Hasegawa 1/350 IJN Yahagi Light Cruiser # Z026

IJN Yahagi was a light cruiser of the Agano class in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), commissioned during World War II.

Sleek, fast, and well-armed for her size, Yahagi was designed to lead destroyer flotillas and support fast-moving naval operations.

She became most well-known for her tragic final mission alongside the super battleship Yamato during Operation Ten-Go in 1945.

General Characteristics:
Class & Type: Agano-class light cruiser

Displacement:

Standard: ~6,652 tons
Full load: ~8,534 tons
Length: 174.1 meters (571 feet)
Speed: 35 knots (65 km/h / 40 mph)
Range: 6,300 nautical miles at 18 knots
Crew: Approx. 740–770 officers and sailors

Armament (As Built):

Main Guns:

6 × 152 mm (6-inch) guns (3 twin turrets)

Secondary Guns:

4 × 76 mm (3-inch) dual-purpose guns

Torpedoes:

2 × quadruple 610 mm torpedo launchers with Type 93 “Long Lance” torpedoes

Anti-Aircraft Guns:

Initially modest but increased throughout the war (Type 96 25 mm AA guns)

Aircraft:

2 seaplanes with 1 catapult

Design Role:
Yahagi was designed to act as a command ship for destroyer squadrons—fast, maneuverable, and capable of keeping up with destroyer screens.

She had good speed and torpedo capabilities but relatively light armor and anti-air defenses, which became a serious vulnerability later in the war.

Service History:
Commissioned in December 1943, Yahagi saw service in several major fleet operations during Japan’s declining naval power:

Battle of the Philippine Sea (1944)
Battle of Leyte Gulf (October 1944) – part of Rear Admiral Kurita’s Center Force, where she survived the deadly air and surface attacks that crippled the Japanese fleet

She served as flagship of Destroyer Squadron 10, frequently tasked with leading escort missions for battleships and carriers.

Operation Ten-Go and Final Fate:

In April 1945, Yahagi joined the famed but doomed Operation Ten-Go, a desperate suicide sortie aimed at attacking the U.S. invasion forces at Okinawa.

Alongside Yamato, she departed Japan with minimal air cover and limited fuel.

On April 7, 1945, Yahagi was attacked by massive waves of U.S. carrier-based aircraft.

After suffering multiple bomb and torpedo hits, she lost propulsion, capsized, and sank with heavy loss of life.

Over 400 of her crew perished, including her commanding officer.

Legacy:
IJN Yahagi symbolizes the bravery and sacrifice of Japan’s surface fleet in the final days of the Pacific War.

Though outmatched by Allied naval aviation, her crew and her mission reflect the determination of the Imperial Navy to fight to the end.