Japanese cruiser Suzuya
Encyclopedia : J : JA : JAP : Japanese cruiser Suzuya
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| Career |
|
|---|---|
| Ordered: | |
| Laid down: | December, 1933 |
| Launched: | November, 1934 |
| Commissioned: | October, 1937 |
| Struck: | 20 December, 1944 |
| Fate: | Scuttled on 10 October, 1944 |
| General Characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 13,440 tons (full load) |
| Length: | 201.6 m (661'5") |
| Beam: | 18 m (59') |
| Draft: | 5.5 m (18') |
| Machinery: | Four-shaft impulse single geared turbines |
| Power: | 152,000 shp (113 MW) |
| Speed: | 35 knots (69 km/h) |
| Complement: | 850 |
| Protection: | 100 mm (3.9") belt, 35 mm (1.4") deck, 25 mm (1") turrets, 127 mm (5") magazines |
| Armament: | 15 × 155 mm (6.1") (5×3) DP, 8 × 127 mm (5") DP, 4 × 40 mm (1.57") AA guns; 12 × 60 cm (24") torpedo tubes (4×3) |
| Aircraft: | 3 × Type 1 scout aircraft |
Suzuya was a Mogami-class heavy cruiser in the Imperial Japanese Navy.
Construction
Suzuya's keel was laid down at the Yokosuka Navy Yard, Yokosuka, Japan, in December 1933. She was launched November 1934 and completed October 1937.For the 1931 Fleet Replenishment Program, believing themselves understrength in cruisers, IJN chose to build to the maximum allowed by the Washington Treaty. This resulted in the choice of 155 mm in five triple turrets (a first for Japan) in the Mogamis, also capable of 55° elevation, making Mogamis unique in having DP main battery; this was coupled with very heavy AA. protection, as well as the standard reloadable turreted torpedo tubes, also unique to IJN.
To save weight, electric welding was used, as was aluminum in the superstructure. Weight compelled reduction to only ten boilers (compared to twelve in the previous Atago and Nachi classes), trunked into a single stack (which also saved tophamper). The new impulse geared turbines added 22,000 shp over Atago, increasing speed 1.5 kt (2.8 km/h). Protection, however, was not stinted on; the class proved able to take substantial punishment.
The designers, however, had overreached; excessive topweight led to instability, and gunnery trials revealed cracking hull welds. Hull bulges were retrofitted to Mogami, increasing beam to 19.2 m (63') and displacement to 11,200 tons, cutting speed 2 kt (3.7 km/h).
Beginning in 1939, Mogami and her sisters were brought in for substantial reconstruction, converting the triple 155 mm turrets to twin 203 mm (8"), turning over the 155 mm turrets to Yamato. Torpedo bulges were also added; in all, displacement rose to 12,400 tons, speed dropping to 34.5 kt (63.8 km/h).
| Mogami-class cruiser |
| Mogami | Mikuma | Suzuya | Kumano |
| List of cruisers of the Imperial Japanese Navy List of cruiser classes of the Imperial Japanese Navy |
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