IJN TONE Formed the 8th Cruiser Squadron with her sistership Chikuma. They almost always operated together during their careers.

Part of the covering force for the Pearl Harbor operation, Dec 1941. Participated in operations against Wake Island, in the Dutch East Indies at the beginning of 1942, the raid on Darwin in Feb, and operations in the Indian Ocean in Mar-Apr. Returned to the Pacific for the attack on Midway, and then the actions around Guadalcanal.

On 24 Aug Tone was damaged by aircraft from USS Saratoga during the Battle of Santa Cruz, while Chikuma was hit by aircraft from USS Hornet. After repairs, both were at Simpson Harbor, Rabaul, on 5 Nov 1943 when aircraft from Saratoga and Princeton again damaged them.

In Feb 1944 they were formed into the 7th Cruiser Squadron and made a raid into the Indian Ocean. Returned to the Pacific and were present at the Battle of the Philippine Sea in Jun, and formed part of Kurita's Center Force at the Battle of Leyte Gulf. During the action with US escort carriers and destroyers off Samar, Chikuma was sunk by aircraft torpedoes, 25 Oct 1944.

Tone survived and returned to Japan after bomb damage in Mar 1945. Finally sunk in the raids on Kure, 24 Jul 1945. Raised postwar and broken up in 1948