List of cruiser classes of the Imperial Japanese Navy

This is a list of cruisers of the Imperial Japanese Navy built between 1885 and 1945.

Armoured cruisers (Sōkō jun'yōkan) Ship Builder Class and type Displacement (tons) Commissioned into IJN FateAsamaArmstrong Whitworth, UKAsama-class armoured cruiser9,70018 March 189930 November 1945; ScrappedTokiwaArmstrong Whitworth, UKAsama-class armoured cruiser9,70018 May 18999 August 1945; destroyed by USN aircraft at OminatoYakumoStettiner Vulcan AG, GermanyArmoured cruiser9,64620 June 190020 July 1946; scrappedAzumaSaint-Nazaire shipyards, FranceArmoured cruiser9,30728 July 190015 February 1944; ScrappedIzumoArmstrong Whitworth, UKIzumo-class armoured cruiser9,75025 September 190024 July 1945; destroyed at mooring by USN aircraft at KureIwateArmstrong Whitworth, UKIzumo-class armoured cruiser9,75018 March 190126 July 1945; destroyed at mooring by USN aircraft at KureKasugaGio. Ansaldo & C., ItalyKasuga-class armoured cruiser7,6804 January 190418 July 1945; destroyed at mooring by USN aircraft at YokosukaNisshinGio. Ansaldo & C., ItalyKasuga-class armoured cruiser7,6897 January 190418 January 1942; scuttled 1936TsukubaKure Naval Arsenal, JapanTsukuba-class armoured cruiser13,75014 January 190714 January 1917; Accidental explosionIkomaKure Naval Arsenal, JapanTsukuba-class armoured cruiser13,75028 March 190820 September 1923; ScrappedIbukiKure Naval Arsenal, JapanIbuki-class armoured cruiser14,6361 November 190920 September 1923; ScrappedAsoLa Seyne-sur-Mer, FranceBayan-class armoured cruiser7,72630 November 19081 April 1931; Retired; subsequently expended as target off Izu OshimaKuramaYokosuka Naval Arsenal, JapanIbuki-class armoured cruiser14,63628 February 191120 September 1923; Scrapped

Note that the four Tsukuba and Ibuki class armoured cruisers were re-classed as "battlecruisers" by the Imperial Japanese Navy in 1912.

Battlecruisers (jun'yōsenkan)

Ship Builder Class and type Displacement (tons) Commissioned into IJN FateKongōVickers Shipbuilding, Barrow-in-FurnessKongō-class battlecruiser26,230 16 August 191321 November 1944; sunk by in the Formosa Strait HieiYokosuka Naval Arsenal, JapanKongō-class battlecruiser26,230 4 August 191413 November 1942; sunk by USN ships and aircraft in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal HarunaKawasaki, KobeKongō-class battlecruiser26,23019 April 191528 July 1945; sunk by USN aircraft at Kure KirishimaMitsubishi, NagasakiKongō-class battlecruiser26,23019 April 191515 November 1942; sunk by in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal

Heavy cruisers (jū jun'yōkan) Ship Builder Class and type Displacement (tons) Commissioned into IJN FateFurutakaMitsubishi, NagasakiFurutaka-class heavy cruiser9,15031 March 192612 October 1942; Sunk by USN cruisers, Battle of Cape EsperanceKakoKawasaki, KobeFurutaka-class heavy cruiser9,15030 July 192610 August 1942; Sunk by off New Ireland (island)AobaMitsubishi, NagasakiAoba-class heavy cruiser10,82220 September 192728 July 1945; Sunk by USN aircraft, Kure, raised and scrapped post war.KinugasaKawasaki, KobeAoba-class heavy cruiser10,82230 September 192714 November 1942; Sunk by USN aircraft at Naval Battle of GuadalcanalMyōkōYokosuka Naval Arsenal, JapanMyōkō-class heavy cruiser13,30031 July 19298 June 1946; Scuttled in the Strait of Malacca after surrender to the Royal Navy NachiKure Naval Arsenal, JapanMyōkō-class heavy cruiser13,30028 November 19285 November 1944; Sunk by USN aircraft at Manila BayAshigaraKawasaki, KobeMyōkō-class heavy cruiser13,3008 February 19298 June 1945; Sunk by HMS Trenchant in Bangka StraitHaguroMitsubishi, NagasakiMyōkō-class heavy cruiser13,30025 April 192916 May 1945; Sunk by Royal Navy at Battle of the Malacca StraitTakaoYokosuka Naval Arsenal, JapanTakao-class heavy cruiser15,49031 May 193229 October 1946; Sunk as a target ship in the Strait of Malacca after surrender to the Royal NavyAtagoKure Naval Arsenal, JapanTakao-class heavy cruiser15,49030 March 193223 October 1944; Sunk by at in Palawan Passage during the Battle of Leyte GulfChōkaiMitsubishi, NagasakiTakao-class heavy cruiser15,49030 June 193225 October 1944; Sunk by USN during Battle off SamarMayaKawasaki, KobeTakao-class heavy cruiser15,49030 June 193223 October 1944; Sunk by at in the Palawan Passage during the Battle of Leyte GulfMogamiKure Naval Arsenal, JapanMogami-class heavy cruiser13,44028 July 193525 October 1944; Scuttled after Battle of the Surigao StraitMikumaMitsubishi, NagasakiMogami-class heavy cruiser13,44029 August 19356 June 1942; Sunk by USN aircraft, Battle of MidwaySuzuyaYokosuka Naval Arsenal, JapanMogami-class heavy cruiser13,44031 October 193725 October 1944; Scuttled after Battle off SamarKumanoKawasaki, KobeMogami-class heavy cruiser13,44031 October 193725 November 1944; Sunk by USN aircraft at Santa Cruz, PhilippinesToneMitsubishi, NagasakiTone-class heavy cruiser15,20020 November 193824 July 1945; Sunk at Etajima, Hiroshima, raised and scrapped post war.ChikumaMitsubishi, NagasakiTone-class heavy cruiser15,20020 May 193925 October 1944; Sunk at Battle off Samar

