ice class=
 
|Ship power=
 
 
|Ship propulsion=4-shaft Brown Curtis geared turbines<br/>12 Kampon boilers<br/>102,000 shp
 
|Ship propulsion=4-shaft Brown Curtis geared turbines<br/>12 Kampon boilers<br/>102,000 shp
|Ship sail plan=
 
 
|Ship speed={{convert|36|kn|km/h}} – {{convert|33.43|kn|km/h|abbr=on}}
 
|Ship speed={{convert|36|kn|km/h}} – {{convert|33.43|kn|km/h|abbr=on}}
 
|Ship range={{convert|7,000|nmi|km|abbr=on}} @ 14 knots (initial) <br/> {{convert|8,223|nmi|km|abbr=on}} at 14 knots (final)
 
|Ship range={{convert|7,000|nmi|km|abbr=on}} @ 14 knots (initial) <br/> {{convert|8,223|nmi|km|abbr=on}} at 14 knots (final)
|Ship endurance=
 
|Ship test depth=
 
|Ship boats=
 
|Ship capacity=
 
|Ship troops=
 
 
|Ship complement=643 (initial) - 657 (final)
 
|Ship complement=643 (initial) - 657 (final)
|Ship crew=
 
|Ship time to activate=
 
|Ship sensors=
 
|Ship EW=
 
 
|Ship armament=(initial)
 
|Ship armament=(initial)
 
*6 × [[20 cm/50 3rd Year Type naval gun|7.9in (200mm)/50-cal guns]] (3x2),
 
*6 × [[20 cm/50 3rd Year Type naval gun|7.9in (200mm)/50-cal guns]] (3x2),
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*8 × 24in (610mm) torpedo tubes (2x4)
 
*8 × 24in (610mm) torpedo tubes (2x4)
 
*50 x 25 mm AA guns
 
*50 x 25 mm AA guns
|Ship armour=
 
 
|Ship armor=76 mm (belt) <br/>36 mm (deck)
 
|Ship armor=76 mm (belt) <br/>36 mm (deck)
 
|Ship aircraft=1 x [[floatplane]] (initial)<br/>2 x floatplane, 1 [[aircraft catapult|catapult]] (final)
 
|Ship aircraft=1 x [[floatplane]] (initial)<br/>2 x floatplane, 1 [[aircraft catapult|catapult]] (final)
|Ship aircraft facilities=
 
|Ship notes=
 
 
}}
 
}}
|}
+
}}
   
 
{{nihongo|'''''IJN Kinugasa'''''|衣笠 重巡洋艦|Kinugasa jūjun'yōkan}} was the second vessel in the two-vessel [[Aoba class cruiser|''Aoba''-class]] of [[heavy cruiser]]s in the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]]. It was named after Mount Kinugasa, located in [[Yokosuka, Kanagawa]], [[Japan]].
 
{{nihongo|'''''IJN Kinugasa'''''|衣笠 重巡洋艦|Kinugasa jūjun'yōkan}} was the second vessel in the two-vessel [[Aoba class cruiser|''Aoba''-class]] of [[heavy cruiser]]s in the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]]. It was named after Mount Kinugasa, located in [[Yokosuka, Kanagawa]], [[Japan]].
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===Early career===
 
===Early career===
''Kinugasa'' was completed on 30 September 1927 at the [[Kawasaki Heavy Industries|Kawasaki shipyards]] in Kobe. Her early service was as flagship of the Fifth Squadron (''Sentai''), and she operated for virtually her entire career with that unit and the Sixth and Seventh Squadrons. In 1928, she became the first Japanese combat ship to carry an [[aircraft catapult]].
+
''Kinugasa'' was completed on 30 September 1927 at the Kawasaki shipyards in Kobe. Her early service was as flagship of the Fifth Squadron (''Sentai''), and she operated for virtually her entire career with that unit and the Sixth and Seventh Squadrons. In 1928, she became the first Japanese combat ship to carry an [[aircraft catapult]].
 
''Kinugasa'' served off the China coast from 1928 and 1929 and on several occasions during the 1930s. Placed in reserve in September 1937, she was extensively modernized at the [[Sasebo Navy Yard]] and not recommissioned until the end of October 1940.
 
