Katori was the first of a class of four ships designed specifically for the training role. The first two, Katori and Kashima were built under the 1937 Fleet Replenishment program and were completed in April and May of 1940. Kashi, the third ship, was built under the 1939 program and completed in July 1941. The fourth ship, Kashiwara, was not completed. As they were intended for training purposes, fitted for foreign cruises, the accommodation was more spacious than a normal Japanese man-of-war. They were equipped with two 14cm twin turrets, one 12.7 HA twin mount, two twin 25mm and four single 25mm anti-aircraft guns. Two twin 45cm torpedo mounts were fitted and the propulsion units consisted of both turbines and diesels so engineering personnel could be trained for both types of powerplants.

Both Katori and Kashima completed one training cruise before the outbreak of war. When war was imminent all three ships were enlisted into the combined fleet. Though not regular combat ships in any sense their expanded accommodations, (luxurious by IJN standards), made them ideal choices for flagships or depot ships. The only modification made for their more war-like role was the addition of more 25mm mounts.

Katori became the flagship for the 6th. submarine flotilla. She was based at Truk and was damaged by bombing at Truk on February 17,1944 by aircraft of TF 58. She was sunk the same day by the US cruisers Minneapolis and New Orleans and destroyers Radford and Burns about 40 miles NW of Truk.

Kashi was the flagship of the 1st South Seas Flotilla at Seletar until mid 1944. She then returned home for refit and served again briefly as a training ship. She then was re-constructed similar to Kashima and served as flagship to the Escort Fleet and was sunk by aircraft of TF 38 on January 12, 1945, position about 55 miles off Cape Varela, Indo-China.

Kashima served as the flagship of the 4th Fleet stationed at Truk until late 1943. She then returned home and served as the training ship for the War College at Etajima. In late 1944 she was re-constructed as the flagship for the Anti-submarine force on the China Coast. Torpedo tubes were removed and replaced with two additional 12.7 HA twin mounts. 25mm mounts were increased to 20 (4x2 -4x3). Later ten additional 25mm single mounts and six l3mm single mounts were added. The catapult and seaplane are believed to have been removed at this time. Depth charge racks and throwers were added on the quarter-deck with 100 charges carried. (Some sources state that these modifications occurred in mid 1943.) Kashima was damaged by aircraft of TF 38 on July 30, 1945 at Maizura. Returning home for repairs she was surrendered and used for repatriation duties until November 15, 1946. She was then scrapped at Koyakijima, near Nagasaki.

Kits of all three ships are marketed by Aoshima. These are among the worst of the waterline series. Almost every part must be modified or replaced to arrive at an acceptable level of accuracy. Part of the problem is lack of documentation. There are several drawings of these ships including an incomplete set of builders plans. Photos are mostly pre-war. None of the drawings are in agreement and the builders plan differs in some details from what can be seen in photos. None of the drawings appear to be entirely correct. This brings to mind a point that is often overlooked. When using drawings, use caution. They are nothing more than one draftsman's interpretation. Even the builders plan, in this case, does not match up with some of the photographic evidence. Obviously changes were made at the time of construction and probably the modified drawings did not survive. None of the English language sources consulted agree as to the details of the refits or when these were done. The plans here are my own interpretation of all of this conflicting data.

Regardless of which armament layout is decided upon, there are some basic errors in the Aoshima kit that must be dealt with. The worst is in the hull. The break in the forecastle deck and main deck is not square but follows the outline of the side plating! Crude beyond belief!. Fortunately the plastic is solid here and can be carved away to a 90 degree meeting of the vertical and horizontal surfaces. The side plating can then be restored with .010 card. The plastic Aoshima uses is soft enough that this is fairly easy to do with just a number 11 X-acto blade and files. The lower bridge structure molded onto the hull needs to be shortened aft by about 1/8". There is a walkway athwartship and three steel supports for the overhanging deck above. Aoshima has this structure coming back flush with the forecastle break.

ALL of the guns should be discarded and replaced with the items from the Skywave weapons sets. Not only are the main turrets crude but they are the wrong size and shape. Boat chocks should be made, three per boat on the main deck and two for the boats beside the bridge. The ships boats should also be replaced by Skywave parts. The masts are inaccurate and very heavy. Get rid of them and replace with rod and sprue. The catapult can be replaced by Skywave's or with Perry's etched unit from the Yamato set. All directors should be replaced by Skywave parts.

Well, there is not much of the kit left at this point. Some of the bridge structure and aft structure can be used with modification. The lower bridge (part 1) level was used with little change apart from removing the deck supports and replacing them with card or sprue. Add plastic card to the front face of the bridge structure to lengthen it as in the plan. File away the splinter shields and re-shape the angle and blend with the deckhouse below. Add new splinter shields with .010 card. The searchlight tubs were replaced by USN director tubs from the Skywave USN weapons set.

The next level up (part 2) is even worse. The part is a rectangle and out of proportion with the bridge structure mislocated. The best approach is to cut away the entire platform leaving only the bridge structure. Thin down the bottom with a file by .020 to keep the height constant. Cut a new platform from .020 and cement on the bridge. Get rid of the locating pins on the top of part 1. There should be very little overhang at the front of this deck, unlike the arrangement shown by Aoshima. The walls of the structure below, (angled portion forward), will no longer match up and have to be re-shaped to match the angle of the new deck platform. Refer to the sketch comparison drawings and the plans, which should make all of this clear.

The signal platform, (aft side of bridge, part 5) is again misshaped and should be a five sided shape as in the plan. It is easiest to throw away the kit part and make a replacement from .020 card with .010 rails. These can be open brass rails but most photos show them solid, actually open railings with canvas covers. There are three supporting posts from this deck to the overhanging bridge top above.

The aft superstructure is fairly close, just needs to be refined a little. The three supports on either deck edge should be cut away and replaced with sprue. Rails, either solid or open, should be added to the top, forward of the large director.

At the funnel base, on each side, add a paravane hung on the side of the structure and a small handling derrick. Cut off those clunky "depth charge" racks from the stern. Hollow out the top of the funnel and add exhaust pipes and two or three external pipes. The bollard plates are correct in style, (unique to this class), but are crudely done. Carefully carve away and reduce the size (in plan view) of the edges with an X-acto.

That is the minimum needed for an acceptable model. More can be done - adding hatches, cable reels, railings, ventilators, and davits will help. If you are willing to do all of the modifications a good model is in there somewhere. It is (slightly) easier than scratch building.

1/700 Scale Drawings