View source for Agano-class cruiser

{{short description|Cruiser class of the Imperial Japanese Navy}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=Japanese cruiser Agano.jpg
|Ship caption=''Agano'' in October 1942, off of [[Sasebo, Nagasaki]]
}}
{{Infobox ship class overview
|Name=''Agano'' class
|Builders=*[[Sasebo Naval Arsenal]] (3)
*[[Yokosuka Naval Arsenal]] (1)
|Operators={{navy|Empire of Japan}}
|Class before={{sclass|Sendai|cruiser|4}}
|Class after={{sclass|Ōyodo|cruiser|4}}
|Subclasses=
|Cost=
|Built range=
|In service range=   
|In commission range=
|Total ships building= 
|Total ships planned=
|Total ships completed=4 
|Total ships cancelled=
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|Total ships laid up=
|Total ships lost=4
|Total ships retired=
|Total ships preserved=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption= 
|Ship type=[[Light cruiser]]
|Ship displacement={{convert|6652|t|LT|lk=on|abbr=on}} (standard); {{convert|7590|t|LT|lk=on|abbr=on}} (loaded)
|Ship length={{convert|174|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam={{convert|15.2|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught={{convert|5.6|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship power=
|Ship propulsion=*4 shaft Gihon geared turbines
*6 Kampon boilers
*{{convert|100,000|shp|abbr=on}}
|Ship speed={{convert|35|kn|lk=in}}
|Ship range={{convert|8000|nmi|km|-3}} at {{convert|18|kn|km/h|0}}
|Ship endurance=
|Ship complement=730<ref>* {{cite web |first= Nishida |last= Nishida |url= http://homepage2.nifty.com/nishidah/e/stc0336.htm |title= Agano-class light cruisers |year= 2002 |work= Imperial Japanese Navy |access-date= 20 September 2014 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20121208192843/http://homepage2.nifty.com/nishidah/e/stc0336.htm |archive-date= 8 December 2012 |url-status= dead |df= dmy-all }}</ref>
|Ship time to activate=
|Ship sensors=
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament=*'''''Agano'' and ''Noshiro'' as built:'''
*6 × [[15 cm/50 41st Year Type|152 mm Type 41 guns]] (3 × 2)
*4 × [[8 cm/60 98th Year Type|80 mm Type 98 DP guns]] (2 × 2)
*6 × [[Type 96 25 mm AT/AA Gun|25 mm AA guns]] (2 × 3)
*4 × [[Hotchkiss M1929 machine gun|{{convert|13.2|mm|in|abbr=on}}]] Type 93 AA machine guns (2 × 2)
*8 × 610 mm [[torpedo tube]]s (2 × 4) 
*16 Type 95 or Type 2 [[depth charge]]s
*3 Type 88 mines
|Ship armour=*Machinery [[Belt armor|belt]]: {{convert|60|mm|in|abbr=on|1}}
*Magazine belt: {{convert|55|mm|in|abbr=on|1}}
*Armoured [[Deck (ship)|deck]]: {{convert|20|mm|in|abbr=on|1}}
*Forward armoured bulkheads: {{convert|25|mm|in|abbr=on|1}} to {{convert|20|mm|in|abbr=on|1}}
*Rear armoured bulkheads: {{convert|20|mm|in|abbr=on|1}}
|Ship armor=
|Ship aircraft=2 × [[floatplane]]s 
|Ship aircraft facilities=1 aircraft [[Aircraft catapult#Interwar and World War II|catapult]]
|Ship notes=
}}
|}

The four {{nihongo|'''''Agano''-class cruisers'''|阿賀野型軽巡洋艦|Agano-gata keijun'yōkan}} were [[light cruiser]]s operated by the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]].<ref>{{cite book | last = Jentsura  | first = Hansgeorg  | year = 1976 | title = Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869-1945  | publisher = Naval Institute Press  | isbn = 0-87021-893-X }} page 111-112</ref> All were named after Japanese rivers. Larger than previous Japanese light cruisers, the ''Agano''-class vessels were fast, but with little protection, and were under-gunned for their size (albeit with a powerful offensive torpedo armament, able to launch up to eight Type 93 "Long Lance" torpedoes in a salvo). They participated in numerous actions throughout [[World War II]].