''Kinugasa'' served off the [[China]] coast from 1928 and 1929 and on several occasions during the 1930s. Placed in reserve in September 1937, she was extensively modernized at the [[Sasebo Navy Yard]] and not recommissioned until the end of October 1940.
 
   
 
===Early stages of the Pacific War===
 
===Early stages of the Pacific War===
 
In 1941, ''Kinugasa'' was assigned to Cruiser Division 6 (CruDiv6), as [[flagship]] of [[Rear admiral (United States)|Rear Admiral]] [[Aritomo Goto]] as part of the First Fleet under overall command of [[Vice admiral (United States)|Vice Admiral]] [[Takasu Shiro]]. CruDiv 6 consisted of ''Kinugasa'', ''[[Japanese cruiser Aoba|Aoba]]'', ''[[Japanese cruiser Furutaka|Furutaka]]'' and ''[[Japanese cruiser Kako|Kako]]''. At the time of the [[attack on Pearl Harbor]], CruDiv6 was engaged in the [[Battle of Guam (1941)|invasion of Guam]], following which it participated in the second invasion of [[Wake Island]].
 
In 1941, ''Kinugasa'' was assigned to Cruiser Division 6 (CruDiv6), as [[flagship]] of [[Rear admiral (United States)|Rear Admiral]] [[Aritomo Goto]] as part of the First Fleet under overall command of [[Vice admiral (United States)|Vice Admiral]] [[Takasu Shiro]]. CruDiv 6 consisted of ''Kinugasa'', ''[[Japanese cruiser Aoba|Aoba]]'', ''[[Japanese cruiser Furutaka|Furutaka]]'' and ''[[Japanese cruiser Kako|Kako]]''. At the time of the [[attack on Pearl Harbor]], CruDiv6 was engaged in the [[Battle of Guam (1941)|invasion of Guam]], following which it participated in the second invasion of [[Wake Island]].
   
From January through May 1942, ''Kinugasa'' was based out of [[Chuuk Lagoon|Truk]], in the Caroline Islands where it provided protection for the landings of Japanese troops in the Solomon Islands and New Guinea at [[Rabaul]], [[Kavieng]], [[Buka, Papua New Guinea|Buka]], [[Shortland]], [[Kieta]], Manus Island, Admiralty Islands and [[Tulagi]].
+
From January through May 1942, ''Kinugasa'' was based out of Truk, in the Caroline Islands where it provided protection for the landings of Japanese troops in the Solomon Islands and New Guinea at Rabaul, Kavieng, [[Buka, Papua New Guinea|Buka]], [[Shortland]], [[Kieta]], Manus Island, Admiralty Islands and Tulagi.
   
 
===Battle of Coral Sea===
 
===Battle of Coral Sea===
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===The Battle of Savo Island===
 
