Mogami class cruiser
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| Mogami-class cruiser | |
|---|---|
 IJN Mikuma, a Mogami-Class Heavy Cruiser | |
| General Characteristics
| |
| Displacement: | 8,500 tons (full load)design - 12,962 tons trials |
| Length: | 201.6 m (661 ft 5 in) |
| Beam: | 18 m (59 ft) |
| Draft: | 5.5 m (18 ft) |
| Machinery: | 10 Kanpon boilers, four-shaft impulse single geared turbines |
| Power: | 152,000 shp (113 MW) |
| Speed: | 37 knots (69 km/h) |
| Complement: | 850 |
| Protection: | belt: 100 mm (3.9") deck: 35 mm (1.4") turrets: 25 mm (1") magazines:127 mm (5") |
| Armament: | 15 × 155 mm (6.1") (5×3) DP, 8 × 127 mm (5") DP, 4 × 40mm (1.57") AA, 12 × 60 cm (24") TT (4x3), 3 × Type 1 scout aircraft |
The Mogami class (最上型) were a class of four cruisers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN).
Design
For the 1931 Fleet Replenishment Program, believing themselves understrength in cruisers, the 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 a Dual Purpose (DP) main battery; this was coupled with very heavy anti-aircraft 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. Aiming to meet the weight limits compelled them to only ten boilers (compared to twelve in the previous Atago and Nachi classes), trunked into a single funnel stack (which also saved tophamper). The new impulse geared turbines added 22,000 shp over Atago, increasing the top speed by 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 and Mikuma, and added to Kumano and Suzuya, increasing beam to 19.2 m (63') and displacement to 11,200 tons, cutting speed by 2 kt (3.7 km/h).
Beginning in 1939, the class was brought in for substantial reconstruction, replacing the triple 155 mm turrets with twin 203 mm (8"), turning over the 155 mm turrets for the battleship Yamato. Torpedo bulges were also added; in all, displacement rose over 13000 tons, and speed dropped to 34.5 kt (63.8 km/h).
War Service
In June 1942, all four attended at the Battle of Midway, where Mogami and Mikuma collided trying to avoid a submarine attack; Mikuma was finished off on 6 June 1942 by aircraft from USS Enterprise and Hornet. Mogami limped home and spent ten months in yard, during which her afterparts were completely rebuilt, "X" and "Y" turrets replaced by a flight deck (with the intention to operate 11 aircraft).In October 1944, the survivors were reunited at the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Mogami, heavily damaged by collision, cruiser gunfire and aerial attack was scuttled by Akebono, while Kumano stumbled into Manila harbor on one boiler, to be put out of her misery by Halsey's aviators on 25 November 1944; they mauled Suzuya the same day, and she was scuttled by Okinami on 27 November.
Criticism
This class is seen by naval architects as trying to fit a quart into a pint pot. The IJN's Naval staff insisted that each new class be superior to anything else in its category, this placed an enomous burden on Japanese naval constructors and the difficulties with these ships have to be seen in this light. The initial construction was extremely light in order to appear to comply with the naval treaties and had to be remedied. When the Royal Navy's director of naval construction (DNC) was told about these ships by British Naval Intelligence quoting the public displacement figure he replied that the capabilities quoted could not be achieved on this displacement and that 'they must be building their ships out of cardboard or lying'
Ships
| Name | Builder | Laid | Launched | Completed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mogami | Kure Navy Yard | Oct. 1931 | March 1934 | July 1935 |
| Mikuma | Mitsubishi, Nagasaki | Dec. 1931 | May 1934 | Aug. 1935 |
| Suzuya | Yokosuka Navy Yard | Dec. 1933 | Nov. 1934 | Oct. 1937 |
| Kumano | Kawasaki, Kobe | April 1934 | Oct. 1936 | Oct. 1937 |
References
- Blair, Clay, Jr. Silent Victory. Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1975.
- Fitzsimons, Bernard, General Editor. The Encyclopedia of 20th Century Weapons and Warfare, Volume 18, p.1927–8, "Mogami". London: Phoebus, 1978.
- Preston, Anthony, World's Worst Warships. London, Conway's Maritime Press 2004
| 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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