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Japanese cruiser Katori

February 12, 2023

For other ships with the same name, see Japanese ship Katori.

Katori (香取) was the lead ship of the Katori class of three light cruisers which served with the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. The ship was named after the noted Shinto Katori Shrine in Chiba prefecture, Japan.

Katori
History
Empire of Japan
NameKatori
NamesakeKatori Shrine
Ordered1938 Fiscal Year
BuilderMitsubishi
Laid down24 August 1938
Launched17 June 1939
Commissioned20 April 1940[1]
Stricken31 March 1944
Fate
General characteristics
Class and type Katori-class cruiser
Displacement
  • 5,890 tons (standard)
  • 6,180 tons (full load)
Length129.77 m (425 ft 9 in)
Beam15.95 m (52 ft 4 in)
Draught5.75 m (18 ft 10 in)
Propulsion
  • 2-shaft geared turbines plus diesel motors;
  • 3 Kampon boilers;
  • 8,000 shp (6,000 kW)
Speed18 knots (33 km/h)
Range9,000 nautical miles (17,000 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h)
Complement315
Armament
Aircraft carried1 x floatplane, 1 catapult

Background

Katori-class cruisers were originally ordered to serve as training ships in the 1937 and 1939 Supplementary Naval budget. With the Pacific War, they were used as administrative flagships for various fleets, such as submarine command and control, and to command escort squadrons. The ships were upgraded as the war progressed with additional anti-aircraft guns and depth charges.

Service career

Early career

Katori was completed at the Mitsubishi Yokohama shipyards on 20 April 1940 and was based at nearby Yokosuka.

On 28 July 1940, Katori and her sister ship, Kashima, participated in the last pre-war midshipman cruise, visiting Etajima, Mutsu, Dairen, Port Arthur, and Shanghai.

Early stages of the Pacific War

On 11 November 1941 Vice Admiral Mitsumi Shimizu, CINC, Sixth Fleet (Submarines) convened a briefing of his commanders aboard the Sixth Fleet's flagship, Katori on the planned attack on Pearl Harbor. Katori departed for Truk on 24 November 1941. At the time of the Pearl Harbor attack, Katori was at Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands.

On 10 December 1941, the submarine I-6 reported sighting the aircraft carrier USS Lexington and two cruisers heading northeast, and Vice Admiral Shimizu ordered his submarines to pursue and sink the carrier, but it escaped.

Katori returned to Truk by the end of 1941, and on 3 January 1942 Vice Admiral Shimizu held a briefing to discuss the details of the invasion plans for "Operation R" (the invasions of Rabaul and Kavieng), which took place from 23 to 24 January 1942.

On 1 February 1942, Katori came under attack at Kwajalein by Douglas SBD Dauntlesses of VB-6 and VS-6 and Douglas TBD Devastators from the carrier USS Enterprise. Vice Admiral Shimizu was wounded in the raid, and Katori sustained enough damage to warrant a return to Yokosuka for repairs. The ship returned to Kwajalein in May, where on 24 May 1942 the new admiral, of the Sixth Fleet (Submarines) Vice Admiral Marquis Teruhisa Komatsu, ordered Captain Sasaki Hankyu detachment of midget submarines to stage the attack on Sydney Harbour.

Katori returned briefly to Yokosuka in August 1942 for upgrading with two twin Type 96 25 mm AA guns, which were fitted in the forward part of the bridge. It then returned to Truk, where it continued to be based (with occasional returns to Yokosuka).

On 21 June 1943 Vice Admiral Takeo Takagi assumed command of the Sixth Fleet (Submarines), but after the fall of Kwajalein Katori was reassigned on 15 February 1944 to the General Escort Command.

Attack on Truk

 
Katori burning off Truk, 17 February 1944

In the American attack on Truk of 17–18 February 1944, the American Task Force 58 with nine aircraft carriers, supported by six battleships, ten cruisers and 28 destroyers, launched a massive attack on Truk. Katori had departed Truk shortly before the attack, escorting the armed merchant cruiser Akagi Maru, destroyers Maikaze and Nowaki, and minesweeping trawler Shonan Maru No. 15 towards Yokosuka, but came under attack by Grumman F6F Hellcat fighters and Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo-bombers from the carriers Yorktown, Intrepid, Essex, Bunker Hill and Cowpens. Akagi Maru was sunk, and Katori was hit by a torpedo which did minor damage. However, several hours later, Task Group 50.9's battleships New Jersey and Iowa, along with cruisers Minneapolis and New Orleans and destroyers Bradford and Burns, spotted the Katori group and opened fire. The screening destroyers fired six salvos of torpedoes at Katori (which was already listing slightly to port and on fire amidships), but all torpedoes missed. Katori responded with a salvo of torpedoes which were equally ineffective.

