Aoba was the third of four Furutaka-class heavy cruisers but her structural designs were far more different from her predecessors which allowed her to be the lead ship of her own class together with Kinugasa. Her construction was ordered under the 1923 fiscal year. The original plan for Aoba was to be the third of the Furutaka-class heavy cruisers but she was fitted with three newly designed 20cm (7.9 inch) 50 cal. 3rd Year Type ‘Type-C’ MK-I main naval turrets that somehow increased her total displacement compare to the Furutaka-class, eventually her engineers agreed to extensively modify the design of their superstructure and funnel that differ them to the Furutaka-class but the design of her hull which includes the machinery and the armor were pretty much identical to her predecessors. She was laid down on January 23, 1924 at Mitsubishi Shipyard; she was launched on September 25, 1926 and was commissioned on September 20, 1927. Her initial displacement was 7,100 tons, she’s equipped with 4 shaft Brown-Curtis geared turbines and 12 Kampon boilers capable of producing 102,000 horsepower, she carries 1,800 tons of fuel and 450 tons of coal, and she could run up to 36 knots. Asides of her newly designed main armaments; she was initially armed with four single 12cm (4.7 inch) 45cal. High-angled secondary cannons, two single 7.7mm machine guns and six twin 61cm (24 inch) torpedo tubes.
Pre-Pacific War
On December of 1927, Aoba was assigned to the CruDiv 5 together with Kinugasa, Kinugasa was the appointed flagship. By May 20, 1933, Aoba was transferred to the CruDiv 6. From November 15, 1935, Aoba was attached to the CruDiv 7 together with Kinugasa until November 30, 1936. On December 1, 1936, she was placed in reserve and undergone to a modernization.
During her reconstruction, her three main turrets were replaced with three twin 20.3cm (8-inch) 3rd Year Type ‘Type-C’ MK-II main naval turrets, her fire control system were modified except for her 12cm secondary guns. Her machine guns were replaced with four twin 25mm Type-96 auto-cannons around her aft funnel while a pair of twin 13.2mm Type-93 machine guns were installed at fore end of the bridge. Her six torpedo tubes were replaced with four quadruple 61cm torpedo tubes. Her aviation catapult was replaced with a heavier pattern and she now carried two E7K2 recon floatplanes. Her reconstruction increased her displacement to a total of 9,000 tons which decreased her speed to 33.43 knots. On September 1, 1937, her reconstruction was completed.
Beginning of the Pacific War
On November 15, 1940, she returned to active duty with the CruDiv 6. On November 30, 1941, Rear Admiral Goto Aritomo was placed command of the CruDiv 6; Aoba was assigned as flagship as Rear Admiral Goto’s flagship. On December 4, 1941, CruDiv 6 departed from Hahajima for the invasion of Guam. On December 10, 1941, the invasion force successfully landed 5,500 troops on Guam, CruDiv 6 departed for Truk on the same day. On December 13, 1941, CruDiv 6 departed from Truk to support the invasion force of Wake Island and on December 23, 1941, the Japanese captured Wake Island for their second attempt, CruDiv 6 departed for Truk afterwards and arrived on January 10, 1942.
On January 18, 1942, CruDiv 6 departed from Truk assist the invasion of Rabaul and Kavieng. On January 12, 1942, Aoba picked four RAAF crewmen from an Australian PBY patrol plane which was shot down by one of Shoukaku’s A6Ms. On January 23, 1942, CruDiv 6 takes position 60 nautical miles northwest of Rabaul to cover the invasion landings, on the next day; she refueled with oil tanker Iro. On January 26, 1942, she arrived at Rabaul to disembark four RAAF prisoners and put custody of the Rabaul’s 8th Special Base Force, Aoba departed afterwards. On January 30, 1942, Aoba arrives at Rabaul and sent the four prisoners ashore to the 8th Special Base Force headquarters, CruDiv 6 departed afterwards.
