Aoba

Aoba-Class Cruisers (青葉型巡洋艦) were built for the Imperial Japanese Navy during the years of 1924 to 1926. The 2 ships of this class are modified Furutaka class designs.

Aoba-Class Cruisers served between the years of 1927 to 1945.

Preceded by: Furutaka class

Succeeded by: Myōkō class

Aoba-Class Cruisers Aoba & Kinugasa both covered the invasion of Guam, and the second invasion of Wake Island in 1941. In their next action they met with light carrier Shōhō, and on 7 May, 1942 the Battle of Coral Seabegan when Shōhō was attacked and sunk by aircraft from USS Yorktown and Lexington. The following day carrier Shōkaku would be damaged above the waterline and forced her retreat. Aoba covered the withdrawal, Kinugasa returned to Japan for repairs.  The Battle of Savo Island began with a Aichi E13A1 "Jake" from Aoba spotting "one battleship, one auxiliary carrier, four cruisers, seven destroyers and 15 transports" on 7 August 1942. Two evenings later in a fierce night battle USS Astoria, Quincy, Vincennes and HMAS Canberra were sunk. USS Chicago,Ralph Talbot and Patterson were damaged. For the Japanese, Chōkai was hit three times, Kinugasa twice and Aoba once. As they withdrew Kako was sunk by the submarine. Both ships saw muuch more action during the war.