The ''Agano'' class was followed by the larger {{sclass|Ōyodo|cruiser}}, of which only a single vessel was completed.

==Background==
The Imperial Japanese Navy had developed a standardized design for light cruisers as flagships for [[destroyer]] and [[submarine]] squadrons, based on a 5,500 ton displacement, shortly after [[World War I]]. However, by the 1930s these vessels were obsolete, as contemporary destroyers were faster, carried more powerful armament, and had greater endurance. As soon as the restrictions of the [[London Naval Treaty]] were removed, the Navy General Staff developed a plan within the Fourth Fleet Supplemental Budget to build 13 new 6000 ton cruisers between 1939 and 1945 to replace the {{sclass|Tenryū|cruiser|5}}, {{sclass|Kuma|cruiser|5}}, and {{sclass|Nagara|cruiser|2}}s. These vessels were intended to be the flagships for six destroyer squadrons and seven submarine squadrons. The new design was finalised in October 1937; however, construction was delayed due to overloading of the Japanese shipyards.<ref name=Stille>Stille, ''Imperial Japanese Navy Light Cruisers 1941-45'', pages 34-39;</ref> Construction costs came to 16.4 million yen per vessel.

==Design and description==
The design for the ''Agano'' class was based on technologies developed for the light cruiser {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Yūbari||2}}, resulting in a graceful and uncluttered deck line and single [[Funnel (ship)|funnel]]. Unlike most Japanese designs, the ''Agano'' class was not overweight, so it exhibited good stability and seaworthiness.<ref name="Stille" /> The ships measured {{convert|174.1|m|ftin|sp=us}} [[Length overall|long overall]] with a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|15.2|m|ftin|sp=us}} and had a [[draft (ship)|draft]] of {{convert|5.63|m|ftin|sp=us}}. They [[Displacement (ship)|displaced]] {{convert|6652|t|LT|0|sp=us|lk=on}} at [[Displacement (ship)#Standard displacement|standard load]] and {{convert|8534|t|LT|0|sp=us}} at [[deep load]].<ref name=w6>Whitley, p. 186</ref> The ships had a crew of 51 officers and 649 enlisted men; assignment as a flagship added 6 officers and 20 more sailors.<ref>Lacroix & Wells, p. 591</ref>

The ''Agano'' class had four geared [[steam turbine]]s, each driving a single [[propeller shaft]], using steam provided by six [[Kampon]] Ro Gō [[water-tube boiler]]s. The turbines were designed to produce a total of {{convert|100000|shp|lk=in}} and give the ships a speed of {{convert|35|kn|lk=in}}. The ships carried enough [[fuel oil]] to give them a range of {{convert|6300|nmi|lk=in}} at a speed of {{convert|18|kn}}.<ref name=j6>Jentschura, Jung & Mickel, p. 111</ref>

===Armament and protection===
The main armament of the ''Agano'' class consisted of six [[15 cm/50 41st Year Type|{{convert|15|cm|0|adj=on|sp=us}} 41st Year Type guns]] in three twin-[[gun turret]]s, two in front of the [[superstructure]] and one [[wiktionary:aft|aft]]. The secondary armament included four [[8 cm/60 98th Year Type|{{convert|8|cm|0|adj=on|sp=us}} 98th Year Type]] [[anti-aircraft gun|anti-aircraft (AA) guns]] in two twin turrets [[amidships]].<ref name=Stille/> The suite of light anti-aircraft weapons included a pair of triple mounts for [[Type 96 25 mm AT/AA Gun|{{convert|2.5|cm|0|adj=on|sp=us}} Type 96]] AA guns and two twin-gun mounts for [[Hotchkiss M1929 machine gun|{{cvt|13.2|mm|1}} Type 93]] [[anti-aircraft machinegun]]s. The ships also had two quadruple torpedo launchers for [[Type 93 torpedo|{{convert|61|cm|adj=on|sp=us}} Type 93 (''Long Lance'') torpedoes]] on the centerline and had a reload system with eight spare torpedoes. The ''Agano''-class ships were also fitted with a pair of [[Aichi E13A]] [[floatplane]]s and a [[aircraft catapult|catapult]].<ref>Lacroix & Wells, pp. 571–72, 579–580</ref> The first two vessels in the class (''Agano'' and ''Noshiro'') had a larger {{convert|26|m|ftin|sp=us|adj=on}} catapult, while the later ''Yahagi'' and ''Sakawa'' had a shorter 19-meter catapult.<ref name="Stille" /> To [[anti-submarine warfare|detect submarines]], the ''Agano''s were equipped with a Type 93 Model 2 [[hydrophone]] installation and a Type 93 Model 3 [[sonar]]. They were equipped with two [[depth charge]] chutes for 18 depth charges.<ref>Lacroix & Wells, pp. 579–581</ref>