Protected cruisers (Bōgo jun'yōkan) & unprotected cruisers (Mubōbina jun'yōkan) Ship Builder Class and type Displacement (tons) Commissioned into IJN FateArmstrong Whitworth, United KingdomTsukushi-class unprotected cruiser1,35018 June 188326 May 1906; Decommissioned; Scrapped in 1911Armstrong Whitworth, United KingdomNaniwa-class protected cruiser3,6501 December 188512 August 1912; Grounded off Urup, Kurile IslandsArmstrong Whitworth, United KingdomNaniwa-class protected cruiser3,6501 December 188517 October 1914; Torpedoed during the Battle of TsingtaoForges et Chantiers de la Gironde, FranceProtected cruiser3,61518 October 1886December 1886; Vanished in South China SeaYokosuka Naval ArsenalUnprotected cruiser1,75016 November 18891 April 1911; Decommissioned; Scrapped in 1912Yokosuka Naval ArsenalUnprotected cruiser1,58415 March 18901 April 1911; Decommissioned; Scrapped in 1912John Brown & Company, United KingdomProtected cruiser3,6151 January 189128 February 1927; Decommissioned; Expended as target on 5 August 1927Ateliers et Chantiers de la Loire, FranceUnprotected cruiser74127 November 189230 November 1892; Sunk after collision with SS Ravenna, Seto Inland SeaSociété Nouvelle des Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerranée, FranceMatsushima-class protected cruiser4,2175 April 189230 April 1908; Sunk after accidental explosion, Makung, Pescadores IslandsSociété Nouvelle des Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerranée, FranceMatsushima-class protected cruiser4,2783 September 189112 March 1926; Decommissioned and scrappedYokosuka Naval ArsenalMatsushima-class protected cruiser4,28726 June 18941 April 1922; Decommissioned; Scrapped in 1927Armstrong Whitworth, United KingdomProtected cruiser4,15030 September 189315 May 1904; Sunk after collision with , Yellow SeaYokosuka Naval ArsenalProtected cruiser3,10031 March 189410 January 1927; Decommissioned and scrappedArmstrong Whitworth, United KingdomUnprotected cruiser65031 July 189426 March 1926; Decommissioned and scrappedArmstrong Whitworth, United KingdomProtected cruiser2,9208 January 18951 April 1912; Decommissioned; Scrapped in 1913Stettiner Vulcan AG GermanyProtected cruiser2,44016 March 1895 (as prize of war)30 November 1904; Mined off Port ArthurYokosuka Naval ArsenalSuma-class protected cruiser2,65712 December 18964 April 1923; Decommissioned; Scrapped in 1928Yokosuka Naval ArsenalSuma-class protected cruiser2,65730 March 18991 April 1928; Decommissioned; Expended as target in 1930Union Iron Works, United StatesKasagi-class protected cruiser4,9001 March 18981 April 1928; Decommissioned; Expended as target off Shikoku in 1931William Cramp & Sons, United StatesKasagi-class protected cruiser4,90024 October 18988 October 1916; Grounded off Tsugaru StraitArmstrong Whitworth, United KingdomProtected cruiser4,16017 May 189813 December 1904; Mined off Port ArthurKure Naval ArsenalUnprotected cruiser1,77231 March 189914 May 1904; Mined off Port ArthurYokosuka Naval ArsenalUnprotected cruiser1,2389 September 19011 September 1929; Decommissioned; Scrapped in 1939Yokosuka Naval ArsenalNiitaka-class protected cruiser3,36627 January 190426 August 1923; Sunk by typhoon off Kamchatka PeninsulaKure Naval ArsenalNiitaka-class protected cruiser3,36614 February 19041 April 1940; Decommissioned; Expended as target off Miura in 1944Yokosuka Naval ArsenalProtected cruiser3,0006 September 190410 August 1917; Grounded off Mie PrefectureSchichau shipyards, Danzig, GermanyProtected cruiser3,08020 August 1906 (as prize of war)1 April 1913; Decommissioned and scrappedWilliam Cramp & Sons, United StatesProtected cruiser6,5009 July 1907 (as prize of war)5 April 1916; Sold back to RussiaAdmiralty Shipyard, RussiaProtected cruiser6,93222 August 1908 (as prize of war)1 April 1922; Decommissioned; Scuttled off Yokosuka on 27 May 1924Kawasaki Yards, KobeYodo-class protected cruiser1,2508 April 19081 April 1940; Decommissioned; Scrapped in 1945Mitsubishi Yards, NagasakiYodo-class protected cruiser1,35016 September 19081 April 1928; Decommissioned; Scrapped in 1929Sasebo Naval ArsenalProtected cruiser4,9005 May 19101 April 1931; Decommissioned; Expended as target in 1933Sasebo Naval ArsenalChikuma-class protected cruiser5,04017 May 19121 April 1931; Decommissioned; Expended as target in 1935Kawasaki Yards, KobeChikuma-class protected cruiser5,04017 June 19121 April 1940; Decommissioned; Scrapped in 1947Mitsubishi Yards, NagasakiChikuma-class protected cruiser5,04027 June 19121 April 1940; Decommissioned; Scrapped in 1947

Light cruisers (Kei jun'yōkan)