Chikuma - class cruiser The three were protected cruiser s operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy . They participated in numerous actions during World War I . The " Chikuma " class was the final class of protected cruiser in the Imperial Japanese Navy , and was followed by the of light cruiser s . Background . The " Chikuma " - class light cruisers were ordered as part of the 1907 Naval Expansion Program , based on lessons learned during the Russo - Japanese War . Along with the s , the " Chikuma " class was the first phase of a project to build a high speed navy based on the latest naval technologies . Design . The basic design of the " Chikuma " - class cruisers was modeled after the Royal Navy Town class with some modifications and was also largely influenced by the design of the . The silhouette of the " Chikuma " class was readily distinguishable due to its four smokestacks . Contrary to many popular publications , the protection of the " Chikuma " class was similar to the " Tone " class , and they remained protected cruisers , without an armoured belt . The " Chikuma " - class cruisers were the first high - speed turbine - driven cruisers in the Imperial Japanese Navy , which gave them much greater speed than previous cruiser designs . " Chikuma " and " Hirado " used the newly - developed Curtiss turbines , which gave them a rated top speed of 26 knots . During speed trials , they achieved 26 . 83 and 26 . 87 knots respectively . " Yahagi " was built with a Parsons - type turbine engine , and achieved 27 . 14 knots during speed trials . Although the class achieved its target of high speed , the new technology of the engines , especially issues with material strength and fatigue , led to maintenance issues . In terms of armaments , the " Chikuma " class was unique in its use of a single caliber main battery . The class was armed with eight Type 41 6 inch 45 caliber naval gun , one each fore and aft , and three mounted in sponsons on each side of the hull . These guns were supplemented by four QF 12 pounder 12 cwt naval gun s and two Lewis gun s . In addition , each vessel was equipped with three torpedo launchers with 457 - mm torpedoes . After 1919 , two 8 cm / 40 3rd Year Type naval gun were added for anti - aircraft defense abeam of the fourth funnel , replacing two of the 12 - pdrs in " Hirado " and three of the 12 - pdrs in " Yahagi " and " Chikuma " . Ships in class . Three ships were budgeted for and completed under the 1907 Naval Expansion Program , one each from the Sasebo Naval Arsenal , Mitsubishi , Nagasaki and Kawasaki Shipbuilding , Kobe . All served in World War I and were scrapped before the start of World War II Launched on 1 April 1911 and completed on 17 May 1912 by the Sasebo Naval Arsenal , " Chikuma " participated in various operations in World War I in the central and southern Pacific Ocean . It was stricken on 1 April 1931 , and expended as a target in 1935 . Launched on 3 October 1911 and completed on 27 July 1912 by the Mitsubishi Nagasaki shipyards , " Yahagi " participated in various operations in World War I in the Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean . It was later used during the Siberian Intervention and the opening stages of the Second Sino - Japanese War . It was stricken on 1 April 1940 , its hulk serving as a barracks until 1943 . Launched on 29 June 1911 and completed on 17 June 1912 by the Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation , Kobe Shipyards , " Hirado " participated in various operations in World War I in the central and southern Pacific Ocean . It was later used during the Siberian Intervention and the opening stages of the Second Sino - Japanese War . It was stricken on 1 April 1940 , its hulk serving as a barracks until 1943 .