Japanese cruiserJintsū

For other ships with the same name, seeJapanese ship Jintsū.

Jintsū(Thần thông)was the second vessel completed in the three-shipSendai-classlight cruiserin theImperial Japanese Navy(IJN), named after theJinzū Riverin theGifuandToyamaprefectures of centralJapan.She was active inWorld War IIin various campaigns including theJapanese invasion of the Philippines,the Battle of the Java Sea, and Battle of Midway. On 13 July 1943 in the Battle of Kolombangara, she was discovered during a night attack by American ships and sunk in combat.

Japanese light cruiserJintsū,1925
History
Empire of Japan
Name	Jintsū
Namesake	Jinzū River
Ordered	1920 Fiscal Year
Builder	Kawasaki Shipyards,Kobe,Japan
Laid down	4 August 1922
Launched	8 December 1923
Commissioned	31 July 1925
Stricken	10 September 1943
Fate	Sunk 13 July 1943Battle of Kolombangara,Solomon Islands07°38′S157°06′E.
General characteristics
Class and type	Sendai-classcruiser
Displacement	5195 tons (standard)
Length	162.8 m (534 ft)
Beam	14.2 m (47 ft)
Draught	3.9 m (13 ft)
Propulsion	4 shaft Parsons geared turbines 10Kamponboilers 90,000shp(67,000 kW)
Speed	35.3 knots (65.4 km/h)
Range	5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km) at 14 knots (26 km/h)
Complement	452
Armament	(Initial) 7 ×14 cm/50 3rd Year Type naval guns 2 ×8 cm/40 3rd Year Type naval guns 8 × 610 mm (24 in)torpedo tubes(4x2) 48naval mines (Final)7 ×14 cm/50 3rd Year Type naval guns 2 × triple, 2x twinType 96 25 mm AA guns 2 ×Type 93 13.2 mm machine guns 8 × 610 mm (24 in)torpedo tubes(4x2)
Armor	Belt:64 mm (2.5 in) Deck:20 mm (0.79 in)
Aircraft carried	1 xfloatplane
Aviation facilities	1x aircraftcatapult

Background

TheSendai-class vessels were part of theEight-eight fleetprogram, with the first four of eight planned vessels authorized in 1921. However, due to theWashington Naval Treaty,the final four vessels were never authorized, and the fourth vessel was cancelled during construction, as the Japanese Navy decided to concentrate onheavy cruiserprocurement instead.Jintsū,as with other vessels of her class, was intended for use as the flagship of adestroyerflotilla.

Design

Main article:Sendai-class cruiser

TheSendai-class vessels were a development of the preceding 5500 tonNagara-classcruiser,retaining basically the same hull design, engines and main weaponry. However, their boilers were better located, and they had four funnels instead of three, and could attain 35knots(65 km/h; 40 mph).SendaiandJintsūcould be identified by their rakedbow;Nakawas completed later, and had a flared bow similar to heavy cruiser designs then under construction.After the August 1927 Mihonoseki Incident, whereJintsūrammed and sank the destroyerWarabi,Jintsūreplaced her original bow with a 'yacht' bow identical toNaka.

Each ship was designed with a flying-off platform and hangar over the bow, but did not actually carry aircraft until modified to install a conventional aircraftcatapultsystem was installed in 1929. This was later removed, and moved to the rear deck between 1934 and 1937.

The armament of theSendaiclass consisted of seven14 cm/50 3rd Year Type naval guns,in which the operating teams were protected by shields, two open8 cm/40 3rd Year Type naval gunsand twoType 93 13.2 mm anti-aircraft machine guns.As completed, the torpedo armament consisted of four twin Type 8 torpedo tubes (two mounts and four tubes per side) with sixteen torpedoes (eight in the tubes and eight reloads).These were capable of launching the Type 8 and later Type 90 torpedoes.As part of a series of upgrades to Destroyer Squadron flagships, from March to May 1941Jintsūreplaced her four Type 8 torpedo tubes with two Type 92 quadruple mounts (one per side), allowing the ship to operate the new Type 93 oxygen torpedo in addition to the older types.RV Petrel's footage from 26 April 2019 confirmed these launchers on the wreck.

