Tenryū

Ballistics

Armor Model

Overview

The design of the Tenryū-class cruisers was heavily influenced by the British Arethusa and C-class cruisers. The cruisers were intended to serve as destroyer leaders and operate alongside the Furutaka-class fleet scouts. Powerful steam turbines allowed them to achieve respectable speed despite their outdated mixed-firing boilers. The ships were equipped with new 140 mm main battery guns. The lead ship of the class was built in Yokosuka. During the 1920s and 1930s, Tenryū participated in interventions in Soviet Russia and Shanghai, and in the Second Sino-Japanese War. Tenryū took part in World War II. In 1941–42, it was used as an escort vessel during the invasions of New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. The cruiser participated in the Battle of Savo Island and the Guadalcanal Campaign. Near the port of Madang, Tenryū was torpedoed by the American submarine USS Albacore and sank on December 19, 1942.