5th Nagara-class light cruiser (Total 6), named after the Kinu River in Tochigi prefecture Japan.
Battles in the central and southern China (1937 ~ 1938)
Invasion of British Malaya (20 November 1941) - Kinu was flagship with submarines I-53, I-54, I-55, I-56, I-57, and I-58.
The Hunt for Force Z (Royal Navy battleship Prince of Wales, battlecruiser Repulse) on 9 December 1941.
Invasion of Malaya and Dutch East Indies (13 December 1941) - with Chōkai, Mogami & Mikuma. Destroyers Hatsuyuki and Shirayuki.
New Guinea campaigns (29 March 1942 ~ 6 June 1944)
refit at Kure (2 August 1943 ~ 14 October 1943) - No. 5 and No.7 140-mm guns were removed. A twin 12.7 cm Type 89 naval gun was fitted. 2 x triple mount Type 96 25-mm AA guns [Total 10 x 25-mm anti-aircraft gun (2x3, 2x2)]. A Type 21 air search radar was also fitted and depth charge rails were added to her stern.
Kinu & destroyer Uranami were sunk by U.S. aircraft at Masbate, Sibuyan Sea on 26 October 1944.
en