On March 2, 1942, CruDiv 6 departed from Truk to Rabaul, they arrived on March 5, 1942. On March 8, 1942, CruDiv 6 supported the invasion force to Lae and Salamaua, New Guinea, together with Tenryuu and Tastuta from CruDiv 18, the towns were occupied on the same day. On March 9, 1942 onwards, CruDiv 6 together with CruDiv 18 covered invasion forces to several areas in Solomon Islands and New Guinea, which are Buka, Shortland, Kieta, Manus and Admiralty Islands. On April 10, 1942, Aoba returned to Truk.
On April 30, 1942, the CruDiv 6 sortied from Truk and escorted Shouhou for the invasion force for Tulagi and Port Moserby in New Guinea. The group arrived at the Queen Carola anchorage near Buka on May 3, 1942; CruDiv 6 provided distant cover for the invasion force. On May 4, 1942, the invasion force occupied Tulagi and its nearby islands. Then Task Force 17 commanded by Rear Admiral Fletcher, which composed of USS Yorktown CV-5, 3 heavy cruisers and 6 destroyers, Yorktown launched three strikes at Tulagi, the airstrikes sunk Kikuzuki and three minesweepers and damaged four ships. On the same day CruDiv 6 was ordered to continue near Guadalcanal to pursuit the Task Force. On May 5, 1942, TF-17 turned around and engaged Vice Admiral Takagi’s Carrier Strike Force. CruDiv 6 arrived at Shorltand Islands and refuels from oil tanker Iro on the same day. On May 6, 1942, CruDiv 6 was attacked by four USAAF B-17 heavy bombers, the attack wasn’t successful.
On May 7, 1942, CruDiv 6 sortied from Shortland and rendezvous with Shouhou. At 11:00, within north of Tulaga Island, Shouhou was attacked by aircraft from USS Lexington CV-2 and USS Yorktown CV-5, CruDiv 6 was too far off cover the carrier, the USN carriers successfully sank Shouhou afterwards. On May 8, 1942, USN carriers attacked Shoukaku and Zuikaku from the 5th CarDiv, Shoukaku was damaged from the attack. 5th CarDiv countered heavily damaged Lexington which she was scuttled afterwards and damaged Yorktown. Furutaka and Kinugasa detached from CruDiv 6 and escorted Shoukaku to Truk while Aoba and Kako remained and provide cover for the withdrawing invasion force from Port Moserby.
On May 9, 1942, Aoba refueled at Shortland. The Japanese cancelled Operation MO because of the previous battle on May 10, 1942. On May 11, 1942, she departed from Shortland for the Queen Carola Harbor with Kako. On May 14, 1942, she departed from Buka and arrived on Truk on May 16, 1942 with Kako then on May 17, 1942; she departed from Truk and arrived at Kure on May 22, 1942. On May 25, 1942, she was docked until May 29, 1942. She departed from Kure with Kako and June 16, 1942 and joined CruDiv 18 for their training within the Bungo Channel. On June 23, 1942, she arrived at Truk and on June 30, 1942, she departed Truk with Kako. On July 5, 1942, she arrived at Kieta, Bougainville.
The Solomons Campaign
On July 14, 1942, the IJN undergone to a major reorganization, this also created the IJN 8th fleet commanded by Vice Admiral Mikawa Gunichi. On July 27, 1942, CruDiv 6 was reassigned to the IJN 8th Fleet, they were based at Kavieng. On August 7, 1942, CruDiv 6 sortied from Kavieng and proceeds to Guadalcanal. CruDiv 6 rendezvous with Choukai, Tenryuu, Yuubari and Yuunagi.
On August 8, 1942, at 06:25, Aoba launched her E13A1 floatplane which flied south of the Allied landing area and reconnoiters Tulagi. The floatplane returned at noon and made a report. At 23:12, Choukai, Furutaka and Kako launched their floatplanes and spotted the Allied ships, the planes dropped flares to illuminate the targets. On August 9, 1942, CruDiv 6 engaged Task Group 62.6 commanded by Rear Admiral Crutchley, which composed of 6 heavy cruiser, 2 light cruisers and 15 destroyers, TG-62.6 was ordered to provide cover to the transport ship for the invasion of Guadalcanal. The IJN ships opened fires against the Allied ships and sank heavy cruisers USS Astoria CA-34, USS Quincy CA-39, USS Vincennes CA-44 and HMAS Canberra and damaged heavy cruiser USS Chicago CA-29, destroyers USS Ralph Talbot DD-390 and USS Patterson DD-392. Vice Admiral Mikawa ordered to retreat immediately to avoid any possible Allied airstrikes. The engagement had damaged Choukai and Tenryuu while Kinguasa and Aoba received minimal damaged. Aoba lost all of her floatplanes from the engagement.
