6th Nagara-class light cruiser (Total 6), named after the Abukuma River in the Tōhoku region of Japan
Battle of Shanghai (1938)
Attack on Pearl Harbor [7 December 1941) - Abukuma as the flagship of Rear Admiral Sentarō Ōmori's Destroyer Squadron 1 (with Shiranui, Arare, Kagerō, Kasumi, Tanikaze, Hamakaze, Isokaze, and Urakaze), served as anti-submarine escort for the six aircraft carriers (Akagi,Kaga, Sōryū, Hiryū, Shōkaku, Zuikaku), two battleships (Hiei and Kirishima) and two heavy cruisers (Tone and Chikuma)
Invasion of Rabaul, New Britain and Kavieng (January 1942)
Attacks on Java & targets in the Indian Ocean, including the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Hermes (end of February 1942 ~ 11 April 1942)
Battle of the Aleutian Islands (May 1942 ~ December 1942) - Abukuma escorted the light aircraft carriers Ryūjō and Jun'yō
refit at Sasebo (12 December 1942) - 2 x triple-mount Type 96 25 mm AA guns were installed. No. 5 14 cm naval gun & the quad 13.2 mm machine gun mount in front of the bridge were replaced by a twin 13.2 mm machine gun mount.
Battle of the Aleutian Islands (January 1943 ~ 26 March 1943) - Abukuma fired 95 rounds from her 140mm guns and four torpedoes. (with heavy cruiser Nachi [badly damaged])
refit at the Maizuru (April 1943 ~ May 1943) - Type 21 air-search radar was installed.
Evacuation of Kiska (Aleutian Islands) [26 July 1943] - Abukuma collided with kaibokan Kunashiri, and was damaged by bombs from USAAF B-24 Liberator and B-25 Mitchell.
repair & refit at Yokosuka (October 1943 ~ November 1943) - No. 7 naval gun was removed, and 1 x twin-mount Type 89 127 mm HA guns (unshielded), 1 x triple-mount Type 96 25 mm AA gun and 4 x single-mount 25 mm AA guns was fitted
refit at Yokosuka (21 June 1944 ~ 13 July 1944) - Type 22 surface-search radar was fitted. 10 x single-mount Type 96 25 mm AA guns & 5 x single-mount Type 93 13.2 mm machine guns were added (Total 30 x 25mm & 10 x 13mm AA guns)
Battle of Leyte Gulf - Battle of Surigao Strait (15 ~ 26 October 1944) - Abukuma was with the heavy cruisers Nachi, Ashigara and seven destroyers. On 25 October, Abukuma was hit by a torpedo from Lieutenant (jg) Mike Kovar's PT-137. Abukuma was bombed and sunk by USAAF B-24 Liberator on 26 October 1944. Destroyer Ushio rescued Abukuma's captain and 283 crewmen.
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