Japanese cruiser Ōi
 Ōi in 1923 at Kure Harbor, Hiroshima
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Empire of Japan | |
| Name | Ōi |
| Namesake | Ōi River |
| Ordered | 1917 Fiscal Year |
| Builder | Kawasaki Shipbuilding, Kobe, Japan |
| Laid down | 24 November 1919 |
| Launched | 15 July 1920 |
| Commissioned | 10 October 1921[1] |
| Out of service | 19 July 1944 |
| Stricken | 10 September 1944 |
| Fate | Torpedoed by USS Flasher 570 nmi (1,060 km; 660 mi) south of Hong Kong, South China Sea at 13°12′N 114°52′E / 13.200°N 114.867°E, 19 July 1944 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Kuma class light cruiser |
| Displacement | 5,100 long tons (5,182 t) (standard) |
| Length | 152.4 m (500 ft 0 in) |
| Beam | 14.2 m (46 ft 7 in) |
| Draft | 4.8 m (15 ft 9 in) |
| Installed power | 90,000 kW ) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 36 kn (67 km/h; 41 mph) |
| Range | 5,000 nmi (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 14 kn (26 km/h; 16 mph) |
| Complement | 450 |
| Armament |
|
| Armor |
|
| Aircraft carried | 1 × floatplane |
| Aviation facilities | 1 × catapult |
Ōi (大井) was the fourth of five
Background
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 long tons (7,316 t)-class scout cruisers were shelved, in place of an intermediate 5,500 long tons (5,588 t)-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. Kuma was the lead ship of the five vessels in this class which were built from 1918-1921.[2]
Design
The Kuma-class vessels were essentially enlarged versions of the Tenryū-class cruisers, with greater speed, range, and weaponry.[2]
With improvements in geared-turbine engine technology, the Kuma-class vessels were capable of the high speed of 36 kn (41 mph; 67 km/h), and a range of 9,000 nmi (17,000 km; 10,000 mi) at 10 kn (12 mph; 19 km/h).[2] The number of 14 cm/50 3rd Year Type naval guns was increased from three on the Tenryū class to seven on the Kuma class and provision was made for 48 naval mines. However, the two triple torpedo launchers on the Tenryū class was reduced to two double launchers, and the Kuma class remained highly deficient in anti-aircraft protection, with only two 8 cm/40 3rd Year Type naval guns .[3]
Service career
Early career
Ōi was completed at
On 25 August 1941, Ōi returned to
Early stages of the Pacific War
During the
On 12 January 1942, Chief of Staff Rear Admiral
On 29 May, during the Battle of Midway, Ōi was part of Vice Admiral Shirō Takasu's (Aleutian Screening) force, and returned safely to Yokosuka Naval District on 17 June.[4]
As a fast transport
From August–September, Ōi and Kitakami were converted into fast transports. Their 10 quadruple torpedo tubes were reduced to six, for a total of 24 tubes. They were equipped with two
From the end of October through most of December, Ōi ferried troops and supplies from Truk and Manila to Rabaul, New Britain and Buin, Bougainville. On 21 November, CruDiv 9 was disbanded and Ōi was assigned directly to the Combined Fleet. On 24 December, Ōi returned to Kure Naval Arsenal for maintenance.[4]
From 12 January 1943, Ōi participated in the operation to reinforce Japanese forces in
On 15 March, Ōi was assigned to the
On 1 July, Ōi was assigned to CruDiv 16 of the Southwest Area Fleet, and was based at Surabaya as a guard ship. After patrols in the Java Sea, she was repaired at Seletar Naval Base, Singapore in August.
Operations in the Indian Ocean
From the end of August 1943 to the end of January 1944, Ōi and Kitakami made four troop transport runs from Singapore and Penang to the Andaman Islands and Nicobar Islands in the Indian Ocean.
From 27 February, Ōi, together with light cruiser
On 6 July, Ōi departed Surabaya for
Ōi was removed from the
References
Notes
- ^ Lacroix, Japanese Cruisers, p. 794.
- ^ a b c d Gardner, Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921; page 238
- ^ Stille, Imperial Japanese Navy Light Cruisers 1941-45 , pages 14-18;
- ^ a b c d e f g h [1] CombinedFleet.com: Oi Tabular Record of Movement;
- ^ Ugaki, Fading Victory ; page 74
- ^ Roscoe, United States Submarine Operations in World War II ; page 383
Books
- Brown, David (1990). Warship Losses of World War Two. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-914-X.
- D'Albas, Andrieu (1965). Death of a Navy: Japanese Naval Action in World War II. Devin-Adair Pub. ISBN 0-8159-5302-X.
- Dull, Paul S. (1978). A Battle History of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1941-1945. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-097-1.
- Evans, David (1979). Kaigun: Strategy, Tactics, and Technology in the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1887-1941. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-192-7.
- Gardner, Robert (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. Conway Marine Press. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.
- Howarth, Stephen (1983). The Fighting Ships of the Rising Sun: The drama of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1895-1945. Atheneum. ISBN 0-689-11402-8.
- Jentsura, Hansgeorg (1976). Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869-1945. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-893-X.
- Lacroix, Eric & ISBN 0-87021-311-3.
- Roscoe, Theodore (1949). United States Submarine Operations in World War II. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-731-3.
- Stille, Mark (2012). Imperial Japanese Navy Light Cruisers 1941-45. Osprey. ISBN 978-1-84908-562-5.
- Ugaki, Matome (1991). Fading Victory: The Diary of Admiral Matome Ugaki, 1941-1945. University of Pittsburgh Press. ISBN 0-8229-3665-8.
- Whitley, M.J. (1995). Cruisers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-141-6.
External links
- Parshall, Jon; Bob Hackett; Sander Kingsepp; Allyn Nevitt. "Imperial Japanese Navy Page (Combinedfleet.com)". CombinedFleet.com: Kuma class.
- Parshall, Jon; Bob Hackett; Sander Kingsepp; Allyn Nevitt. "Imperial Japanese Navy Page (Combinedfleet.com)". CombinedFleet.com: Oi Tabular Record of Movement.
- Nishida, Hiroshi. "Materials of IJN". Imperial Japanese Navy. Archived from the original on 5 December 2012.