On August 10, 1942, while withdrawing towards Kavieng, USN submarine USS SS-44 SS-155 spotted them, the submarine fired four torpedoes three torpedoes hit Kako, Kako blows up and sunk afterwards. The rest of the CruDiv 6 arrived at Kavieng on the same day, Aoba undergone through emergency repairs afterwards. On August 17, 1942, Aoba departed from Kavieng, she arrived at the seaplane base at Rekata Bay, San Ysabel on August 19, 1942. On the next day, she departed from Rekata Bay and arrived at Shortland on August 22, 1942. On the next day, CruDiv 6 together with Choukai departed from Shortland to provide distant cover for the reinforcement convoys to Guadalcanal. On August 25, 1942, Aoba, Choukai, Kinugasa, Furutaka and Yura launched their floaplanes and bombed the Lunga area in Guadalancanal. On the next day, she arrived at Kieta. On August 27, 1942, she arrived at Shortland with Furutaka, Rear Admiral Goto conferred with Rear Admiral Tanaka, commander of DesRon 2. On August 28, 1942, floatplanes from Aoba spotted two transport ships, a cruiser and two destroyers in Tulagi Harbor, despite from this message; the IJN sent another reinforcement convoy to disembark at Lunga. On October 1, 1942, she reunites with CruDiv 6 at Shortland Islands.
On the Battle of Cape Esperance on October 11, 1942, CruDiv 6 with Fubuki and Hatsuyuki from DesDiv 11 departed from Shortland Islands to provide distant cover for the Tokyo Express by shelling Henderson Field. The IJN force engaged Task Force 64 commanded by Rear Admiral Scott, which composed of 2 heavy cruiser, 2 light cruisers and 4 destroyers. TF-64 was escorting transport ships to Guadalcanal before the engagement. At 22:35, USS Helena CL-50 detected the approaching IJN force from her radar, TF-64 reversed course and crossed the IJN's 'T'. Rear Admiral Goto, assumed that they were under friendly-fire, ordered a 180-degree turn that exposed each of his ships for the USN’s broadsides. The USN opened fires, Fubuki sunk in the engagement while Hatsuyuki was damaged. Aoba received forty 6-inch and 8-inch shells from the American ships which wrecked her bridge, disabled her No. 2 20.3cm turret, destroyed No. 3 20.3cm turret and puts four of her boilers offline. 80 of her men were killed and Rear Admiral Goto was mortally wounded. Furutaka and Kinugasa countered and damaged heavy cruiser USS Salt Lake City CA-25, light cruiser USS Boise CL-47, and destroyers USS Farenholt DD-491 and USS Duncan DD-485. Furutaka shine her searchlight to attract the American ships while Kinugasa tows the crippled Aoba while withdrawing from the fight. Furutaka and Duncan sunk on the next day.
On October 12, 1942, Rear Admiral Goto dies from his wounds aboard Aoba, Aoba and Kinugasa arrived at Shortland on that day. On the next day, she undergone through temporary repairs, she departs from Shortland Island afterwards. On October 15, 1942, she arrived at Truk, Admiral Yamamoto inspected her damages. On October 17, 1942, she refuels from oil tanker Nissho Maru and departed for Kure afterwards. She arrived at Kure on October 22, 1942, she undergoes through repairs afterwards. On November 10, 1942, her wrecked No. 3 turret was removed and was covered over with steel plates with a triple-mount 25mm Type-96 auto-cannons installed. Repairs were completed on February 15, 1943; she departed from Kure for Truk afterwards.
