IJN Chikuma

Heavy Cruiser Warship

Imperial Japan | 1939

"Commissioned in May of 1939, IJN Chikuma lasted in IJN service during World War 2 until scuttled in October of 1944."

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 12/13/2023 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The Tone-class cruiser warship group of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) of World War 2 (1939-1945) numbered just two ships - IJN Tone and IJN Chikuma. The class represented a heavy cruiser design that sought to combine the powerful armament of the earlier Mogami-class cruisers within a lighter 8,500 ton displacement range. This was done in an effort to produce a more powerful warship within the naval treaty limitations of the period.

The end-result was, instead, a class displacing 11,215 tons under standard load but powerfully-armed through a main battery of 8 x 203mm guns in four twin-gunned turrets backed by 8 x 127mm guns in a similar turreted arrangement. An additional 6 guns were of 25mm caliber (Type 96 series) for air defense and 12 x 610mm torpedo tubes were also carried. Armor protection reached 3.9" at the belt and up to 2.6" along the deck. Six floatplanes were carried for Over-the-Horizon (OtH) work, launched by a pair of catapults and made recoverable by an onboard crane. The typical crew complement numbered 874.

Installed power was from 8 x boiler units feeding 4 x Gihon geared turbines developing 152,000 horsepower and driving 4 x shafts. Speeds reached 35 knots in ideal conditions and the vessel could range out to 8,000 nautical miles.

Chikuma was ordered in 1932 and saw her keel laid down on October 1st, 1935. Launched on March 19th, 1938, the vessel was commissioned into service on May 20th, 1939.

Both IJN Tone and Chikuma were participants during the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941 and the latter then took part in the invasion of Wake Island (December 8th - 23rd, 1941). From there she provided cover and support for various IJN operations throughout the Pacific Theater. She followed this up by lending her impressive firepower in the pivotal Battle of Midway (June 4th - 7th, 1942 which ended as a decisive American victory - and the loss of four important Japanese carriers.

Following this defeat, the warship took part in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons (August 25th - 25th 1942), the Battle of Santa Cruz (October 26th, 1942), the Battle of the Philippine Sea (June 19th - June 20th, 1944) and, ultimately, the Battle of Leyte Gulf (October 23rd - October 26th, 1944) where she would meet her end.

She was struck by an American aerial torpedo (TBM Avenger warplanes from USS Manila Bay) along her stern port side on October 25th, 1944 which disabled propulsion and steering while reducing speed. Two more torpedoes then followed and caused massive flooding. Additional airpower arrived to land two more portside torpedoes into Chikuma rendering her all but useless. She was then scuttled and what survivors there were to be collected were taken up by IJN Nowaki. On October 26th, American warships arrived to sink her in full and her name was officially struck from the Naval Register on April 20th, 1945.

Her sister, IJN Tone, was herself doomed on July 24th, 1945 when sunk by an American air attack near Kure.

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Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one sea-going vessel design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for IJN Chikuma.

8 x Boilers feeding 4 x Gihon oil-geared turbines developing 152,000 horsepower and driving 4 x Shafts.
Propulsion

35.0 kts
40.3 mph
Surface Speed

7,999 nm
9,205 miles | 14,814 km
Range

Structure
The bow-to-stern, port-to-starboard physical qualities of IJN Chikuma.

874
Personnel
Complement

620.4 ft
189.10 meters
O/A Length

63.7 ft
19.42 meters
Beam

20.3 ft
6.19 meters
Draught

11,215
tons
Displacement

Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of IJN Chikuma.

8 x 200mm /50 caliber 3rd Year Type main guns in four twin-gunned primary turrets.
8 x 127mm (5") secondary guns.
6 x 25mm (1") Anti-Aircraft (AA) guns.
12 x 610mm (24") torpedo tubes.

Air Arm
Available supported fixed-wing / rotary-wing aircraft featured in the design of IJN Chikuma.

6 x Recoverable navy floatplane aircraft.

Ships-in-Class (2)
Notable series variants as part of the IJN Chikuma family line as relating to the Tone-class group.

IJN Tone; IJN Chikuma

Operators
Global operator(s) of the IJN Chikuma. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national naval warfare listing.

[ Imperial Japan ]

1 / 1

Image from the Public Domain.

Mission Roles
Some designs are single-minded in their approach while others offer a more versatile solution to seaborne requirements.

BLUE WATER SERVICE

OFFSHORE BOMBARDMENT

LAND-ATTACK

MARITIME PATROL

AIRSPACE DENIAL

FLEET SUPPORT

SHIP-TO-SHORE

Recognition
Some designs stand the test of time while others are doomed to never advance beyond the drawing board; let history be their judge.

Military lapel ribbon for the Attack on Pearl Harbor

Military lapel ribbon for the World War 2

Going Further...
IJN Chikuma Heavy Cruiser Warship appears in the following collections:

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