Pacific ships
IJN Sakawa

IJN · CL

Sakawa

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Afloat

Agano-class light cruiser, the last cruiser Japan completed. Sasebo laid her down on 21 November 1942, launched her on 9 April 1944 and completed her on 30 November 1944. She led Destroyer Squadron 11 in training, was to have sailed with Yamato in April 1945 but had no fuel, and survived the war. She carried repatriated soldiers home and was sunk as a target in the first Bikini atomic test in July 1946.

ClassAgano class
TypeLight cruiser (CL)
BuilderSasebo Navy Yard
Launched1944-04-09
Commissioned1944-11-30
FateAfloat. Survived the war at Maizuru. Used as a repatriation transport, then taken to Bikini as a target. Badly damaged by the air-burst atomic test Able on 1 July 1946, she capsized and sank in the lagoon at 1042 on 2 July 1946.
Armament (class)Three twin 6-inch mounts and one funnel.
Command
  • Ohara, Toshimichi Chief equipping officer from 25 September 1944; captain from November 1944; Remained in command through the surrender; the Japanese list carries him to 11 February 1946

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.

Imperial Japanese Navy photograph, via the Mikasa Memorial Museum and Wikimedia Commons. Public domain (photographed in Japan before 1957).

The pictures on this page are the originals.

Command

TOOhara, ToshimichiChief equipping officer from 25 September 1944; captain from November 1944Remained in command through the surrender; the Japanese list carries him to 11 February 1946

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