On February 20, 1943, she arrived on Truk. On February 28, 1943, she departed for Rabaul and arrived on March 2, 1943, she departed from Rabaul on the next day. On March 4, 194 she arrived at Moewe Anchorage, Kavieng. On April 3, 1943, B-17 heavy bombers from the USAAF’s 5th Air Force bombed Aoba. The bombers dropped their 500-lb bombs between 75 and 250 feet, they scored a direct hit on Aoba which ignited her Type-93 torpedoes aboard and set her on fire, the bombers also strafe her decks. Hatsuzuki assisted Aoba in fire-fighting. Aoba was breeched to avoid sinking. The bombers assumed that Aoba has been sunk from the attack. Aoba undergoes emergency repairs performed by repair ship Yamabiko Maru until April 20, 1943. On April 21, 1943, Aoba was towed by Sendai while being escorted by two destroyers. On April 25, 1943, she arrived at Truk and undergone through repairs by repairs ship Akashi which lasted for three months.
On July 25, 1943, she departed from Truk and on August 1, 1943, she arrived at Kure and undergone through battle damage repairs. Her triple-mouth 25mm Type-96 auto-cannons were removed and her No. 3 20.3cm turret was reconstructed and reinstalled. A Type-21 air-search and two twin-mouth 25mm Type-96 auto-cannons were installed. Aoba’s maximum speed was reduced to 25 knots due to her partially irreparable engine damaged. Repairs were completed on November 24, 1943.
First Southern Expeditionary Fleet
On November 25, 1943, she was reassigned to the First Southern Expeditionary Fleet; she departed from Kure on December 15, 1943. She arrived at Manila on December 20, 1943; she departed afterwards and proceeds to Singapore. She arrived at Singapore on December 24, 1943. On January 3, 1944, she departed from Singapore with Ashigara, Kuma and Uranami. She arrived at Penang on January 4, 1944; on the next day, she embarked troops and supplies and departed afterwards. On January 6, 1944, she arrived at Mergui, Burma and departed on the next day. On January 8, 1944, Kuma and Uranami detached to Penang and on January 9, 1944, she arrived at Singapore together with Ashigara. She undergone through refitting on January 11, 1944 at Singapore. On January 23, 1944, she departed Singapore together with Ooi, Kitakami and Kinu while being escorted by Shikinami. On January 25, 1944, she arrived at Port Blair and disembarked troops. On January 27, 1944, they were attacked by a British submarine HMS Templar, Kitakami was struck by two torpedoes and was towed by Kinu while being escorted by Shikinami, Aoba and Ooi; they arrived at Singapore afterwards.
16th Cruiser Division
On February 12, 1944, she departed from Singapore and undergone through training at Lingga, she returned to Singapore on February 22, 1944. On February 25, 1944, she designated as flagship of the CruDiv 16 commanded by Rear Admiral Sakonju Naomaso, she was together with Kinu. On February 27, 1944, she departed from Lingga with Tone and Chikuma escorted by Uranami. On March 1, 1944, she arrived at Banka and departed afterwards to raid the Indian Ocean as part of the Operation SA No. 1. On March 9, 1944, Tone sank British freighter SS Behar and captured 108 POWs, four of them died. On March 15, 1944, she arrived at Batavia, Java and disembarked 32 POWs. On March 18, 1944, Rear Admiral Sakonju ordered to "dispose" the remaining POWs, the POWs were beheaded. On March 25, 1944, she arrived at Singapore. On April 2, 1944, she departed from Singapore carrying ammunition together with Ooi and Kinu escorted by Amagiri and two unidentified destroyers. On April 4, 1944, she arrived at Balikpapan, Borneo; she refuels and took on fresh provisions. She departed from Balikpapan on the following day and arrived at Tarakan on April 9, 1944. She departed from Tarakan on the next day and returned to Balikpapan then returned to Singapore on April 14, 1944. On the next day, she departed from Singapore carrying torpedoes for SubRon 8 together with Ooi escorted by Amagiri at Penang. On April 18, 1944, she departed from Penang carrying personnel from 732nd Air Group and base materials with Ooi and Amagiri; she arrived on Singapore on the next day then carried personnel from 851st Air Group and base materials to Davao.