===The Battle of Savo Island===
In the [[Battle of Savo Island]] on 9 August 1942, the four heavy cruisers of CruDiv 6 (''[[Japanese cruiser Aoba|Aoba]]'', ''[[Japanese cruiser Kako|Kako]]'', ''[[Japanese cruiser Furutaka|Furutaka]]'' and ''Kinugasa''), the heavy cruiser ''[[Japanese cruiser Chōkai|Chōkai]]'', light cruisers ''[[Japanese cruiser Tenryū|Tenryū]]'' and ''[[Japanese cruiser Yubari|Yubari]]'' and destroyer ''[[Japanese destroyer Yūnagi (1924)|Yūnagi]]'' engaged the Allied forces in a night gun and torpedo action. At about 2300, ''Chōkai'', ''Furutaka'' and ''Kako'' all launched their reconnaissance [[floatplane]]s. The circling floatplanes dropped flares illuminating the targets and all the Japanese ships opened fire. US Ships ''[[USS Astoria (CA-34)|Astoria]]'', ''[[USS Quincy (CA-39)|Quincy]]'', ''[[USS Vincennes (CA-44)|Vincennes]]'' and [[HMAS Canberra (D33)|HMAS ''Canberra'']] were sunk. [[USS Chicago (CA-29)|USS ''Chicago'']] was damaged as were the ''[[USS Ralph Talbot (DD-390)|USS Ralph Talbot]]'' and ''[[USS Patterson (DD-392)|USS Patterson]]''. On the Japanese side, ''Chōkai'' was hit three times, ''Kinugasa'' twice (once in her No. 1 Engine Room by a 5-inch shell from ''Patterson'' and her port steering gear by a shell from ''Vincennes''), ''Aoba'' once, and ''Furutaka'' was not damaged.
+
In the [[Battle of Savo Island]] on 9 August 1942, the four heavy cruisers of CruDiv 6 (''[[Japanese cruiser Aoba|Aoba]]'', ''[[Japanese cruiser Kako|Kako]]'', ''[[Japanese cruiser Furutaka|Furutaka]]'' and ''Kinugasa''), the heavy cruiser ''[[Japanese cruiser Chōkai|Chōkai]]'', light cruisers ''[[Japanese cruiser Tenryū|Tenryū]]'' and ''[[Japanese cruiser Yubari|Yubari]]'' and destroyer ''[[Japanese destroyer Yūnagi (1924)|Yūnagi]]'' engaged the Allied forces in a night gun and torpedo action. At about 2300, ''Chōkai'', ''Furutaka'' and ''Kako'' all launched their reconnaissance [[floatplane]]s. The circling floatplanes dropped flares illuminating the targets and all the Japanese ships opened fire. US Ships ''[[USS Astoria (CA-34)|Astoria]]'', ''[[USS Quincy (CA-39)|Quincy]]'', ''[[USS Vincennes (CA-44)|Vincennes]]'' and [[HMAS Canberra (D33)|HMAS ''Canberra'']] were sunk. [[USS Chicago (CA-29)|USS ''Chicago'']] was damaged as were the ''[[USS Ralph Talbot (DD-390)|USS Ralph Talbot]]'' and ''[[USS Patterson (DD-392)|USS Patterson]]''. On the Japanese side, ''Chōkai'' was hit three times, ''Kinugasa'' twice (once in her No. 1 Engine Room by a 5-inch shell from ''Patterson'' and her port steering gear by a shell from ''Vincennes''), ''Aoba'' once, and ''Furutaka'' was not damaged.
 
 
The heavily-laden American invasion transports off Guadalcanal were unprotected, but Admiral Mikawa, unaware that [[Frank Jack Fletcher|Admiral Fletcher]] had withdrawn his aircraft carriers covering the invasion, feared an air attack at daybreak and ordered a retirement. Captain Sawa of ''Kinugasa'', frustrated, launched a spread of torpedoes from Kinugasa's starboard tubes at the [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] transports {{convert|13|mi|km}} distant, but all missed. The following day as CruDiv6 approached Kavieng, ''Kako'' was torpedoed and sunk by the US submarine ''[[USS S-44 (SS-155)|S 44]]''.
 
The heavily-laden American invasion transports off Guadalcanal were unprotected, but Admiral Mikawa, unaware that [[Frank Jack Fletcher|Admiral Fletcher]] had withdrawn his aircraft carriers covering the invasion, feared an air attack at daybreak and ordered a retirement. Captain Sawa of ''Kinugasa'', frustrated, launched a spread of torpedoes from Kinugasa's starboard tubes at the [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] transports {{convert|13|mi|km}} distant, but all missed. The following day as CruDiv6 approached Kavieng, ''Kako'' was torpedoed and sunk by the US submarine ''[[USS S-44 (SS-155)|S 44]]''.
   
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===Naval Battle of Guadalcanal===
 
===Naval Battle of Guadalcanal===
On 14 October 1942, ''Kinugasa'' was designated flagship of Crudiv 6. The following day, ''Kinugasa'' and ''Chōkai'' bombarded Henderson Field on Guadalcanal with a total of 752 8-inch shells.
+
On 14 October 1942, ''Kinugasa'' was designated flagship of Crudiv 6. The following day, ''Kinugasa'' and ''Chōkai'' bombarded Henderson Field on Guadalcanal with a total of 752 8-inch shells.
 
