was the fifth and last of the five light cruisers, which served with the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. She was named after the Kiso River in central Honshū, Japan.
Background
After the construction of the s, the demerits of the small cruiser concept became apparent. At the end of 1917, plans for an additional six Tenryū-class vessels, plus three new-design 7,200 ton-class scout cruisers were shelved, in place of an intermediate 5,500 ton-class vessel which could be used as both a long-range, high speed reconnaissance ship, and also as a command vessel for destroyer or submarine flotillas. was the lead ship of the five vessels in this class which were built from 1918-1921.
Design
The Kuma-class vessels were essentially enlarged versions of the Tenryū-class cruisers, with greater speed, range, and weaponry.
With improvements in geared-turbine engine technology, the Kuma-class vessels were capable of the high speed of , and a range of at . The number of 14 cm/50 3rd Year Type naval guns was increased from three on the Tenryū class to seven on the Kuma class and provision was made for 48 naval mines. However, the two triple torpedo launchers on the Tenryū class were reduced to two double launchers, and the Kuma class remained highly deficient in anti-aircraft protection, with only two 8 cm/40 3rd Year Type naval guns.
Kiso was unique in her class in that she was initially built with an aircraft hangar in the front of her bridge, which made her bridge higher than that of her sister ships. Kiso was also given anti-rain caps on her two forward stacks, which gave her a unique appearance.
Service career
Early career
Kiso was completed on 4 May 1921 at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Nagasaki shipyards. Soon after completion, Kiso was fitted with both a forward and an aft flat superstructure, with a rotating floatplane take-off platform located aft for experimental and testing purposes.
Kiso was then assigned to cover the landings of Japanese troops in Siberia during Japan's Siberian Intervention against the Red Army. She was subsequently based at Port Arthur, and patrolled the China coast between the Kwantung Leased Territory and Qingdao.
By February 1929, Kiso along warships of other nations was stationed at Zhifu in order to prevent the outbreak of anti-foreigner pogroms amid the Warlord Rebellion in northeastern Shandong.
On 17 April 1939, Kiso fired a 21-gun salute as the cruiser arrived at Yokohama carrying the remains of Hiroshi Saito, the Japanese ambassador to the United States, who had died while on assignment to Washington D.C.
Operations in northern waters
On 10 November 1941, Kiso was assigned to CruDiv 21 in the IJN 5th Fleet under Vice Admiral Boshirō Hosogaya, and was painted in Arctic camouflage for operations in northern waters. At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Kiso was patrolling in the Kuril islands, and after suffering hull damage due to severe weather, was forced to return to Yokosuka Naval Arsenal for repairs by the end of the year. From January to end April 1942, Kiso resumed patrols in northern waters, accompanied by her sister ship, .
In April, after the Doolittle Raid, Kiso was one of many vessels sent in unsuccessful pursuit of US Navy Task Force 16 with the aircraft carriers , and . Shells from Kisos main batteries scuttled guard boats No. 26 Nanshin Maru and No. 1 Iwate Maru after those vessels had been damaged by planes from Enterprise during the Doolittle Raid.
In May 1942, Kiso accompanied the converted seaplane tender on a scouting mission to Kiska and Adak, in the Aleutian Islands. The Adak mission was successful, but Kiska was obscured by weather. On 28 May 1942, Kiso was part of the Battle of the Aleutian Islands, in "Operation AL" (the seizure of Attu and Kiska). The invasion force landed troops on Kiska on 7 June 1942, with Kiso covering. On 10 June 1942, offshore Kiska, Kiso and several other ships and a few destroyers were attacked by a formation of six USAAF B-24 Liberator bombers. Kiso was undamaged. Likewise, on 14 June 1942 Kiso was attacked by PBY Catalina flying boats, with a number of near misses. Kiso returned safely to Mutsu Bay on 24 June 1942.