On April 22, 1944, they proceed to Makassar Strait at 24 knots. On April 23, 1944, Amagiri was struck by a naval mine dropped by an aircraft, the destroyer suffered severe damaged which sank her afterwards. Aoba and Ooi rescued crew from Amagiri. On April 24, 1944, she arrived at Tarakan and disembarked survivors from Amagiri. On April 27, 1944, she arrived at Davao and unloads supplies; she departed from Davao to Tarakan on the next day. On May 14, 1944, she was assigned on a transport run with Ooi and Shikinami. On May 17, 1944, she arrived at Palau; on May 19, 1944 she departed from Palau on a transport run to Sorong. On May 22, 1944, returned to Palau, she departs from Palau with Ooi and Shikinami for a transport run to Sorong on the following day. On May 27, 1944, Operation Horlicks commenced, she arrived at Tarakan and refuels. On May 30, 1944, she departed Tarakan and arrived at Zamboanga on the next day; she was assigned to cover Biak troop reinforcement convoy as part of Operation KON, she departed for Davao afterwards. On June 1, 1944, she arrived at Davao with Kinu and Shikinami. On June 2, 1944, she departed from Biak with the transport units and escort, the mission was aborted when two B-24 bombers were sighted. On June 4, 1944, she arrived at Waparim Bay, Waigeo Island, and then she departed for Sorong while escorted by Shigure. She arrived at Sorong on the same day and disembarked troops. On June 5, 1944, she departed Sorong with Kinu for Kabui Bay, Misoong Island. Rear Admiral Sakonju transferred his flag to Shikinami. A troop transport run to Biak was aborted due to enemy interception; Shikinami was damaged from an air attack due to strafing.
On June 6, 1944, at 17:05, five B-24 bombers from the USAAF’s 5th Air Force attacked Aoba on the bow and six bombers attacked 30 degrees to port, AA guns commenced firing. At 17:12, HA guns open fire at the six bombers formation. At 17:13, the six bombers dropped their bombs but caused no damage. At 17:14, main guns open fire at five bombers formation. At 17:16, the five bombers dropped their bombs but no damage. At 17:27, she headed for the bay entrance while having evasive maneuvers and returning fire with her main and HA guns. At 18:05, bombers were lost from sight at a range of 35,000 meters, Aoba expended 97 rounds of her main guns and 126 of her HA guns. The bombers unsuccessfully attacked Aoba; she departed from Kabui Bay on the same day.
On June 7, 1944, she rendezvous with DesDiv 19 and DesDiv 27 together with Kinu north of Misool Island; she departed at Misool on the same day. On June 8 to 9, 1944, she arrived at Ambon to refuel then to Salawati Island. On June 10, 1944, Rear Admiral Sakonju transferred the flag back to Aoba; she arrived at Batjan on the next day. On June 14, 1944 to June 27, 1944, she streamed to Obi Major Island, Banka Roads, and Makasaar. On June 28, 1944, she departed Makasaar to Singapore. On July 2, 1944, she arrived at Singapore for a refit. On July 4, 1944, she was docked, four triple-mount and fifteen single mount 25-mm Type-96 auto-cannons were installed and Type 22 surface-search radar was fitted. She was undocked on July 15, 1944.
On July 24, 1944, she departed from Singapore and arrives and Lingga, she undergone through training. On September 9, 1944, she receives fresh provision replenishment from store ship Kitakami Maru. On October 11, 1944, she collided with light cruiser Kinu, she was slightly damaged. On October 18, 1944, she departed from Lingga for Brunei with Kinu and First Raiding Force commanded by Vice Admiral Kurita. She arrived at Brunei on October 20, 1944. On October 23, 1944, she detached from the First Raiding Force and proceeds to Manila with Kinu and Uranami. On October 23, 1944, she was spotted by USN submarine USS Bream SS-243. At 04:30, Bream fired six torpedoes, one torpedo struck Aoba at her No. 2 engine room and takes on a 13 degrees list to starboard. At 08:15, she was towed by Kitakami to Cavite Navy Yard. On October 24, 1944, while emergency repairs were currently on progress, she was attacked by TF-38’s aircraft at Cavite Navy Yard and she was attacked again on October 29, 1944.
