Pacific ships

Photos and the story

Ashigara

Back to Ashigara

ClassMyoko class
TypeHeavy cruiser (CA)
FateSunk. In Shima's force at Surigao Strait, and not sunk there. HMS Trenchant sank her in the Bangka Strait on 8 June 1945.
Armament (class)Five twin 8-inch turrets and two funnels.
Command
  • Ichimiya, Yoshiyuki Captain from 5 July 1941; Relieved on 25 September 1942
  • Ban, Masami Captain from 25 September 1942; Relieved on 30 January 1944
  • Miura, Hayao Captain from 30 January 1944; In command when she was lost, 8 June 1945

Laid down, displacement, length, beam, draft, speed, and complement are not stored for each hull, so this table leaves them out.

The armament line is the class drawing, not a measurement of this hull.

Ashigara
Naval History and Heritage Command photograph NH 77686. Ashigara off Tsingtao, China, circa 1938. Public domain.

Ashigara was a Myoko-class heavy cruiser of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Yoshiyuki Ichimiya was her captain from 5 July 1941 until he was relieved on 25 September 1942. Masami Ban took command that same day and remained captain until 30 January 1944.

Hayao Miura became captain on 30 January 1944. He stayed in command through the rest of her service and was still her captain on the day she was lost.

On 25 October 1944 Ashigara was in Shima's force at the Battle of Surigao Strait. She came up the strait with that force and got out, and she was still afloat when the battle ended.

Her loss came in the Bangka Strait. On 8 June 1945 HMS Trenchant sank her there, with Hayao Miura in command.

The pictures on this page are the originals.