At an average range of 14,500 yards (13,300 m), Iowa closed with Katori and fired 46 16-inch (406 mm) high capacity (non-armor-piercing) rounds and 124 5-inch (127 mm), straddling the cruiser with eight salvos. CAG 17/A16-3 reported Iowa hit Katori with her second salvo. Just after Iowa's fourth salvo, Katori quickly listed to port exposing seven large shell holes about 5 feet (1.5 m) in diameter in her starboard side, one under the bridge about five feet below the waterline, another amidships about at the waterline, plus about nine smaller holes.[citation needed] The damage on the port side was much worse. After being under attack by Iowa for about five minutes, Katori sank stern first, with a port side list at 07°45′N 151°20′E / 7.750°N 151.333°E / 7.750; 151.333 about 40 miles (64 km) northwest of Truk. A large group of survivors were seen in the water after she sank, but the Americans did not recover any of them.[citation needed]

Katori was officially stricken from the Navy list on 31 March 1944.

References

Notes

  1. ^ Lacroix, Japanese Cruisers, p. 794.

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.
  • Evans, David (1979). Kaigun : Strategy, Tactics, and Technology in the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1887-1941. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-192-7.
  • 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 & Wells II, Linton (1997). Japanese Cruisers of the Pacific War. Annapolis, Maryland: 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.
  • Worth, Richard (2001). Fleets of World War II. Da Capo Press. ISBN 0-306-81116-2.

