Chokai was a Takao-class heavy cruiser. On the night of 8–9 August 1942 Vice Admiral Gunichi Mikawa flew his flag in her at Savo Island. She led the column. Quincy hit her chart room and Astoria hit a forward turret. She was not sunk that night. The American cruisers lost there are not credited to her alone.
On 25 October 1944 she was with Kurita off Samar, in the cruiser division with Haguro. She was disabled in that fight and lost the same day. The blow is not pinned to one American ship.