Lewin of Greenwich Naval History & Forum

Here is the CHIKUMA, caught by USN aircraft, in Rabaul, 1943. She escaped that time.

However, sister TONE became a bottom sitter thanks to USN carrier air in 1945. The hulk was raised and scrapped. ..........DFO

Lead Ship, Heavy Cruiser Tone pictured at Kure Naval Arsenal on July 29th 1945...On July 24th 1945, Task Force 38 launched a large air raid against Kure aimed at the final destruction of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Nine aircraft from the Light Carrier Monterey hit Tone with three bombs, causing her to settle to the bottom of the bay. The hulk was attacked again on July 28th by rockets and armour-piercing bombs dropped by planes from the Carriers Wasp, Bataan and Ticonderoga. Tone was removed from the Navy List on November 20th 1945. The hulk was raised and scrapped after the war from 1947–1948.

Watch your step! DFO

Lead Ship, Heavy Cruiser Tone is pictured refueling from Auxiliary Oiler Kokuyō Maru during Operation A-GO on June 17th 1944.

Launch Day pictured for Tone Class Heavy Cruiser Chikuma at Mitsubishi Shipyards, Nagasaki on March 19th 1938...She was on October 25th 1944 after the Battle of Samar.

High view of the new CHIKUMA........ Shows her main battery of 8-8" to good effect! DFO

Auxiliary Oiler Kokuyo Maru pictured conducting a RAS with Lead Ship, Heavy Cruiser Tone in the Central Pacific on June 17th 1944 in preparation for the Battle of the Philippine Sea.