The armor protection was limited to abelt armorof 6 cm (2.4 in) and a steeldeckarmor of 3 cm (1.2 in) steel.

Service career

Early career

Jintsūwaslaid downon 4 August 1922,launchedon 8 December 1923 and completed atKawasaki ShipyardsinKobeon 21 July 1925. During a night training exercise off of Jizosaki Lighthouse inShimane Prefectureon 24 August 1927, she inadvertently rammed and sank thedestroyerWarabiat night, and had to be taken toMaizuru Naval Arsenalfor major repairs, during which time her raked bow was replaced by a flared bow. Her commander, Captain Keiji Mizushiro, subsequently committed suicide over the accident.Jintsūwas transferred toKure Naval Arsenalfor further repairs on 5 September.

In 1928,Jintsūwas assigned to cover landings of Japanese troops inShandongprovince during theJinan incident,and was later based out ofQingdao.From 1929 to 1937,Jintsūwas assigned to patrols of the China coast and subsequently provided cover and support for the landings of Japanese forces in China from 1937 onwards after the start of theSecond Sino-Japanese War.She was commanded by CaptainRaizō Tanakafrom 1 December 1938 to 15 December 1938.

Early stages of the Pacific War

On 26 November 1941,Jintsūbecame theflagshipof Rear Admiral Raizō Tanaka and DesRon 2 under the Philippine Seizure Force, Southern Force, of theJapanese Third Fleet.At the time of theattack on Pearl Harbor,Jintsūwas based out ofPalauand engaged in theinvasion of the Mindanao,escorting transports with theIJA 16th Infantry Divisionand Kure No. 1Special Naval Landing Force(SNLF) from forward bases in Palau toDavao,LegaspiandJolo.After the Philippines was in Japanese hands by the end of December,Jintsūwas reassigned to Rear AdmiralKyūji Kubo's EasternNetherlands East IndiesSeizure Force with DesDiv 15 and DesDiv 16.

Battle of the Java Sea

On 9 January 1942,Jintsūdeparted Davao for the invasion of theCelebes,escorting transports holding the Sasebo No. 1 CombinedSpecial Naval Landing Force(SNLF). On 17 January, aKawanishi E7K2"Alf" reconnaissancefloatplanelaunched fromJintsūshot down aDutchLockheed Hudsonlight bomber nearMenado,but was shot down itself before it could return. In early February,Jintsūwas assigned to the invasion force forAmbon,followed by both Dutch andPortuguese Timorand easternJava.On 20 February, while offAlor Island,she unsuccessfully attacked the American submarineUSSPickerel.

During theBattle of the Java Seaon 27 February 1942,Jintsūand her destroyer groups (including DesDiv 7'sUshio,Sazanami,YamakazeandKawakazeand DesDiv 16'sYukikaze,Tokitsukaze,AmatsukazeandHatsukaze) along with the cruisersNachi,Haguro,andNakaand the destroyerInazuma,engaged Dutch Rear AdmiralKarel W. F. M. Doorman's Strike Force, with the light cruiserHNLMSDe Ruyter,cruisersHMSExeter,USSHouston,light cruisersHMASPerth,HNLMSJava,destroyersHMSElectra,HMSEncounter,HMSJupiter,HNLMSKortenaer,HNLMSWitte de Withand old destroyersUSSAlden,USSJohn D. Edwards,USSJohn D. FordandUSSPaul Jones

Floatplanes launched fromJintsū,NakaandNachimarked Doorman's ships' positions and to target Japanese gunnery. At 1727,Jintsūlaunched eightType 93 "Long Lance" torpedoesat Doorman's force. These were followed by torpedoes from DesRon 2's destroyers. In all, 72 torpedoes were launched, but incredibly, not one hit a target, and theAlliedfleet was later destroyed by other surface units.Jintsūwas credited with assisting in the sinking ofElectra.

