Light Cruisers: Sendai Class

[Brian James]

Lead Ship,Light Cruiser Sendai during practice RAS procedures, Seto Inland Sea, February 26th 1939.

[Brian James]

Sendai Class Light Cruiser Naka pictured fitting out at Shioiri Dock, Yokosuka Naval Arsenal on November 20th 1925...From February 17th-18th 1944, Naka assisted Light Cruiser Agano, which had been torpedoed the day before by Balao Class Submarine USS Skate. Immediately after Naka departed, Truk was attacked by US Navy Task Force 58 in Operation Hailstone. The Americans sank 31 transports and 10 naval vessels (two Cruisers, four Destroyers and four Auxiliary Vessels), destroyed nearly 200 aircraft and damaged severely about 100 more, eliminating Truk as a major base for the IJN. Naka was attacked 35 nautical miles west of Truk by three waves of Curtiss SB2C Helldivers and Grumman TBF Avengers from the Carrier USS Bunker Hill and TBFs of VT-25 of the Carrier Cowpens. The first two strikes failed to score a hit, but Naka was hit by a torpedo and a bomb in the third strike and broke in two, sinking. Some 240 crewmen perished, but patrol boats rescued 210 men.

[Brian James]

Lead Ship, Light Cruiser Sendai pictured on manoeuvres with Lead Ship, Destroyer Hatsuharu in the Inland Sea, off Suō-nada on February 26th 1939.

[Brian James]

Lead Ship, Light Cruiser Sendai pictured on sea trials off Koshikijima on March 8th 1924.