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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
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Photo # NH 97731:  Japanese cruiser Aoba.  Photographed circa 1930-37

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- JAPANESE NAVY SHIPS --

Aoba (Cruiser, 1927-1945)

Aoba, first of a class of two 8300-ton heavy cruisers, was built at Nagasaki, Japan. Commissioned in September 1927, she was assigned to Fifth Squadron (Sentai) until 1933 and thereafter to the Sixth and Seventh Squadrons, serving as their flagship during much of her career. In addition to participation in the Japanese Navy's operational exercises, she frequently served in Chinese waters in the late 1920s and the 1930s during that nation's ordeals with domestic violence and foreign intervention.

The cruiser was modernized at Sasebo between 1938 and 1940, receiving new torpedo tubes, an enhanced anti-aircraft gun battery, improved gunfire controls and better aircraft handling facilities. Her bridge structure was rebuilt and bulges added to her hull to compensate for the associated weight increases and improve her stability. After recommissioning in October 1940, Aoba served with the Sixth Squadron during its pre-World War II operations in Japanese, Chinese and central Pacific waters. Soon after war began in December 1941, she took part in the capture of Guam and Wake. In May 1942 she participated in the Battle of the Coral Sea.

During the Guadalcanal campaign that began in August 1942, Aoba was heavily engaged with Allied sea and air forces, participating in the the 9 August Battle of Savo Island and the Battle of Cape Esperance on 13 October. She was seriously damaged by U.S. warship gunfire in the latter action, which took the lives of nearly eighty of those on board, including the Sixth Squadron's commander, Rear Admiral Aritomo Goto.

After repairs, Aoba returned to the south Pacific war zone in February 1943, only to be hit by air attack on 3 April. The badly damaged ship was out of action until December 1943, when she was assigned to the East Indies area. Kept busy for the next ten months carrying supplies and maintaining readiness for offensive operations, she was en route to participate in the Battle of Leyte Gulf on 23 October 1944 when the U.S. submarine Bream (SS-243) hit her amidships with a torpedo. Though further damaged by bombs in October, Aoba was able to reach Japan in mid-December.

Aoba remained at or near Kure, Japan for the rest of the Pacific War, being used only as a floating anti-aircraft battery. In attacks by U.S. carrier planes and Air Force bombers on 24 and 28 July 1945, she was hit several times and sunk in shallow water. Her wreck was scrapped in 1946-47.

This page features, or provides links to, all our images related to the Japanese cruiser Aoba.

For additional pictures related to the Japanese cruiser Aoba, see:

  • Aoba -- On Board & Distant Views, and Drawings; and
  • Aoba -- Sunk at Kure, Japan, 1945.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: NH 90288

    Aoba
    (Japanese Heavy Cruiser, 1927)

    Off Nagasaki, Japan, at about the time of her commissioning (which took place on 20 September 1927).
    Taken from a foreign warship, this photograph was provided to the U.S. Naval Attache in Tokyo soon afterwards. It was subsequently forwarded to the Office of Naval Intelligence.

    The original print is in File # 14254 (Box 1268) in ONI Registers 1886-1940, held by the National Archives.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 51KB; 740 x 355 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 90289

    Aoba
    (Japanese Heavy Cruiser, 1927)

    Off Nagasaki, Japan, during the latter stages of her outfitting, circa mid-1927.
    This photograph was obtained by the U.S. Navy's Office of Naval Intelligence, under date 30 October 1927.

    The original print is in File # 13362-A (Box 1267) in ONI Registers 1886-1940, held by the National Archives.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 59KB; 740 x 400 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 90290

    Aoba
    (Japanese Heavy Cruiser, 1927)

    Off Nagasaki, Japan, during the latter stages of her outfitting, circa mid-1927.
    This photograph was obtained by the U.S. Navy's Office of Naval Intelligence, under date 30 October 1927.

    The original print is in File # 13362-A (Box 1267) in ONI Registers 1886-1940, held by the National Archives.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 59KB; 740 x 400 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97730

    Aoba
    (Japanese Heavy Cruiser, 1927)

    Photographed soon after completion, possibly during the naval review off Yokohama on 30 October 1927.

    The original photograph came from Rear Admiral Samuel Eliot Morison's World War II history project working files.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 100KB; 740 x 620 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97727

    Aoba
    (Japanese Heavy Cruiser, 1927)

    Photographed soon after completion, circa 1927-29.

    The original photograph came from Rear Admiral Samuel Eliot Morison's World War II history project working files.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 93KB; 740 x 510 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97728

    Aoba
    (Japanese Heavy Cruiser, 1927)

    Photographed soon after completion, circa 1927-29.

    The original photograph, a halftone, came from Rear Admiral Samuel Eliot Morison's World War II history project working files.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 67KB; 740 x 505 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97729

    Aoba
    (Japanese Heavy Cruiser, 1927)

    Photographed soon after completion, circa 1927-29.
    Bands painted on her after smokestack signify that she is the second ship of Sentai 5.

    The original print came from Office of Naval Intelligence files.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 32KB; 740 x 180 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 42270

    Aoba
    (Japanese Heavy Cruiser, 1927)

    Photographed after installation of a catapult and shields on her anti-aircraft guns, circa 1930-37.

    The original print, apparently from intelligence sources, was received by the Office of Navy Records and Library in 1938.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 48KB; 740 x 360 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97731

    Aoba
    (Japanese Heavy Cruiser, 1927)

    Photographed circa 1930-37, with a seaplane on her aircraft catapult.

    The original halftone photograph came from Rear Admiral Samuel Eliot Morison's World War II history project working files.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 87KB; 740 x 535 pixels

     

    For additional pictures related to the Japanese cruiser Aoba, see:

  • Aoba -- On Board & Distant Views, and Drawings; and
  • Aoba -- Sunk at Kure, Japan, 1945.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 9 November 2001