Jintsūreturned to Japan in March for refit and repairs. While atKure,theDoolittle Raidbombed theJapanese home islands.Jintsūwas one of the many vessels sent in an unsuccessful pursuit of the American carrier force

In May, after a month of training in theSeto Inland Sea,Jintsūwas sent toSaipanwhere she joined the Midway Invasion Force, escorting transports and oilers. During theBattle of Midwayon 3 June 1942, the convoy was bombed by nineBoeingB-17 Flying Fortresses.Later, the convoy was attacked by torpedo-carryingConsolidated PBY Catalinaamphibious patrol planes. One oiler was hit during these attacks, butJintsūreturned to Truk, and via Guam to Japan unscathed

In July, in a reorganization of the Imperial Japanese Navy,Jintsūwas reassigned to the newly formedJapanese 8th Fleetunder the overall command of Vice AdmiralGunichi Mikawa.After American forces invadedGuadalcanalin August,Jintsūwas sent via Truk to theSolomon Islands.

Solomon Islands campaigns

On 16 August 1942,Jintsūdeparted Truk commanding a major reinforcement forGuadalcanal.On 20 August, the troops were landed, but the lightly armed Japanese failed to storm Guadalcanal'sHenderson Field.Rear Admiral Tanaka received a signal from Vice AdmiralNishizō Tsukahara's 11th Air Fleet HQ to turn his convoy about and head north to avoid an American task force. Shortly thereafter, he received another signal from Vice Admiral Mikawa's Eighth Fleet HQ ordering him to change course to 250-degrees WSW. Tanaka, faced with conflicting orders from the senior officer in the area and his own superior, was further frustrated by poor radio reception which prevented him from contacting either headquarters. He compromised and changed course to 320 degrees (WNW), 190 nautical miles (352 km) south of Guadalcanal

Meanwhile, 20 American carrier planes (Cactus Air Force) from theaircraft carrierUSSLong Islandarrived to reinforce the American defenses at Guadalcanal. In response, AdmiralIsoroku Yamamotoordered Vice AdmiralChūichi Nagumo's Third Fleet, with aircraft carriersShōkaku,Zuikaku,Ryūjō,battleshipsHiei,Kirishima,cruisersKumano,Suzuya,Chikuma,ToneandNagaraand three destroyers to reinforce Admiral Tanaka inJintsū.

On 23 August, 200 nautical miles (370 km) north of Guadalcanal, Rear Admiral Tanaka's convoy was spotted by a PBY Catalina flying boat. At 0830, Tanaka received a signal from Vice AdmiralGunichi Mikawa's Eighth Fleet headquarters directing him to head north to avoid the American task force. At 1430, Tanaka received a signal from Vice Admiral Tsukahara's 11th Air Fleet headquarters directing him to land troops on Guadalcanal the next day. Tanaka, faced with yet a second set of conflicting orders, replied that he could not comply because some of his ships were too slow

TheBattle of the Eastern Solomonsoccurred over the following two days, 24 August 1942.Jintsūrendezvoused withRyūjō,which launched two air strikes against Henderson Field. However,Ryūjōherself was hit by aircraft from the aircraft carrierUSSSaratoga,with four bombs and a torpedo hit that flooded her starboard engine room, and sank that night.

On 25 August, 150 nautical miles (278 km) north of Guadalcanal, sixUSMCDouglasSBD Dauntlessdive-bombers attacked theJintsūconvoy, sinking one transport and damaging another. A 500-pound (227 kg) bomb hitJintsū,starting fires and flooding her forward magazines.Twenty-four crewmen were killed and Admiral Tanaka was injured. He shifted his flag to the destroyerKagerōandJintsūwithdrew toShortland Island,and from there to Truk, where she underwent emergency repairs by the repair shipAkashi,which lasted for over the next month. In October, she was sent back to Japan, where twoType 96 triple-mount 25 mm AA gunswere installed. Repairs were not completed until 8 January 1943.

Battle of Kolombangara

On 16 January 1943,Jintsūbecame flagship of DesRon 2 and departed Kure bound for Truk.Jintsūwas immediately assigned to the operation to evacuate surviving Japanese army troops from Guadalcanal, which she covered successfully. Through July,Jintsūmade several transport runs, escorting forces moving between Truk,RoiandKwajalein.