External links

  • CombinedFleet.com: Katori class

February 12, 2023
japanese, cruiser, katori, other, ships, with, same, name, japanese, ship, katori, katori, 香取, lead, ship, katori, class, three, light, cruisers, which, served, with, imperial, japanese, navy, during, world, ship, named, after, noted, shinto, katori, shrine, c. For other ships with the same name see Japanese ship Katori Katori 香取 was the lead ship of the Katori class of three light cruisers which served with the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II The ship was named after the noted Shinto Katori Shrine in Chiba prefecture Japan KatoriHistoryEmpire of JapanNameKatoriNamesakeKatori ShrineOrdered1938 Fiscal YearBuilderMitsubishiLaid down24 August 1938Launched17 June 1939Commissioned20 April 1940 1 Stricken31 March 1944Fatesunk 19 February 1944 by USS Iowa BB 61 off Truk 07 45 N 151 20 E 7 750 N 151 333 E 7 750 151 333General characteristicsClass and typeKatori class cruiserDisplacement5 890 tons standard 6 180 tons full load Length129 77 m 425 ft 9 in Beam15 95 m 52 ft 4 in Draught5 75 m 18 ft 10 in Propulsion2 shaft geared turbines plus diesel motors 3 Kampon boilers 8 000 shp 6 000 kW Speed18 knots 33 km h Range9 000 nautical miles 17 000 km at 10 knots 19 km h Complement315Armament4 140 mm 5 5 in 50 caliber guns 2x2 2 127 mm 5 in 40 caliber AA guns 1x2 4 25 mm Type 96 AA guns later increased to 30 8 13 2 mm 0 52 in AA guns 4 533 mm torpedo tubes 2x2 Aircraft carried1 x floatplane 1 catapult Contents 1 Background 2 Service career 2 1 Early career 2 2 Early stages of the Pacific War 2 3 Attack on Truk 3 References 3 1 Notes 3 2 Books 4 External linksBackground EditKatori class cruisers were originally ordered to serve as training ships in the 1937 and 1939 Supplementary Naval budget With the Pacific War they were used as administrative flagships for various fleets such as submarine command and control and to command escort squadrons The ships were upgraded as the war progressed with additional anti aircraft guns and depth charges Service career EditEarly career Edit Katori was completed at the Mitsubishi Yokohama shipyards on 20 April 1940 and was based at nearby Yokosuka On 28 July 1940 Katori and her sister ship Kashima participated in the last pre war midshipman cruise visiting Etajima Mutsu Dairen Port Arthur and Shanghai Early stages of the Pacific War Edit On 11 November 1941 Vice Admiral Mitsumi Shimizu CINC Sixth Fleet Submarines convened a briefing of his commanders aboard the Sixth Fleet s flagship Katori on the planned attack on Pearl Harbor Katori departed for Truk on 24 November 1941 At the time of the Pearl Harbor attack Katori was at Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands On 10 December 1941 the submarine I 6 reported sighting the aircraft carrier USS Lexington and two cruisers heading northeast and Vice Admiral Shimizu ordered his submarines to pursue and sink the carrier but it escaped Katori returned to Truk by the end of 1941 and on 3 January 1942 Vice Admiral Shimizu held a briefing to discuss the details of the invasion plans for Operation R the invasions of Rabaul and Kavieng which took place from 23 to 24 January 1942 On 1 February 1942 Katori came under attack at Kwajalein by Douglas SBD Dauntlesses of VB 6 and VS 6 and Douglas TBD Devastators from the carrier USS Enterprise Vice Admiral Shimizu was wounded in the raid and Katori sustained enough damage to warrant a return to Yokosuka for repairs The ship returned to Kwajalein in May where on 24 May 1942 the new admiral of the Sixth Fleet Submarines Vice Admiral Marquis Teruhisa Komatsu ordered Captain Sasaki Hankyu detachment of midget submarines to stage the attack on Sydney Harbour Katori returned briefly to Yokosuka in August 1942 for upgrading with two twin Type 96 25 mm AA guns which were fitted in the forward part of the bridge It then returned to Truk where it continued to be based with occasional returns to Yokosuka On 21 June 1943 Vice Admiral Takeo Takagi assumed command of the Sixth Fleet Submarines but after the fall of Kwajalein Katori was reassigned on 15 February 1944 to the General Escort Command Attack on Truk Edit Katori burning off Truk 17 February 1944 In the American attack on Truk of 17 18 February 1944 the American Task Force 58 with nine aircraft carriers supported by six battleships ten cruisers and 28 destroyers launched a massive attack on Truk Katori had departed Truk shortly before the attack escorting the armed merchant cruiser Akagi Maru destroyers Maikaze and Nowaki and minesweeping trawler Shonan Maru No 15 towards Yokosuka but came under attack by Grumman F6F Hellcat fighters and Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bombers from the carriers Yorktown Intrepid Essex Bunker Hill and Cowpens Akagi Maru was sunk and Katori was hit by a torpedo which did minor damage However several hours later Task Group 50 9 s battleships New Jersey and Iowa along with cruisers Minneapolis and New Orleans and destroyers Bradford and Burns spotted the Katori group and opened fire The screening destroyers fired six salvos of torpedoes at Katori which was already listing slightly to port and on fire amidships but all torpedoes missed Katori responded with a salvo of torpedoes which were equally ineffective At an average range of 14 500 yards 13 300 m Iowa closed with Katori and fired 46 16 inch 406 mm high capacity non armor piercing rounds and 124 5 inch 127 mm straddling the cruiser with eight salvos CAG 17 A16 3 reported Iowa hit Katori with her second salvo Just after Iowa s fourth salvo Katori quickly listed to port exposing seven large shell holes about 5 feet 1 5 m in diameter in her starboard side one under the bridge about five feet below the waterline another amidships about at the waterline plus about nine smaller holes citation needed The damage on the port side was much worse After being under attack by Iowa for about five minutes Katori sank stern first with a port side list at 07 45 N 151 20 E 7 750 N 151 333 E 7 750 151 333 about 40 miles 64 km northwest of Truk A large group of survivors were seen in the water after she sank but the Americans did not recover any of them citation needed Katori was officially stricken from the Navy list on 31 March 1944 References EditNotes Edit Lacroix Japanese Cruisers p 794 Books Edit 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 Evans David 1979 Kaigun Strategy Tactics and Technology in the Imperial Japanese Navy 1887 1941 Naval Institute Press ISBN 0 87021 192 7 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 amp Wells II Linton 1997 Japanese Cruisers of the Pacific War Annapolis Maryland 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 Worth Richard 2001 Fleets of World War II Da Capo Press ISBN 0 306 81116 2 External links EditCombinedFleet com Katori class Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Japanese cruiser Katori amp oldid 1135852712, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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