From 24–26 October and 1–5 November, ''Kinugasa'' and ''Chōkai'' provided cover for replacement convoys of troops and equipment to bolster Japanese defenses at Guadalcanal. On 14 November 1942, during the [[Naval Battle of Guadalcanal]], ''Kinugasa'' was attacked by [[TBF Avenger]] torpedo-bombers and [[SBD Dauntless]] dive bombers from the ''[[USS Enterprise (CV-6)|USS Enterprise]]'' and [[United States Marine Corps|USMC]] Avengers from Guadalcanal. At 0936 a 500-pound bomb hit ''Kinugasa's'' 13.2-mm machine gun mount in front of the bridge, starting a fire in the forward gasoline storage area. Captain Sawa and his [[Executive Officer]] were killed by the bomb, and ''Kinugasa'' gradually began to list to port. Near-misses caused additional fires and flooding and a second attack by 17 more Dauntless bombers knocked out ''Kinugasa's'' engines and rudder and opened more compartments to the sea. At 1122, ''Kinugasa'' capsized and sank southwest of Rendova Island at {{coord|08|45|S|157|00|E}}, taking 511 crewmen with her.
 
From 24–26 October and 1–5 November, ''Kinugasa'' and ''Chōkai'' provided cover for replacement convoys of troops and equipment to bolster Japanese defenses at Guadalcanal. On 14 November 1942, during the [[Naval Battle of Guadalcanal]], ''Kinugasa'' was attacked by [[TBF Avenger]] torpedo-bombers and [[SBD Dauntless]] dive bombers from the ''[[USS Enterprise (CV-6)|USS Enterprise]]'' and [[United States Marine Corps|USMC]] Avengers from Guadalcanal. At 0936 a 500-pound bomb hit ''Kinugasa's'' 13.2-mm machine gun mount in front of the bridge, starting a fire in the forward gasoline storage area. Captain Sawa and his [[Executive Officer]] were killed by the bomb, and ''Kinugasa'' gradually began to list to port. Near-misses caused additional fires and flooding and a second attack by 17 more Dauntless bombers knocked out ''Kinugasa's'' engines and rudder and opened more compartments to the sea. At 1122, ''Kinugasa'' capsized and sank southwest of [[Rendova Island]] at {{coord|08|45|S|157|00|E}}, taking 511 crewmen with her.
 
 
 
''Kinugasa'' was removed from the Navy list on 15 December 1942.
 
''Kinugasa'' was removed from the Navy list on 15 December 1942.
   
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| work =
 
| work =
 
| accessdate = 2006-06-14
 
| accessdate = 2006-06-14
}} {{Dead link|date=November 2013}}
+
}} {{Dead link|date=November 2014}}
 
*Tabular record: [http://www.combinedfleet.com/kinugasa_t.htm CombinedFleet.com: ''Kinugasa'' history] (Retrieved 26 January 2007.)
 
*Tabular record: [http://www.combinedfleet.com/kinugasa_t.htm CombinedFleet.com: ''Kinugasa'' history] (Retrieved 26 January 2007.)
 
*Gallery: [http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-fornv/japan/japsh-k/kinugasa.htm US Navy Historical Center]
 
*Gallery: [http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-fornv/japan/japsh-k/kinugasa.htm US Navy Historical Center]

Revision as of 22:42, 24 July 2019

Japanese cruiser Kinugasa
Japanese cruiser Kinugasa
Heavy cruiser Kinugasa on commissioning at Kobe
Career (Japan) Japanese Navy Ensign
Name: Kinugasa
Namesake: Mount Kinugasa
Ordered: 1923 Fiscal Year
Builder: Kawasaki Heavy Industries
Laid down: 24 October 1924
Launched: 24 October 1926
Commissioned: 30 September 1927[1]
Struck: 15 December 1942
Fate: sunk 13 November 1942 by United States Navy and USMC aircraft during Naval Battle of Guadalcanal at 08°45′S 157°00′E / 8.75°S 157°E / -8.75; 157
General characteristics
Class & type: Aoba class cruiser
Type: heavy cruiser
Displacement: 8,300 tons (standard); 9,000 (final)
Length: 185.17 meters
Beam: 15.83 meters (initial)
17.56 meters (final)
Draught: 5.71 meters (initial)
5.66 meters (final)
Propulsion: 4-shaft Brown Curtis geared turbines
12 Kampon boilers
102,000 shp
Speed: 36 knots (67 km/h) – 33.43 kn (61.91 km/h)
Range: 7,000 nmi (13,000 km) @ 14 knots (initial)
8,223 nmi (15,229 km) at 14 knots (final)
Complement: 643 (initial) - 657 (final)
Armament:

