Japanese cruiser Ōyodo

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Ōyodo was a Japanese light cruiser built for the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II, and the only ship of her class to be completed. She was designed to command submarine squadrons, using reconnaissance floatplanes to direct attacks far from friendly ships. By the time she was finished in 1943, the navy found that role outdated, so she mostly served as a transport and as an escort for Japan’s capital ships.

Construction and design
Ōyodo was based on the Agano class but redesigned to fit her new role. She carried six 155 mm main guns in two triple turrets, a strong light anti-aircraft battery, and a large aircraft facility: a hangar for several floatplanes and a powerful catapult for reconnaissance. She also mounted radar and a substantial array of anti-aircraft guns. The ship’s armor was built to protect critical areas such as the propulsion and magazine spaces. She was named after the Ōyodo River in Kyūshū and was built at Kure Naval Arsenal, laid down in 1941, launched in 1942, and commissioned in 1943.

Early service
Ōyodo entered service without radar and received a Type 21 early-warning set in 1943. Because her original scouting role was no longer needed, she spent 1943–1944 mainly as a transport and as an escort for the fleet’s battleships and carriers. In early 1944 she was damaged slightly while helping transport troops and supplies, then returned to Japan for a refit.

Flagship and major operations
Starting in March 1944, Ōyodo was converted to serve as the flagship of the Combined Fleet, with its command staff aboard. Admiral Soemu Toyoda used her to help direct operations, and she carried out reconnaissance duties for the fleet when possible. In October 1944 she took part in the Battle off Cape Engaño, acting as an escort for the carrier force that attempted to lure American carriers away from the rest of the Japanese fleet. In December 1944 she operated in the Philippines area, and in early 1945 she helped transport aviation fuel and other strategic materials back to Japan as part of Operation Kita. She was damaged several times during these operations but remained in service after temporary repairs.

Final battles and sinking
In March 1945 Ōyodo was damaged by American carrier aircraft and required repairs, which were completed by May. On July 28, 1945, during renewed air attacks on the Kure area, she was hit by multiple bombs. The damage caused a fire and flooding, and the ship capsized days later. About 300 crew were killed. After the war, Ōyodo was raised, scrapped, and removed from the navy list in November 1945; her wreck was demolished in 1947–1948.

Legacy
Ōyodo was the only ship completed in her class, and her design blended a heavy gun armament with a large aircraft facility intended to support submarine warfare. The second ship planned for the class, Niyodo, was canceled after Ōyodo occupied the slipway. Her service life shows how quickly Japan’s naval priorities shifted during the war, from submarine reconnaissance to fleet protection and supply operations.