Yahagi file photo [6547]

Yahagi

CountryJapan
Ship ClassAgano-class Light Cruiser
BuilderSasebo Naval Arsenal
Laid Down11 Nov 1941
Launched25 Oct 1942
Commissioned29 Dec 1943
Sunk7 Apr 1945
Displacement6,758 tons standard; 8,534 tons full
Length571 feet
Beam50 feet
Draft19 feet
Machinery6 Kampon boilers, Gihon geared steam turbines, 4 shafts
Bunkerageoil 1405t
Power Output100,000 shaft horsepower
Speed35 knots
Range6,300nm at 18 knots
Crew736
Armament3x150mm guns, 2x80mm guns 2x3x25mm AA guns, 4x2x610mm torpedo tubes, 48 mines
Armor60mm belt, 20mm deck, 30mm turrets
Aircarft2 seaplanes
Catapults1

Contributor:

ww2dbaseYahagi was the second of four Agano-class light cruisers. She was completed at Sasebo, Japan at the end of 1943, and was immediately deployed to Singapore for training and patrols under the command of Captain Matake Yoshimura. In May 1944, she joined carriers Taiho, Zuikaku, Shokaku, and an array of other ships for an offensive in the Mariana Islands. The resulting engagement, the Battle of the Philippine Sea of 13 Jun 1944, in which battle Yahagi and destroyer Urakaze together rescued 570 men from the torpedoed Shokaku. Between Jun and Jul 1944, she was drydocked at Kure, Japan for refitting; she received two additional triple-mount Type 96 25-mm anti-aircraft guns, a Type 13 air search radar, and a Type 22 surface search radar. On 8 Jul 1944, she departed Kure with a number of other battleships, cruisers, and destroyers for Singapore. On 24 Oct 1944, she participated in the Battle of the Sibuyan Sea, and on the following day the Battle off Samar; she was not damaged in the two battles in the Leyte Campaign and returned to Brunei. On 16 Nov 1944, Yahagi became the flagship of Rear Admiral Komura Keizo's new Destroyer Squadron 2. Between Dec 1944 and Mar 1945, she was in Japan for refitting; during which time, Captain Tameichi Hara took over command on 20 Dec 1944. On 6 Apr, she departed with battleship Yamato for Operation Ten-Go against the American forces off Okinawa. At 1220 on 7 Apr, the attacking force was attacked by 386 American aircraft in several waves, and a torpedo hit at 1246 in the engine room left her dead in the water. She was hit by at least six more torpedoes and 12 bombs before she capsized at 1405. 445 men were lost in her sinking; Captain Hara and Rear Admiral Komura survived.

ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia.

Last Major Revision: Oct 2008

Light Cruiser Yahagi Interactive Map

Photographs

Cruiser Yahagi off Sasebo, Japan, Dec 1943Cruiser Yahagi listing heavily to port, East China Sea, 7 Apr 1945 at 1345 hours; note four American aircraft in flight on the left side of the photographYahagi being straddled by near misses, East China Sea, 7 April 1945Yamato being attacked in the East China Sea, 7 Apr 1945. Note the Agano-class cruiser Yahagi in the upper left distance.

Maps

Track chart of Yamato group, Apr 1945, part of Commander Miyamoto

Yahagi Operational Timeline

29 Dec 1943 Yahagi was commissioned into service.
6 Feb 1944 Shokaku and Zuikaku western Seto Inland Sea for Singapore; they were escorted by Chikuma, Yahagi, Hatsuzuki, Wakazuki, Akigumo, Kazagumo, and Asagumo.
13 Jun 1944 Shokaku, Zuikaku, Taiho, Ryuho, Haguro, Myoko, Yahagi, Asagumo, Isokaze, Urakaze, Hatsuzuki, Wakazuki, Akizuki, and Shimotsuki departed Tawi-Tawi, Philippines toward Saipan, Mariana Islands in anticipation of an American attack. At 1830 hours, Japanese Combined Fleet leadership ordered the preparation of A-Go Operation.
14 Jun 1944 Shokaku, Zuikaku, Taiho, Ryuho, Haguro, Myoko, Yahagi, Asagumo, Isokaze, Urakaze, Hatsuzuki, Wakazuki, Akizuki, and Shimotsuki arrived at Guimaras island, Philippines in the afteroon.
15 Jun 1944 The Japanese Combined Fleet activated A-Go Operation at 0717 hours as the Americans commenced their invasion of Saipan, Mariana Islands. At 0800 hours, Shokaku, Zuikaku, Taiho, Ryuho, Haguro, Myoko, Yahagi, Asagumo, Isokaze, Urakaze, Hatsuzuki, Wakazuki, Akizuki, and Shimotsuki departed Guimaras Island, Philippines toward Saipan, passing through San Bernardino Strait at 1730 hours.
16 Jun 1944 Shokaku, Zuikaku, Taiho, Ryuho, Haguro, Myoko, Yahagi, Asagumo, Isokaze, Urakaze, Hatsuzuki, Wakazuki, Akizuki, and Shimotsuki commenced refueling operations in Philippine waters.
17 Jun 1944 Shokaku, Zuikaku, Taiho, Ryuho, Haguro, Myoko, Yahagi, Asagumo, Isokaze, Urakaze, Hatsuzuki, Wakazuki, Akizuki, and Shimotsuki departed Philippine waters ad sailed toward Saipan, Mariana Islands at 1530 hours. At 2015 hours, USS Cavalla made radar contact with the Japanese carrier fleet in the Philippine Sea; Commander Herman Kossler decided to sail away in order to surface later, at 2245 hours, to send the contact report to his superiors. Receiving this news, US Navy leadership ordered search planes to be sent to look for this carrier fleet, thus setting up for the subsequent Battle of the Philippine Sea.
20 Jun 1944 At 1130 hours, the Japanese Mobile Fleet, withdrawing west from the losses sustained on the previous day during the Battle of the Philippine Sea, paused to refuel from tankers while Vice Admiral Jisaburo Ozawa transferred his flag aboard Zuikaku. At 1500 hours, cruiser Atago reported seeing an American scout plane, and Ozawa ordered the refueling to be stopped and the fleet was to sail to the northwest at the speed of 24 knots. At 1725 hours, a large incoming American strike was detected. The Japanese mustered 17 fighters for defense, while the Haguro, Myoko, Yahagi, and seven destroyers formed a tight circle around Zuikaku. 95 American fighters, 54 torpedo bombers (most of which were armed with bombs rather than torpedoes), and 77 dive bombers from USS Hornet, USS Yorktown, and USS Belleau Wood arrived at 1730 hours, hitting Zuikaku once with a bomb, causing some damage.




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More on Yahagi
Personnel:
» Hara, Tameichi

Event(s) Participated:
» Mariana Islands Campaign
» Philippines Campaign, Phase 1, the Leyte Campaign
» Okinawa Campaign

Partner Sites Content:
» Yahagi Tabular Record of Movement

Light Cruiser Yahagi Photo Gallery
Cruiser Yahagi off Sasebo, Japan, Dec 1943
See all 4 photographs of Light Cruiser Yahagi


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