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A single stack, uncluttered deck, and slow speed of 18 knots immediately distinguish the Katori-class auxiliary cruisers from other Japanese light cruisers, which typically crammed as much gunnery and engine power as possible into a hull. The reason is that Katori class cruisers were originally designed as training ships. With the Pacific War, they were first called into service as flagships for submarine fleets and to command escort squadrons, rather than more demanding, front-line combat roles. The ships were upgraded as the war progressed with additional anti-aircraft guns and depth charges.
Katori was completed in April 1940 and was based at nearby Yokosuka.
On 11 November 1941 Vice Admiral Mitsumi Shimizu convened a briefing of his commanders aboard the Sixth Fleet's flagship, Katori on the planned attack on Pearl Harbor. Katori departed for Truk on 24 November 1941. At the time of the Pearl Harbor attack, Katori was at Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands. Katori returned to Truk by the end of 1941.
On 1 February 1942, Katori came under attack at Kwajalein by Douglas "Dauntless" SBDs and TBD Devastators from the USS Enterprise. Vice Admiral Shimizu was wounded in the raid, and Katori sustained enough damage to warrant a return to Yokosuka for repairs. It returned to Kwajalein in May.
Katori returned briefly to Yokosuka in August 1942 for upgrading with two twin Type 96 25 mm AA guns, which were fitted in the forward part of the bridge. It then returned to Truk, where it continued to be based (with occasional returns to Yokosuka).
On 21 June 1943 Vice Admiral Takeo Takagi assumed command of the Sixth Fleet (Submarines), but after the fall of Kwajalein Katori was reassigned on 15 February 1944 to the General Escort Command.
American Task Force 58 with fifty-three warships, attacked Truk on 17-18 February 1944. Katori had departed Truk shortly before the attack, destroyers Maikaze and Nowaki, and minesweeping trawler Shonan maru No.15 towards Yokosuka, but came under attack by Grumman F6F Hellcat fighters and TBF Avenger torpedo-bombers from American carriers. Katori hit by a torpedo which did minor damage. However, several hours later, USN battleships and cruisers spotted the Katori group and opened fire. The screening destroyers fired six salvos of torpedoes at Katori (which was already listing slightly to port and on fire amidships), but all torpedoes missed. Katori responded with a salvo of torpedoes which were equally ineffective.
The Iowa closed with Katori and fired dozens of 16-inch and 5-inch shells, straddling the cruiser with eight salvos. Just after Iowa's fourth salvo, Katori quickly listed to port exposing two large shell holes about six feet in diameter in her starboard side, plus about six small holes. After being under attack by the Iowa for only 11 minutes, Katori sank stern first about 40 miles northwest of Truk. A large group of survivors were seen in the water after she sank, but the Americans did not recover any.
Katori was officially stricken from the Navy list on 31 March 1944.
Sources: Public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
and pictures from my father's 1943 Naval Recognition Manual
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