Japanese cruiser Takao (1930)

Takao on trials in 1939
History
Empire of Japan
NameTakao
NamesakeMount Takao
Orderedearly 1927
BuilderYokosuka Naval Arsenal
Laid down28 April 1927
Launched12 May 1930
Commissioned31 May 1932
Stricken3 May 1947
FateSurrendered to British forces on 21 September 1945, then sunk as a target ship on 29 October 1946
General characteristics
Class and typeTakao-class cruiser
Displacement9,850 t (9,690 long tons) (designed standard), 15,490 t (15,250 long tons) (full load)
Length
Beam19 m (62 ft) – 20.4 m (67 ft)
Draught6.11 m (20.0 ft) – 6.32 m (20.7 ft)
Propulsion4-shaft geared turbine, 12 Kampon boilers, 132,000 shp (98,000 kW)
Speed35.5 knots (65.7 km/h) - 34.2 knots (63.3 km/h)
Range8,500 nautical miles (15,740 km) at 14 knots (26 km/h)
Complement773
Armament
Armour
  • main belt: 38 to 127 mm
  • main deck: 37 mm (max)
  • upper deck: 12.7 to 25 mm
  • bulkheads: 76 to 100 mm
  • turrets: 25 mm
Aircraft carried3 floatplanes (1 Aichi E13A1 "Jake" & 2 F1M2 "Pete")
Aviation facilities2 aircraft catapults

Takao (高雄) was the lead vessel in the Takao-class heavy cruisers, active in World War II with the Imperial Japanese Navy. These were the largest cruisers in the Japanese fleet, and were intended to form the backbone of a multipurpose long-range strike force. Her sister ships were Atago, Maya and Chōkai.[1] Takao was the only ship of her class to survive the war. She was surrendered to British forces at Singapore in September 1945, then sunk as a target ship in 1946.

  1. ^ Jentsura, Hansgeorg (1976). Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869-1945. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-893-X. page 84