It was originally supposed to equip them with nine 155mm guns in three triple turrets like those used in their successor, triple torpedo tubes and no 8&nbsp;cm guns, but the triple 155mm turrets were too large for the ships. Therefore the main battery was changed to four twin 152mm turrets. Then it was decided to strengthen the torpedo armament, so number three turret was removed, and the weight saved went into quad torpedo tubes, the 8&nbsp;cm guns and extra light antiaircraft guns.

The propulsion machinery was protected by a waterline [[Belt armor|armor belt]] {{convert|60|mm|sp=us}} thick with {{convert|20|mm|1|sp=us}} transverse [[bulkhead (partition)|bulkhead]]s at fore and aft of the machinery and a middle [[deck (ship)|deck]] of the same thickness. The ships' [[magazine (artillery)|magazine]]s were enclosed in armored boxes with {{convert|55|mm|sp=us|adj=on}} sides, 20-millimeter tops and 20- or 25-millimeter ends. The armor protecting the steering gear ranged from {{convert|16|-|30|mm|sp=us|1}} in thickness and the armor plates on the gun turrets were {{convert|19|mm|1|sp=us}} thick.<ref>Lacroix & Wells, pp. 563–564</ref>

All of the vessels in the class were updated with additional anti-aircraft weaponry and radar at various points in their service lives.

==Ships in class==
Four ships were budgeted under the 1939 4th Naval Replenishment Programme, three from the [[Sasebo Naval Arsenal]] and one from [[Yokosuka Naval Arsenal]].
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+ List of ''Agano''-class cruisers
|-
! scope="col" | Name
! scope="col" | Builder
! scope="col" data-sort-type=date | Laid down
! scope="col" data-sort-type=date | Launched
! scope="col" data-sort-type=date | Commissioned
! scope="col" data-sort-type=date | Fate
|-
! scope="row" | {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Agano|4=2}}
|[[Sasebo Naval Arsenal]]
|18&nbsp;June 1940
|22&nbsp;October 1941
|31&nbsp;October 1942
| data-sort-value="16 February 1944" | Torpedoed, 16&nbsp;February 1944, in the course of [[Operation Hailstone]]
|-
! scope="row" | {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Noshiro|4=2}}
|[[Yokosuka Naval Arsenal]]
|4&nbsp;September 1941
|19&nbsp;July 1942
|30&nbsp;June 1943
| data-sort-value="26 October 1944" | Sunk in air attack, 26&nbsp;October 1944, following the [[Battle off Samar]]
|-
! scope="row" | {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Yahagi|1942|4=2}}
|rowspan=2|Sasebo Naval Arsenal
|11&nbsp;November 1941
|25&nbsp;October 1942
|29&nbsp;December 1943
| data-sort-value="7 April 1945" | Sunk in [[Operation Ten-Go|air attack]], 7&nbsp;April 1945
|-
! scope="row" | {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Sakawa|4=2}}
|21&nbsp;November 1942
|9&nbsp;April 1944
|30&nbsp;November 1944
| data-sort-value="2 July 1946" | Sunk as [[Operation Crossroads|target ship]], 2&nbsp;July 1946
|}

=== ''Agano'' ===
{{main|Japanese cruiser Agano}}
Completed on 31 October 1942, ''Agano'' participated in the battles for [[Naval Battle of Guadalcanal|Guadalcanal]] and the [[Solomon Islands]] during 1943. ''Agano'' was badly damaged in [[Rabaul]] harbor by aircraft from the [[aircraft carrier]]s {{USS|Saratoga|CV-3|6}} and {{USS|Princeton|CVL-23|6}}, and in a subsequent attack by aircraft from TF38 on 11 November she received a torpedo hit. Ordered to home waters for repair, she was torpedoed and sunk north of [[Chuuk Lagoon|Truk]] by the US submarine {{USS|Skate|SS-305}}, on 16 February 1944.<ref>[http://combinedfleet.com/agano_t.htm Combined Fleet.com IJN Agano Tabular Record of Movement]</ref>