(initial)

(final)

  • 6 × 8in (203mm)/50-cal guns (3x2),
  • 4 × 4.7in (120mm)/45-cal (4x1),
  • 8 × 24in (610mm) torpedo tubes (2x4)
  • 50 x 25 mm AA guns
Armor: 76 mm (belt)
36 mm (deck)
Aircraft carried: 1 x floatplane (initial)
2 x floatplane, 1 catapult (final)

IJN Kinugasa (衣笠 重巡洋艦 Kinugasa jūjun'yōkan?) was the second vessel in the two-vessel Aoba-class of heavy cruisers in the Imperial Japanese Navy. It was named after Mount Kinugasa, located in Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan.

Background

Kinugasa and her sister ship Aoba were originally planned as the third and fourth vessels in the Furutaka-class of heavy cruisers. However, design issues with the Furutaka-class resulted in modifications including double turrets and an aircraft catapult. These modifications created yet more weight to an already top-heavy design, causing stability problems. Nevertheless, Kinugasa played an important role in the opening stages of World War II.

Service career

Early career

Kinugasa was completed on 30 September 1927 at the Kawasaki shipyards in Kobe. Her early service was as flagship of the Fifth Squadron (Sentai), and she operated for virtually her entire career with that unit and the Sixth and Seventh Squadrons. In 1928, she became the first Japanese combat ship to carry an aircraft catapult. Kinugasa served off the China coast from 1928 and 1929 and on several occasions during the 1930s. Placed in reserve in September 1937, she was extensively modernized at the Sasebo Navy Yard and not recommissioned until the end of October 1940.

Early stages of the Pacific War

In 1941, Kinugasa was assigned to Cruiser Division 6 (CruDiv6), as flagship of Rear Admiral Aritomo Goto as part of the First Fleet under overall command of Vice Admiral Takasu Shiro. CruDiv 6 consisted of Kinugasa, Aoba, Furutaka and Kako. At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor, CruDiv6 was engaged in the invasion of Guam, following which it participated in the second invasion of Wake Island.

From January through May 1942, Kinugasa was based out of Truk, in the Caroline Islands where it provided protection for the landings of Japanese troops in the Solomon Islands and New Guinea at Rabaul, Kavieng, Buka, Shortland, Kieta, Manus Island, Admiralty Islands and Tulagi.

Battle of Coral Sea

At the Battle of the Coral Sea, CruDiv 6 departed Shortland and effected a rendezvous at sea with light carrier Shōhō. At 1100 on 7 May 1942, north of Taguli Island, Shoho was attacked and sunk by 93 SBD Dauntless dive-bombers and TBD Devastator torpedo-bombers from USS Yorktown and Lexington.

The following day, 8 May 1942 46 SBDs, 21 TBDs and 15 Grumman F4F Wildcats from Yorktown and Lexington damaged Shōkaku severely above the waterline and forced her retirement. Furutaka and Kinugasa, undamaged in the battle, escorted Shōkaku back to Truk.

Aoba class cruiser;h97733

WW-2 recognition drawing of Kinugasa

Kinugasa was withdrawn to Japan in June 1942 for repairs, and returned to Truk by 4 July. Following the major reorganization of 14 July 1942, Kinugasa came under the newly created Eighth Fleet under Vice Admiral Gunichi Mikawa, based at Rabaul.

