Heavy Cruisers: Mogami Class

[designeraccd]

Two views of KUMANO, with and without a bow!! DFO

[Brian James]

Mogami Class Cruiser Suzuya pictured fitting out at Yokosuka Naval Arsenal on July 20th 1935...Lead Ship, Battlecruiser Kongō is alongside her undergoing her major reconstruction...Suzuya would be sunk during the Battle off Samar, October 25th 1944...Kongō would be sunk by Balao Class Submarine USS Sealion in the Formosa Strait on November 21st 1944.

[Brian James]

Mogami Class Light Cruiser Suzuya pictured on sea trials off Yokosuka Naval Arsenal on August 18th 1937....Suzuya was launched on November 20th 1934 at Yokosuka Naval Arsenal in a ceremony attended by Emperor Hirohito. She was completed in January 1936, but on completion was immediately placed in the reserves while waiting for dry dock space to permit reconstruction and modifications based on experience gained during trials of Mogami to strengthen her welds, and to add bulges to her hull to reduce weight. She was officially commissioned on October 31st 1937; however instead of entering active service, she immediately returned to dry dock for refit work to upgrade her main battery to the Heavy Cruiser format with 20 cm/50 3rd Year Type naval guns. These upgrades were completed on September 30th 1939, at which she was assigned to Kure Naval District as Cruiser Division 7 of the IJN 2nd Fleet with her sister ships Mogami, Mikuma and Kumano...She was sunk during the Battle of Samar, October 25th 1944.

[Brian James]

Lead Ship, Light Cruiser Mogami pictured at Kure on August 24th 1935...The Mogami Class were constructed as 'Light Cruisers' (per the London Naval Treaty) with five triple 155 mm dual purpose guns. They were exceptionally large for Light Cruisers, and the barbettes for the main battery were designed for quick refitting with twin 8-inch guns. In 1937 all four ships were 'converted' to Heavy Cruisers in this fashion. Mogami served in numerous combat engagements in World War II, until she was scuttled after the Battle of Leyte Gulf on October 25th 1944.

[Brian James]

Launch day for Mogami Class Heavy Cruiser Suzuya, pictured on the ways on Slipway No2 at Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, November 20th 1934..In late October 1944, the Japanese fleet assembled in Brunei in response to the threatened American invasion of the Philippines. On October 25th 1944, in the Battle off Samar, Suzuya engaged the three 'Jeep Carriers' in American Task Group 77.4, but was attacked by ten TBM Avenger torpedo-bombers. A near-miss destroyed her port propeller. At 1050, Suzuya was attacked by 30 other carrier aircraft. Another near-miss caused the Long Lance torpedoes in Suzuya's No 1 torpedo tubes to explode, which in turn started other fires and damaged the starboard engine rooms and the No. 7 boiler room. Suzuya was abandoned at 1150, and at 1322 sank. Destroyer Okinami took off Captain Teraoka and 401 crewmen. US warships later rescued more sailors. Suzuya was removed from the navy list on December 20th 20th 1944. Though it has yet to be located, the wreck of the Suzuya is believed to lie in some 27,600 feet of water, making her one of the deepest shipwrecks on record.

[Brian James]

View from the bridge of Lead Ship, Heavy Cruiser Mogami over the damaged bow during a stern RAS from the Auxiliary Oiler Nichiei Maru on June 8th post the Battle of Midway. The bow of the Cruiser was damaged by the collision with sistership Mikuma in early hours of June 5th 1942.