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| IJN Furutaka-class Heavy Cruiser 7,950 tons (standard) 9,150 tons (modification) 176.8m x 15.8m x 5.6m 607' 3.4" x 54' 3.6" x 18' 2.9" (As Built) 6 × 20cm guns 4 × 76mm AA guns 6x2 24" torpedo tubes (After modification) 6 × 20cm/50 3rd Year Type naval guns (3x2) 4 × 12cm AA guns 4 x 25mm AA guns 2x4 24" torpedo tubes 2 x floatplanes 1 x catapult  IJN c1926 |
Ship History Built by Mitsubishi shipyards at Nagasaki. Laid down December 5, 1922 as the lead ship of the Furutaka-class Heavy Cruiser. Launched February 25, 1925 as Furutaka 古鷹. Commissioned March 31, 1926 in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) under the command of Captain Koichi Shiozawa. On April 1, 1926 became the flagship of Cruiser Division 5 (CruDiv 5) until August 1, 1926. Later that year, a platform is added to the top of turret no. 4 for a Aichi Type 2 Two-seat Reconnaissance seaplane to take off. On December 1, 1926 assigned to Captain Nobuyoshi Kikui. During late 1926 until early 1927, her funnels are heightened and caps altered to reduce smoke interference on the bridge and upper platforms. On November 15, 1927 assigned to Captain Yutaka Arima. During December 1927 underwent a refit at Yokosuka Navy Yard to improve ventilation of torpedo flats and strengthen the foundations for the main gun turrets. On December 10, 1928 assigned to Captain Jiro Onishi. On November 7, 1929 arrives Yokosuka for a refit adding ventilation and insulation of boiler rooms and seaplane platform with the modifications completed by December 1, 1930 when placed under the command of Captain Shinichiro Machida followed by Captain Tadashi Kamiyama a year later. On February 1, 1932 attached to Kure Naval District. Later that month enters dry dock at Kure Navy Yard for hull repairs and anti-aircraft gun upgrade to add four 12cm 10th Year AA guns and four 13.2mm machine guns and catapult between the no. 4 turret and floatplane hanger for a E4N2 floatplane with alterations completed by the end April 30, 1932. PARTIAL HISTORY On November 28, 1941 placed under the command of Captain Tsutau Araki and the cruiser is assigned to the First Fleet under the command of Vice Admiral Shiro Takasu, CruDiv 6 under the command of Rear Admiral Aritomo Gotō with flagship Aoba, Kako and Kinugasa. Wartime History On December 2, 1941 arrives Haha Jima then two days later departs escorting the Japanese invasion force bound for Guam at the start of the Pacific War. On December 10, 1941 supports the Japanese landing on Guam and later that same day arrives Truk. On December 13, 1941 departs Truk to Kwajalein. On December 21, 1941 departs Kwajalein escorting the second Japanese invasion force bound for Wake. Afterwards, returns to Truk arriving January 10, 1942 and departs eight days later escorting the Japanese invasion force bound for Rabaul and Kavieng. On January 30, 1942 arrives Rabaul. On February 1, 1942 departs Rabaul via Roi to Kwajalein in pursuit of the U.S. Navy carriers that raided Kwajalein and Wotje but fails to intercept. On February 10, 1942 returns to Truk and ten days later sorties to intercept U.S. Navy Task Force 11 (TF 11) off Bougainville but fails to intercept. On February 23, 1942 returns to Truk. On March 2, 1942 departs Truk and three days later arrives Rabaul. On March 9, 1942 arrives Buka and three days later return to Rabaul and repeat the same voyage twice over the next eight days. On March 18, 1942 arrives Moewe Passage near Kavieng and depart eight days later. On March 27, 1942 arrives Rabaul and depart the next day. On March 30, 1942 covers the Japanese landing at Shortland Harbor. On March 31, 1942 covers the landing at Kieta. On April 1, 1942 returns to Rabaul, refuels and departs the same day. On April 2, 1942 arrives Moewe Passage and departs three days later. On April 7, 1942 covers the Japanese occupation of Manus and departs the next day. On April 10, 1942 arrives Truk and undergoes a refit then joins Operation MO as distant cover for Japanese invasion force bound for Tulagi. On May 3, 1942 arrives Queen Carola Harbor and the next day departs to Shortland Harbor to refuel from oiler Iro. On May 6, 1942 departs Shortland to rendezvous with Shoho west of Bougainville and attacked by three B-17s that fail to cause any damage. At 5:30pm two E7K2 floatplanes from