Jintsuu
Jintsuu is a ship girl appearing in Kantai Collection, modeled after the second ship of the Imperial Japanese Navy's Sendai-class light cruisers. Within the fleet, she acts as the long-standing flagship of the elite Second Torpedo Squadron. Positioned between her night-battle-obsessed older sister Sendai and her idol-aspiring younger sister Naka, she displays a calm and modest disposition in daily life, yet reveals remarkable composure and fighting spirit on the battlefield.
Overview
Jintsuu is a ship girl appearing in Kantai Collection, modeled after the second ship of the Imperial Japanese Navy's Sendai-class light cruisers. Within the fleet, she acts as the long-standing flagship of the elite Second Torpedo Squadron. Positioned between her night-battle-obsessed older sister Sendai and her idol-aspiring younger sister Naka, she displays a calm and modest disposition in daily life, yet reveals remarkable composure and fighting spirit on the battlefield.
Appearance
Jintsuu has long brown hair styled in a half updo fastened with a green ribbon at the back, featuring distinctive outward-flicking front bangs and brown eyes. Her primary attire consists of the Sendai-class standard orange sailor shirt with a white collar, a black neckerchief, a black pleated skirt, black elbow-length gloves, black socks, and black shoes. Among the three Sendai-class sisters, she possesses the largest bust. Upon her Kai Ni upgrade, her appearance turns markedly resolute, featuring a large headband-style bow. Her rigging comprises funnels positioned near her ankles, 14 cm single gun mounts attached to her arm gloves, and quad torpedo tubes mounted on her waist belt, alongside a searchlight in her upgraded form.
Personality
Standing between her eccentric sisters, Jintsuu acts as a sensible, reserved, and modest middle child. She is exceptionally polite and attentive toward the Admiral, often anticipating his daily needs by preparing meals and tea. However, beneath her soft-spoken exterior lies the intense determination of a true warrior, causing her to transform into a calm yet formidable fighter during combat. Because she subjects the destroyers under her command to rigorous drills from morning to evening, she is often described as a grueling instructor, though she treats them with deep warmth and motherly care behind the scenes.
Abilities
Jintsuu relies on the 14 cm single gun mounts attached to her arms for artillery fire and the waist-mounted 61 cm quadruple oxygen torpedo tubes for heavy torpedo salvos. She is also equipped with an aircraft catapult to deploy naval reconnaissance aircraft. After receiving her Kai Ni upgrade, she carries a searchlight to illuminate enemy targets during night engagements, boosting her fleet's targeting efficiency while showcasing peak firepower, torpedo stats, armor, and night-combat strength among light cruisers.
Background
Jintsuu's lore reflects the history of the Imperial Japanese Navy light cruiser of the same name. Prior to World War II, she was involved in the Miho-no-Seki collision incident during night exercises. Following the outbreak of war, she led the Second Torpedo Squadron across numerous Pacific naval operations. At the Battle of Kolombangara in July 1943, she illuminated enemy warships with her searchlight during a night battle, drawing heavy focus fire upon herself and fighting continuously until she sank. Her selfless bravery protected her escorting destroyers, allowing them to launch a decisive torpedo strike and successfully accomplish their transport mission. In the game, collecting Sendai, Jintsuu, and Naka is required to unlock the Third Fleet.
Relationships
As a member of the Sendai class, Jintsuu maintains close ties with her older sister Sendai and younger sister Naka, frequently managing the former's night-battle obsessions and looking after the latter's late-night vocal practice. She demonstrates absolute loyalty and care toward the Admiral. Toward the destroyers under her command in the Second Torpedo Squadron, including Yukikaze and Hamakaze, she balances strict supervision with protective affection. Her legacy is deeply respected by her successor flagship Yahagi, while the enemy cruiser Honolulu remembers the second torpedo squadron's formidable combat record with intense dread.
Trivia
Her name derives from the Jintsuu River running through Gifu and Toyama Prefectures. American naval historian Samuel Eliot Morison described Jintsuu as the most fiercely fought Japanese warship of World War II due to her heroic stand at Kolombangara. In April 2019, her wreck was discovered at a depth of 900 meters in the Kula Gulf by the research vessel RV Petrel. Additionally, a seasonal outfit featuring a lily-patterned yukata has been featured in the game.