The Battle of Savo Island

In the Battle of Savo Island on 9 August 1942, the four heavy cruisers of CruDiv 6 (Aoba, Kako, Furutaka and Kinugasa), the heavy cruiser Chōkai, light cruisers Tenryū and Yubari and destroyer Yūnagi engaged the Allied forces in a night gun and torpedo action. At about 2300, Chōkai, Furutaka and Kako all launched their reconnaissance floatplanes. The circling floatplanes dropped flares illuminating the targets and all the Japanese ships opened fire. US Ships Astoria, Quincy, Vincennes and HMAS Canberra were sunk. USS Chicago was damaged as were the USS Ralph Talbot and USS Patterson. On the Japanese side, Chōkai was hit three times, Kinugasa twice (once in her No. 1 Engine Room by a 5-inch shell from Patterson and her port steering gear by a shell from Vincennes), Aoba once, and Furutaka was not damaged. The heavily-laden American invasion transports off Guadalcanal were unprotected, but Admiral Mikawa, unaware that Admiral Fletcher had withdrawn his aircraft carriers covering the invasion, feared an air attack at daybreak and ordered a retirement. Captain Sawa of Kinugasa, frustrated, launched a spread of torpedoes from Kinugasa's starboard tubes at the Allied transports 13 miles (21 km) distant, but all missed. The following day as CruDiv6 approached Kavieng, Kako was torpedoed and sunk by the US submarine S 44.

Battle of Cape Esperance

At the Battle of Cape Esperance on 11 October 1942, CruDiv 6's (Aoba, Furutaka and Kinugasa), and destroyers Fubuki and Hatsuyuki departed Shortland to provide cover for a troop reinforcement convoy by shelling Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. The fleet was spotted, coming down "the Slot" at 30 knots (56 km/h), by two Vought OS2U Kingfisher reconnaissance planes.

So alerted, the radar-equipped American cruisers USS San Francisco, Boise, Salt Lake City, and Helena and five destroyers steamed around the end of Guadalcanal to block the entrance to Savo Sound.

At 2235, the Helena's radar spotted the Japanese fleet, and the Americans successfully crossed the Japanese "T". Both fleets opened fire, but Admiral Goto, thinking that he was under friendly-fire, ordered a 180-degree turn that exposed each of his ships to the American broadsides.

Aoba was damaged heavily, and Admiral Goto was mortally wounded. Furutaka was hit by a torpedo that flooded her forward engine room and was subsequently sunk by Salt Lake City and Duncan.

Kinugasa straddled Boise and Salt Lake City with 8-inch salvos, knocking out Boise's No. 1 and 2 turrets. Kinugasa sustained four hits in the engagement. The following morning, Kinugasa was attacked but not damaged by five American planes, and then returned to Shortland.

Naval Battle of Guadalcanal

On 14 October 1942, Kinugasa was designated flagship of Crudiv 6. The following day, Kinugasa and Chōkai bombarded Henderson Field on Guadalcanal with a total of 752 8-inch shells. From 24–26 October and 1–5 November, Kinugasa and Chōkai provided cover for replacement convoys of troops and equipment to bolster Japanese defenses at Guadalcanal. On 14 November 1942, during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, Kinugasa was attacked by TBF Avenger torpedo-bombers and SBD Dauntless dive bombers from the USS Enterprise and USMC Avengers from Guadalcanal. At 0936 a 500-pound bomb hit Kinugasa's 13.2-mm machine gun mount in front of the bridge, starting a fire in the forward gasoline storage area. Captain Sawa and his Executive Officer were killed by the bomb, and Kinugasa gradually began to list to port. Near-misses caused additional fires and flooding and a second attack by 17 more Dauntless bombers knocked out Kinugasa's engines and rudder and opened more compartments to the sea. At 1122, Kinugasa capsized and sank southwest of Rendova Island at 08°45′S 157°00′E / 8.75°S 157°E / -8.75; 157, taking 511 crewmen with her. Kinugasa was removed from the Navy list on 15 December 1942.

References

Books

  • Brown, David (1990). Warship Losses of World War Two. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-914-X. 
  • D'Albas, Andrieu (1965). Death of a Navy: Japanese Naval Action in World War II. Devin-Adair Pub. ISBN 0-8159-5302-X. 
  • Dull, Paul S. (1978). A Battle History of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1941-1945. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-097-1. 
  • Howarth, Stephen (1983). The Fighting Ships of the Rising Sun: The drama of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1895-1945. Atheneum. ISBN 0-689-11402-8. 
  • Jentsura, Hansgeorg (1976). Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869-1945. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-893-X. 
  • Lacroix, Eric; Linton Wells (1997). Japanese Cruisers of the Pacific War. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-311-3. 
  • Whitley, M.J. (1995). Cruisers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-141-6. 

External links

Notes

  1. Lacroix, Japanese Cruisers, p. 794

See also


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