command of Yakumo until he took command of the battleship the next year. Her last training cruise ended on 20 November 1939. World War II After the start of the Pacific War, Yakumo was reclassified as a 1st class cruiser on 1 July 1942, and her eight-inch guns were replaced by four Type 89 dual-purpose guns in two twin mounts. In addition her light anti-aircraft armament was augmented. However, Yakumo remained within the confines of the Seto Inland Sea throughout the war as she was assigned to training duties, and was not used in any combat operations. She was stricken from the navy list on 1 October 1945. Yakumo began service as a repatriation transport on 7 December. Her mission was to return troops and civilians to the home islands from Japan's former overseas possessions, primarily from Taiwan and mainland China. She completed her last voyage in June 1946, repatriating a total of 9,010 people. Yakumo arrived at the Maizuru shipyard of Hitachi Shipbuilding & Engineering on 20 July 1946 to begin demolition that lasted until 1 April 1947. Notes Footnotes References Daiji Katagiri, , Kōjinsha (Japan), June 1988, Masahide Asai, , Tōkyō Suikōsha (fringe organization of the Ministry of the Navy), December 1928 External links Yakumo on Nihon Kaigun Cruisers of the Imperial Japanese Navy Ships built in Stettin 1899 ships Russo-Japanese War cruisers of Japan World War I cruisers of Japan Coastal defence ships World War II cruisers of Japan Ships with Belleville boilers