Convoy MATA-31
On November 5, 1944, she departed from Manila with Kumano in Convoy MATA-31 which consisted of 15 ships in total; land base bombers were providing air-cover for theconvoy. The convoy was spotted by USS Batfish SS-310; Batfish attacked the convoy but misses. On November 6, 1944, the convoy was one again attacked at Cape Bolinao, Luzon by submarines USS Guitarro SS-363, USS Bream SS-243, USS Raton SS-270 and USS Ray SS-271. The submarines fired a total of 23 torpedoes; two torpedoes hit Kumano while Aoba was not hit. On November 11, 1944, she arrived at Takao, Formosa and undergone further repairs. On December 9, 1944, she departed Takao. On December 12, 1944, she arrived at Kure and was deemed irreparable.
Defense of Kure Harbor
On February 25, 1945, she was reassigned to Kure Naval Station and on February 28, 1945, she was rated as reserved ship. On March 19, 1945, 6 standard carriers and 1 light carrier from TF-38 launched more than 240 planes and made their first attack at Kure Naval Arsenal. On April 24, 1945, Aoba was heavily damaged by aircraft from TF-38 and settles on shallow waters. On June 20, 1945, four additional twin 25-mm Type-96 auto-cannons, she has now five triples, ten doubles, and fifteen singles AA guns for a total of 50 barrels; she was rerated as a special guard ship. On July 24, 1945, Aoba was attacked by 30 aircraft from TF-38; she was struck by a bomb and a near-miss which caused flooding. She takes on a list to starboard. At 22:00, Aoba settles to the bottom within 25 feet below. On July 28, 1945, Aoba’s hulk was attacked by about 10 aircraft from TF-38; her hulk takes four bomb hits and was set afire. At 16:00, she was attacked by B-24 bombers from the USAAF’s 7th Air Force; the bombers were attracted by the fire that was set by the previous aircraft. Aoba was struck by four 500-lb bombs which split her hull and then her stern breaks off. The numbers of casualties was unknown but CO. Muruyama survived the attacks. On August 15, 1945, she was rerated to a Reserve Ship and was removed from the naval list on November 20, 1945. On November of 1946, she was dismantled by Harima shipbuilding.
Aoba was sunk on July 28, 1945, at Kure, Hiroshima. Her chrysanthemum crest and the tail of her main gun barrel was displayed at the Kure Maritime Museum.
"It feels like the light would shine even in the harshest battles."
... as it were.
The wolf of SolomonBright and full of curiosityAoba is constructed on Febuary 4th Taishou 13 (1924).
The main difference with Furutaka class is that the main gun is replaced with three twin turrets.
Her name Aoba is from Mount Aoba, located between Kyoto and Fukui.
A navy author named Umino Juuzou is also part of her crew, so KanColle's Aoba became a character who loves to do reportage.Aoba is a lucky ship who still get to fight to the last even after getting heavily damaged thrice.
Because she always came back after being damaged, she got nickname Wolf of Solomon (note: there's various opinion regarding this).
Showa 15: Aoba is a part of the 6th Cruiser Division operating in attack on Rabaul. During the Battle of Cape Esperance, she mistaken the enemy fleet as friendly, she gave light signal saying "I am Aoba" and got heavily damaged by radar assisted fires. She's returned to Kure for repairs.
Second time is when she's attacked by dive bombers near Kavieng. She received emergency repair and returned to Japan again for repair.
Third time is when doing logistic shipment for the Battle of Leyte Gulf in Showa 19. She's heavily damaged and it took 50 days for her to return to Kure.
But because of the extensive damage, she can't be repaired and instead she fought to her last as a floating AA gun platform. She sunk to the bottom during air raid and finally scrapped at the end of the war.
Her chrysanthemum crest and main gun is still preserved up to this day.Lead ship of the Aoba class heavy cruisersAnyway, the cute thing of Aoba is how she's active, cheerful and easily pushed her luck.
Being curious and enjoys doing interviews are also interesting building part of her character.
Just by having her in your fleet, it feels like the light would shine even in the harshest battles.
I also like her medium damage line, "Maybe my firepower is not enough...", it shows the weak side of that girl who's always so spirited.
Of course, I'll send her to dock as soon as she returned.