On 13 July 1943,Jintsūwas in theBattle of Kolombangara.At 0330,JintsūdepartedRabaulas flagship of Rear AdmiralShunji Isaki,with the destroyersYukikaze,Hamakaze,Yūgure,Mikazuki,Kiyonamiand destroyer-transportsSatsuki,Minazuki,YūnagiandMatsukazewith 1,200 troops to reinforce Japanese positions onKolombangaraisland, in the Solomon Islands. Soon after arriving into position,Jintsū's radar detected the presence of an Allied fleet before visual contact was made.

The Allied fleet consisted of the cruisersUSSHonolulu,USSSt. Louis,HMNZSLeander,and the destroyersUSSRalph Talbot,USSMaury,USSGwin,USSWoodworthand theUSSBuchanan,USSRadford,USSJenkins,USSNicholas,USSO'Bannonand theUSSTaylor.

Admiral Isaki ordered a night torpedo attack, and his ships launched 31 Type 93 "Long Lance" torpedoes, asJintsūilluminated the Allied fleet with her searchlights. The illumination was fatal, asJintsūwas hit by at least ten radar-directed 6-inch (152 mm) shells from the three Allied cruisers, setting her on fire.The barrage killed both Rear Admiral Isaki and Captain Sato; shortly afterwards a torpedo hitJintsūstarboard in the aft engine room.

As Captain Zenjirō Shimai ofYukikazeassumed command of the Japanese fleet and counterattacked (sinkingGwin,and damagingLeanderandSt. Louis),Jintsūbroke in two and sank at07°38′S157°06′Eat 2348 hours.

Jintsūsurvivors aboard USSNicholas

Later,Japanese submarineI-180rescued 21 crewmen and a few more were recovered by the Americans, but 482 men were lost.Jintsūwas removed from thenavy liston 10 September 1943.

Wreck

On 26 April 2019, the crew ofRVPetrelannounced it had foundJintsu's wreckage near the mouth of Kula Gulf in the Solomon Islands. The cruiser rests in 900 meters (2,952 feet) of water, with her bow section lying on its port side and the stern section upright.

References

Books

• Brown, David (1990).Warship Losses of World War Two.Naval Institute Press.ISBN1-55750-914-X.
• Boyd, David (2002).The Japanese Submarine Force and World War II.Naval Institute Press.ISBN1-55750-015-0.
• D'Albas, Andrieu (1965).Death of a Navy: Japanese Naval Action in World War II.Devin-Adair Pub.ISBN0-8159-5302-X.
• Dull, Paul S. (1978).A Battle History of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1941–1945.Naval Institute Press.ISBN0-87021-097-1.
• Gardner, Robert (1985).Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921.Conway Marine Press.ISBN0-85177-245-5.
• Howarth, Stephen (1983).The Fighting Ships of the Rising Sun: The drama of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1895–1945.Atheneum.ISBN0-689-11402-8.
• Jentsura, Hansgeorg (1976).Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869–1945.Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press.ISBN0-87021-893-X.
• Lacroix, Eric &Wells II, Linton(1997).Japanese Cruisers of the Pacific War.Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.ISBN0-87021-311-3.
• Stille, Mark (2012).Imperial Japanese Navy Light Cruisers 1941–45.Osprey.ISBN978-1-84908-562-5.
• Whitley, M. J. (1995).Cruisers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia.Naval Institute Press.ISBN1-55750-141-6.
• Cressman, Robert (2005).The Official Chronology of the U.S. Navy in World War II.Naval Institute Press.ISBN1-55750-149-1.

External links

• Parshall, Jon; Bob Hackett; Sander Kingsepp; Allyn Nevitt."Imperial Japanese Navy Page (Combinedfleet )".
• Parshall, Jon; Bob Hackett; Sander Kingsepp; Allyn Nevitt."Imperial Japanese Navy Page (Combinedfleet )".
• Nishida, Hiroshi."Materials of IJN".Imperial Japanese Navy.Archived fromthe originalon 4 December 2012.
• Department of the Navy History Page
• Night Action off Kolombangara