Furutaka search for the Allied fleet south of the Louisiades. On May 7, 1942 at dawn two E7K2 floatplanes from Furutaka again search for the Allied fleet during the Battle of the Coral Sea and one reports finding a U.S. aircraft carrier. Meanwhile, Furutaka and Kinugasa are spotted by an SBD-3 Dauntless piloted by Lt. Keith E. Taylor. Later that evening, both are ordered to join the carriers the next morning. On May 8, 1942 at the conclusion of the battle, escorts Shōkaku. On May 9, 1942 refuels at Shortland and the next day arrives Kieta. On May 13, 1942 arrives Shortland to refuel and two days later departs via Truk bound for Japan. On June 5, 1942 arrives Kure and five days later enters dry dock. On June 28, 1942 departs with Kinugasa and six days later arrives Truk. On July 7, 1942 depart and two days later arrives Kieta to refuel and for the remainded of the month visits various Japanese bases in the north Solomon Islands, Rabaul and Mowe Passage near Kavieng. On July 27, 1942 CruDiv 6 is assigned to the 8th Fleet at Rabaul. On August 7, 1942 departs Mowe Passage bound for Guadalcanal. On August 9, 1942 participates in the Battle of Savo Island. During the engagement fires 153 x 20cm rounds, 94 x 12cm rounds and 147 25mm rounds and claims to have sunk a heavy cruiser and damage another plus a destroyer then withdraws northward to Mowe Passage for emergency repairs and refit. On August 17, 1942 departs Mowe Passage and two days later arrives at Rekata Bay. On August 20, 1942 departs Rekata Bay and two days later arrives Shortland. On August 23, 1942 departs Shortland as distant cover for a "Tokyo Express" Guadalcanal reinforcement convoy. That same day, a PBY Catalina from VP-23 "Black Cats" made an unsuccessful daylight attack on the cruiser. On August 26, 1942 arrives Kieta and is detached from CruDiv 6. For the next month, Furutaka shuttled between Kieta and Rabaul as needed to refuel and resupply. On September 12, 1942 Furutaka was targeted by USS S-47 that fired a spread of torpedoes at an "Aoba-class heavy cruiser" south of New Ireland and caused no damage and was likely Furutaka. On October 1, 1942 arrives Shortland with CruDiv 6 under the command of Rear Admiral Aritomo Gotō and prepares to sortie to cover a Japanese reinforcement convoy bound for Guadalcanal. Sinking History On October 11, 1942 departs Shortland with Aoba and Kinugasa and destroyers Fubuki and Hatsuyuki to provide cover for a Japanese reinforcement convoy by conducting a shore bombardment of Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. At the start of the Battle of Cape Esperance (Second Battle of Savo Island) at 11:35pm USS Helena (CL-50) spotted the Japanese fleet on radar and the U.S. Navy warships successfully crossed the Japanese "T". Under gunfire, Admiral Goto mistakenly thought it was friendly-fire, and ordered a 180° turn that exposed each of his ships to the American broadsides. Aoba was heavily damaged by gunfire and Admiral Goto was mortally wounded on her bridge. Aboard Furutaka, Captain Araki turned out of the line of battle to engage USS Salt Lake City (CA-25). Meanwhile, USS Duncan (DD-485) launched two torpedoes aimed at Furutaka that either missed or failed to detonate and continued to fire at Furutaka scoring numberous hits. At 11:54pm, Furutaka was hit by a torpedo that flooded her forward engine room. During the engagement, Furutaka was badly damaged by roughly 90 shells with some detonating her Type 93 "Long Lance" torpedoes causing fires and suffered 33 dead and 110 missing. Sinking History On October 12, 1942 at 2:28am sank stern first at Lat 9°02′S Long 159°33′E. Officially removed from the Navy list November 10, 1942. Fates of the Crew A total of 518 survivors including Captain Araki were rescued by destroyers Hatsuyuki, Murakumo and Shirayuki. Another 115 survivors were rescued by the U.S. Navy and became Prisoners Of War (POW) were later interned at Featherston POW Camp in New Zealand. References Furutaka is listed as sunk October 11, 1942 by the U.S. Navy but actually sank on October 12, 1942 at 2:28am. Combined Fleet - IJN Furutaka: Tabular Record of Movement Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) - Japanese Naval and Merchant Shipping Losses pages 3 (Furutaka), 103 (index Furutaka) Contribute
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