Tone-Class Cruisers(利根型巡洋艦 Tone-gata jun'yōkan) were Heavy Cruisers build for the Imperial Japanese Navy during the years of 1943 to 1937. Tone-class heavy cruisers were designed to provide long range air scouting for task forces that these ships may serve with. 2 of the class were built, both sunk by wars end.

Tone-Class Heavy Cruisers served between the years of 1938 to 1945

Preceded by: Mogami class

Succeeded by: none (Ibuki class not completed)

Tone-Class Cruisers Tone (利根 重巡洋艦 Tone jūjun'yōkan) & Chikuma (筑摩 重巡洋艦 Chikuma jūjun'yōkan) were designed to provide long range air scouting for task forces, mainly carrier groups as Japanese Carriers typically did not carry scout planes. All of their primary guns were placed forward of the ships so that the entire aft sections could be devoted to aircraft operations. The maximum of eight aircraft aboard each ship were launched from the two gunpowder-propelled catapults, giving them excellent capabilities to conducting scouting operations even though in practice each ship only carried five aircraft. 

Tone and Chikuma, participated in the majority of the Pacific War's battles and campaigns, with Chikuma being sunk by TBMs from USS Kitkun, USS Ommaney Bay and Natoma Bay during the Battle of Leyte Gulf (25 October, 1944). Tone was attacked at Kure by 9 aircaft for USS Monterey. She was hit by 3 bombs from that attack, and soon settled on the bottom of the bay. She was attacked again 4 days later by rockets and armor-piercing bombs by aircraft from USS Wasp, Bataan & Ticonderoga. Tone was soon removed from the Navy List.