The sea is raging!
Far to the island of Savo
The Milky Way is spreading.
… On the night of August 9, 1942, a group of samurai bypassed the island of Savo counterclockwise, killing everyone who met them on the way. The cruisers Astoria, Canberra, Vincennes, and Quincy became victims of the insane night battle, the Chicago and two more destroyers were heavily damaged. The irrecoverable losses of the Americans and their allies amounted to 1,077 people, the Japanese had three cruisers moderately damaged and 58 sailors killed. Having destroyed the entire American compound, the samurai disappeared into the darkness of the night.
The pogrom near the Savo Island went down in American history as the "second Pearl Harbor" - so great was the severity of the losses and the great disappointment with the actions of the naval sailors. It remained unclear how the Yankees did not notice at a distance of 20 miles the roar and flashes of sea battle, the beams of searchlights rushing across the sky and clusters of lighting bombs. No! The watchmen on the cruisers of the Northern Formation dozed serenely to the thunderous rumble of 203 mm guns - until the Japanese, having finally destroyed the Southern Formation, moved to the North and attacked the second group of American ships.
The impressive Japanese victory at Savo Island was due to the heavy cruisers Chokai, Aoba, Kako, Kunugasa and Furutaka. The cruising forces of the Imperial Navy became one of the main arguments in that war - many high-profile victories were recorded on the account of ships of this class: a night battle near Savo Island, the defeat of an allied squadron in the Java Sea, a battle in the Sunda Strait, raids into the Indian Ocean … - these are the events that made the Japanese navy famous.
Even when radars appeared on American ships, and the sea and air were buzzing with US Navy equipment, Japanese cruisers continued to fight, often achieving episodic victories. High protection allowed them to operate relatively successfully in conditions of numerical superiority of the enemy and withstand numerous hits from bombs, artillery and torpedo weapons.
As practice has shown, the combat stability of these ships was extremely high. The only thing that could kill the armored monsters was extensive damage to the underwater part of the hull. Only after that, tormented by American explosives, they lay down exhausted on the seabed.
There were 18 of them in total. Eighteen samurai, each with its own unique version of birth, history of service and tragic death. Nobody survived until the end of the war.
Constructors' Cup
Japanese heavy cruisers, built in the interwar period, were perhaps the most successful ships in their class - the most powerful offensive weapons, solid armor (the Japanese did everything that was possible under international restrictions), successful anti-torpedo protection and effective counter-flooding schemes, high speed and autonomy sufficient to operate anywhere in the Pacific.
"Long Lance" became the calling card of the Japanese - oxygen super-torpedoes of 610 mm caliber, the most powerful samples of underwater weapons in the world (for comparison, their main opponent - the cruisers of the US Navy were completely devoid of torpedo weapons). The flip side was the great vulnerability of Japanese cruisers - a stray shell hitting a torpedo tube on the upper deck could be fatal for the ship. The detonation of several Long Lances completely disabled the ship.
Like all "Washington-era" cruisers, the samurai suffered severe overload. No bluff and forgery with the declared displacement could correct the situation - the engineers had to dodge in the most amazing way so that, as the Americans, who also suffered from the terms of the International Treaty on the Limitation of Naval Arms, “pour a quart of liquid into a pint container”.
I had to save on something: the main blow was struck on the habitability of the ship and the conditions for accommodating personnel (within 1.5 square meters per person). However, the little Japanese quickly got used to the cramped space - the main thing is that the ventilation works well.
The desire to forcibly squeeze the cruiser into the cherished "10 thousand tons" gave unusual results. The irrepressible fantasy of engineers, a "masquerade" with the main caliber - according to secret calculations, on some cruisers it was possible to quickly replace 6-inch guns with powerful 8-inch barrels, as well as some traditional solutions of the Japanese school of shipbuilding (for example, the shape of the bow) - all this led to the creation of amazing samples of naval weapons, which brought many victories to the Land of the Rising Sun.
The Japanese cruisers were good in everything, except for one thing - there were too few of them: 18 desperate samurai could cope with American pre-war cruisers, but for each lost ship the Americans immediately "got out of their sleeve" five new ones. Total US industry in the period from 1941 to 1945 built about 40 cruisers. Japan - 5 light cruisers, 0 heavy.
