Japanese cruiser Jintsū

Japanese cruiser Jintsū was the second vessel completed in the three-ship Sendai-class cruiser of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Named for the Jinzu River in the Toyama Prefecture, she served extensively during the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II. The cruiser was renowned for her role as a flagship for destroyer squadrons and was ultimately sunk during the intense Battle of Kolombangara in the Solomon Islands campaign.

Design and description

The Sendai-class cruiser was the final class of light cruisers built under the restrictions of the Eight-eight fleet program and the Washington Naval Treaty. Jintsū's design was an improved version of the preceding Nagara-class cruiser, with a heavier armament and enhanced torpedo capabilities. Her main battery consisted of seven 14 cm/50 3rd Year Type guns, mounted in single gun turrets, and she was equipped with eight Type 93 "Long Lance" torpedo tubes in two quadruple mounts. For anti-aircraft warfare, she carried two 40 mm guns and later received additional 25 mm Type 96 autocannons. Propelled by four Gihon geared steam turbines driving four propellers, she could reach a top speed of over 35 knots. Her armor protection was light, with a main belt armor of 64 mm and a deck of 29 mm, typical for Japanese cruisers of the period designed for speed and offensive power.

Service history

Commissioned at the Sasebo Naval Arsenal, Jintsū was initially assigned to patrol duties off the coast of China. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, she supported Imperial Japanese Army landings and conducted naval bombardments along the Yangtze River. At the start of the Pacific War, she served as the flagship of Destroyer Squadron 2, under Rear Admiral Raizō Tanaka, participating in the invasion of the Philippines and the Dutch East Indies campaign, including the Battle of the Java Sea. In 1942, she was involved in several major operations, such as the Battle of Midway as part of the Invasion Force, and the protracted Guadalcanal campaign, where she engaged in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons and the Battle of Santa Cruz. She was damaged during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal in November 1942 and returned to Japan for repairs at the Kure Naval Arsenal.

Fate

Returning to the Southwest Pacific in 1943, Jintsū resumed her role as a destroyer squadron flagship. On the night of 12–13 July 1943, she led a Tokyo Express reinforcement run to Kolombangara. Intercepted by a Allied task force of United States Navy and Royal New Zealand Navy cruisers and destroyers in the Battle of Kolombangara, Jintsū was illuminated by searchlights and engaged at close range. She was hit by numerous shells from the USS ''Honolulu'' and HMNZS Leander and was struck by at least one Mark 15 torpedo from American destroyers. Her forward magazine detonated, and she sank quickly northwest of Kolombangara with heavy loss of life, including her commanding officer, Captain Torajirō Sato. The wreck was located in 2018 by the research vessel RV Petrel.

Commanding officers

* Chief Equipping Officer – Captain Kenzaburō Hara: 1 December 1924 – 31 July 1925 * Captain Kenzaburō Hara: 31 July 1925 – 1 December 1925 * Captain Shigetarō Shimamura: 1 December 1925 – 1 November 1926 * Captain Kōichi Shiozawa: 1 November 1926 – 1 December 1927 * Captain Shigeru Matsuyama: 1 December 1927 – 10 December 1928 * Captain Kazuyoshi Yamaji: 10 December 1928 – 30 November 1929 * Captain Kikumatsu Itō: 30 November 1929 – 1 December 1930 * Captain Kazutaka Shiraishi: 1 December 1930 – 1 December 1931 * Captain Kuninori Marumo: 1 December 1931 – 15 November 1932 * Captain Takeo Takagi: 15 November 1932 – 15 November 1933 * Captain Kakuji Kakuta: 15 November 1933 – 15 November 1934 * Captain Masao Kanazawa: 15 November 1934 – 15 November 1935 * Captain Tamon Yamaguchi: 15 November 1935 – 1 December 1936 * Captain Kenzō Tobita: 1 December 1936 – 1 December 1937 * Captain Kiyohide Shima: 1 December 1937 – 15 December 1938 * Captain Shunji Izaki: 15 December 1938 – 15 November 1939 * Captain Masao Sawa: 15 November 1939 – 15 October 1940 * Captain Keizō Tanimoto: 15 October 1940 – 25 April 1942 * Captain Masao Tachibana: 25 April 1942 – 10 July 1943 * Captain Torajirō Sato: 10 July 1943 – 13 July 1943 (Killed in action)

Category:Sendai-class cruisers Category:World War II cruisers of Japan Category:Ships built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries Category:1925 ships