=== ''Noshiro'' ===
{{main|Japanese cruiser Noshiro}}
Commissioned on 30 June 1943, ''Noshiro'' participated in operations in the Solomon Islands and was damaged during the US carrier aircraft raids on [[Rabaul]] on 5 November 1943. She served in the [[Mariana Islands|Marianas]] in the summer of 1944, and was part of Admiral Kurita's force during the [[Battle of the Philippine Sea]]. At the [[Battle of Leyte Gulf]] in October 1944. She was west of [[Panay]] while withdrawing from the [[Battle off Samar]] on the morning of 26 October when she was sunk by aircraft from {{USS|Wasp|CV-18|6}} and {{USS|Cowpens|CVL-25|6}}.<ref>[http://combinedfleet.com/noshiro_t.htm Combined Fleet.com IJN Noshiro Tabular Record of Movement]</ref>

=== ''Yahagi'' ===
{{main|Japanese cruiser Yahagi (1942)}}
Commissioned on 29 December 1943 ''Yahagi'' saw action in the Marianas in May/June 1944, during the Battle of the Philippine Sea, and during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. After the [[Battle of Okinawa|US invasion of Okinawa]] on 1 April 1945, she was ordered to accompany the battleship {{ship|Japanese battleship|Yamato||2}} on its [[Operation Ten-Go|suicide mission against the American fleet at Okinawa]]. ''Yahagi'' was hit by some seven torpedoes as well as a dozen bombs, and sank on the afternoon of 7 April 1945.<ref>[http://combinedfleet.com/yahagi_t.htm Combined Fleet.com IJN Yahagi Tabular Record of Movement]</ref>

=== ''Sakawa'' ===
{{main|Japanese cruiser Sakawa}}
''Sakawa'' was not completed until the end of 1944, by which time there was little fuel available.  She survived the war unscratched and was used as a transport to return demilitarized troops from New Guinea and other areas after the war. She was expended in the [[Bikini atomic tests|atom bomb tests]] at [[Bikini Atoll]] in 1946.<ref>[http://combinedfleet.com/sakawa_t.htm Combined Fleet.com IJN Sakawa Tabular Record of Movement]</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
*{{cite book | last = Dull | first = Paul S. | year = 1978 | title = A Battle History of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1941-1945 | publisher = Naval Institute Press | location = Annapolis, Maryland | isbn = 0-87021-097-1 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/battlehistoryofi0000dull }}
* {{cite book| last1 = Jentschura| first1 = Hansgeorg| first2 = Dieter |last2=Jung|first3=Peter |last3=Mickel| year = 1977| title = Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869–1945| publisher = United States Naval Institute| location = Annapolis, Maryland| isbn = 0-87021-893-X|name-list-style=amp}}
*{{cite book|last1=Lacroix|first1=Eric|last2=Wells II|first2=Linton |title=Japanese Cruisers of the Pacific War|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|date=1997|isbn=0-87021-311-3 |name-list-style=amp |author-link2=Linton Wells II}}
*{{cite book | last = Roscoe | first = Theodore | year = 1949 | title = United States Submarine Operations in World War II | publisher = Naval Institute Press | location =Annapolis, Maryland | isbn = 0-87021-731-3 }}
*{{cite book | last = Stille | first = Mark | year = 2012 |  title = Imperial Japanese Navy Light Cruisers 1941-45| publisher = Osprey | isbn = 978-1-84908-562-5 }}
*{{cite book | last = Whitley | first = M.J. | year = 1995 | title = Cruisers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia | publisher = Naval Institute Press | location =Annapolis, Maryland | isbn = 1-55750-141-6 }}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://admiral31.world.coocan.jp/e/stc0336.htm The Agano-class light cruisers on Materials of the IJN]

{{Agano class cruiser}}
{{WWII Japanese ships}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Agano-class cruiser}}
[[Category:Cruiser classes]]
[[Category:Agano-class cruisers| ]]