Markings
I.J.N. July, 1942 (after anti-aircraft weapons are increased)
I.J.N. December, 1941 (the outbreak of war)
The Tenryu was a Japanese light cruiser whose keel was laid in 1917, launched in March 1918, and commissioned in the Imperial Japanese Navy in November 1919. The ship was 142.6 m long, 12.3 m wide, and had a full displacement of 4,600 tons. Cruiser Tenryu's maximum speed was 33 knots. At the time of launching, the main armament was 4 140 mm guns in single positions, and the additional armament was, among others: 2 triple 533 mm torpedo tubes.
The Tenryu was the first cruiser of the type to bear the same name - ie the Tenryu. Units of this type were built as light and very fast cruisers, intended to act as the so-called "Leaders" - that is, guides of a destroyer flotilla. When designing them, particular emphasis was placed on speed at the expense of armor or larger on-board weapons of a larger caliber. The cruiser Tenryu in the 1930s performed primarily patrol functions off the coast of China, and in 1938 actively supported the Japanese landing in the Canton region. The cruiser combat route during World War II began with fighting in the area of Wake Island in December 1941, and in early 1942 supported further landing operations in New Ireland and New Britain. Tenryu took a very active part in the battles for Guadalcanal - he took part in he fought during the Battle of Savo Island on the night of August 8-9, 1942. Tenryu was sunk on December 18, 1942 by the USS Albacore submarine.
