Japanese cruiser Kitakami
Kitakami in 1935
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| History | |
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 Empire of Japan
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| Name: | Kitakami |
| Namesake: | Kitakami River |
| Ordered: | 1917 Fiscal Year |
| Builder: | Sasebo Naval Arsenal, Japan |
| Laid down: | 1 September 1919 |
| Launched: | 3 July 1920 |
| Commissioned: | 15 April 1921 |
| Struck: | 30 November 1945 |
| Fate: | scrapped 10 August 1946 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Kuma-class cruiser |
| Displacement: | 5,100 long tons (5,182 t) standard |
| Length: | 152.4 m (500 ft 0 in) o/a |
| Beam: | 14.2 m (46 ft 7 in) |
| Draught: | 4.8 m (15 ft 9 in) |
| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: | 36 knots (41 mph; 67 km/h) |
| Range: | 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km) at 14 knots (26 km/h) |
| Complement: | 450 |
| Armament: |
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| Armor: | |
| Aircraft carried: | 1 x floatplane |
| Aviation facilities: | 1 aircraft catapult |
Kitakami (北上?) was a Kuma-class cruiser in the Imperial Japanese Navy, named after the Kitakami River in Iwate Prefecture, Japan.
After the construction of the Tenryū-class cruisers, the demerits of the small cruiser concept became apparent. At the end of 1917, plans for an additional six Tenryū-class vessels, plus three new-design 7,200 ton-class scout cruisers were shelved, in place of an intermediate 5,500 ton-class vessel which could be used as both a long-range, high speed reconnaissance ship, and also as a command vessel for destroyer or submarine flotillas. Kitakami was the third in a series of five vessels in this class which were built from 1918-1921.
The Kuma-class vessels were essentially enlarged versions of the Tenryū-class cruisers, with greater speed, range, and weaponry. With improvements in geared-turbine engine technology, the Kuma-class vessels were capable of the high speed of 36 knots (67 km/h), and a range of 9,000 nmi (17,000 km) at 10 kn (12 mph; 19 km/h).
The number of 14 cm/50 3rd Year Type naval guns was increased from four on the Tenryū class to seven on Kitakami: two forward, one on each side of the superstructure and three aft, which meant that only six guns could be brought to bear on a broadside. The torpedo launchers were also increased to four double launchers: however, the Kuma class remained highly deficient in anti-aircraft protection, with only two 8 cm/40 3rd Year Type naval guns and two machine guns.
Kitakami was laid down on 1 September 1919, launched on 3 July 1920 and completed 15 April 1921 at Sasebo Naval Arsenal, Nagasaki. Soon after commissioning, she was based at Mako, Pescadores Islands. She was commanded by Captain Jinichi Kusaka from November 1931 through December 1932 and Captain Tomoshige Samejima from December 1932 to March 1934. With the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War, she was assigned to cover the landings of Japanese forces in central China.
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Wikipedia