JAPANESE LIGHT CRUISER ABUKUMA

Abukuma was a Japanese light cruiser, the keel of which was laid in 1921, launched in March 1923, and commissioned in the Imperial Japanese Navy in May 1925. The length of the ship at the time of launching was 163 m, width 14.8 m, and the actual full displacement - 5,800 tons. The maximum speed of the cruiser Kinu was up to 36 knots. At the time of launching, the main armament was 7 140 mm guns in single positions, and additional armament was, among others: 2 80 mm cannons and 8 torpedo tubes Abukuma was the sixth and final Nagara-class cruiser. The cruisers of this type were built on the basis of the successful design of the Kuma class ships. In fact, the two types differ slightly, and often the Nagara type is referred to as the modified Kuma type. The main differences were in the design of the superstructures, which allowed Nagara-type units to operate seaplanes. Already at the time of the launch, torpedo tubes of a new type were also fitted. Nagara-class cruisers were built from the very beginning as the so-called "Leaders" of the destroyer flotillas, which resulted in the creation of very fast ships, with good artillery armament, but relatively poorly armored. The combat career of the cruiser Abukuma began during the Sino-Japanese fights in the 1930s. In the course of these struggles, he supported Japanese landings in central China - including in Shanghai. Abukum's combat trail in World War II began in December 1941 with support for the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor - it was part of the protection of Japanese aircraft carriers. In May 1942, he performed similar functions in the course of the Japanese attack on the Aleutian Islands. In March 1943 Abukuma took part in the Battle of the Commander Islands. Shortly after this battle, it underwent modernization - its anti-aircraft armament was slightly strengthened and a new type of radar was installed. The cruiser Abukuma was sunk on October 26, 1944 by the American B-24 Liberator bombers off the Philippine island of Negros.