Takao
Takao-type heavy cruisers are a series of four Japanese cruisers of the 1930s.
Main features: “Myoko” is a huge reserve, significantly improved redundancy, new (and unsuccessful in practice) installation of the main caliber, rotation of torpedo tubes on the upper deck and improved crew living conditions. In 1927–1928, orders were issued for four units, which in 1927–1932 were sold by two state (“May” and “Tokai”) shipyards. It is planned to build another 4 ships on an improved project, but it was not implemented due to the signing of the First London Treaty in 1930.
Cruisers have served the entire pre-war period, Takao and Atago have undergone a major update in 1939-1941. They all took an active part in the fighting in the Pacific theater of World War II. In 1944, the “May” was rebuilt in the air defense cruiser. Three Takao class cruisers died in the battle of Leyte Bay in October 1944, the heavily damaged lead ship of this series was captured by the British in Singapore in September 1945 and sunk as a target a year later.
Atago
Atago is the first representative of the type of Takao, which will come into operation.
Built in Kure in 1927-1932. He was actively used in the interwar period, in 1938-1939 he passed a major modernization.
During the battles at the Pacific Theater of the Second World War in the first half of 1942, the 4th Division included cruisers in the capture of Malaya and the Netherlands East Indies, the flagship of Admiral Kondo. In the subsequent campaign on Guadalcanal, the cruiser participated in the battles on the eastern Solomon Islands, near the islands of Santa Cruz, in the second battle on Guadalcanal and in the evacuation of the Japanese troops that completed it. In 1944, Atago participated in the battles on the Mariana Islands and Leyte Gulf, becoming the first victim of the latter: being the flagship of Admiral Kurita, he was shot down by four torpedoes from the American submarine Darter and flipped over 20 minutes later.