The effectiveness of the use of cruising forces was greatly influenced by the scientific and technical lag of Japan. Due to the presence of torpedoes and high-quality preparation for conducting night artillery duels, the Japanese cruisers had priority at the initial stage of the war, but with the advent of radars, their advantage came to naught.
In general, the whole story about Japanese heavy cruisers is a cruel experiment on the topic of how long an armored monster can hold out under continuous attacks from the sea surface, from the air and from under the water. In conditions of many times superior forces of the enemy and the absence of at least a ghostly chance of salvation.
I invite dear readers to get acquainted with some of these leviathans. What were their strengths and weaknesses? Have the Japanese cruisers been able to live up to the expectations of their creators? How did the brave ships die?
Furutaka-class heavy cruisers
Number of units in a series - 2
Years of construction - 1922 - 1926
Full displacement - 11 300 tons
Crew - 630 people.
Armor belt thickness - 76 mm
Main caliber - 6 x 203 mm
The first Japanese interwar cruisers were designed before the Washington restrictions came into effect. In general, they turned out to be very close to the standards of the "Washington cruiser", tk. originally planned as scout cruisers in a hull with the lowest possible displacement.
An interesting layout of the main battery guns in six single-gun turrets (later replaced by three two-gun turrets). Typical for the Japanese, the wavy silhouette of the hull with the "upturned" bow end and the lowest possible board in the stern area. The low height of the chimneys, later recognized as an extremely unfortunate decision. Armor belt integrated into the body structure. Poor accommodation conditions - "Furutaka", in this sense, was the worst of the Japanese cruisers.
Due to the low board height, it was forbidden to use portholes during sea crossings, which, coupled with insufficient ventilation, made service in the tropics an extremely exhausting event.
Death story:
"Furutaka" - 1942-11-10 during the battle at Cape Esperance, the cruiser received severe damage from 152 and 203 mm shells of American cruisers. The subsequent detonation of the torpedo ammunition, aggravated by the loss of progress, predetermined the fate of the cruiser: after 2 hours the flaming Furutaka sank.
"Kako" - the day after the pogrom off the island of Savo, the cruiser was torpedoed by the submarine S-44. Having received three torpedoes, "Kako" capsized and sank. The US Navy received its "consolation prize".
Aoba-class heavy cruisers
Number of units in a series - 2
Years of construction - 1924 - 1927
Full displacement - 11,700 tons
Crew - 650 people.
Armor belt thickness - 76 mm
Main caliber - 6 x 203 mm
They are a modification of the earlier Furutaka-class cruisers. Unlike its predecessors, "Aoba" initially received two-gun turrets. The superstructure and fire control systems have undergone changes. As a result of all the changes, the Aoba turned out to be 900 tons heavier than the original project: the main disadvantage of the cruisers was their critically low stability.
"Aoba", lying at the bottom of the harbor of Kure, 1945
Death story:
"Aoba" - covered with wounds, the cruiser was able to survive until the summer of 1945. It was finally finished off by the US Navy aviation during the regular bombing of the Kure naval base in July 1945.
"Kunugasa" - sunk by torpedo bombers from the aircraft carrier "Enterprise" during the Battle of Guandalcanal, 1942-14-11
Heavy cruisers of the "Myoko" class (sometimes "Myoko")
Number of units in a series - 4
Years of construction - 1924 - 1929
Full displacement - 16,000 tons
Crew - 900 people.
Armor belt thickness - 102 mm
Main caliber - 10 x 203 mm
The first "Washington cruisers" of the Land of the Rising Sun, with all their advantages, disadvantages and original design solutions.
Five main-caliber turrets, three of which are located in the bow of the ship according to the "pyramid" scheme - ten 203-mm guns. The booking scheme is generally similar to that adopted on the Furutaka cruiser, with the reinforcement of individual elements: the belt thickness was increased to 102 mm, the thickness of the armored deck above the engine rooms reached 70 … 89 mm, and the total armor weight increased to 2,052 tons. The thickness of the anti-torpedo protection was 2.5 meters.
A sharp increase in displacement (standard - 11 thousand tons, the total could exceed 15 thousand tons) required a significant increase in the power of the power plant. The boilers of the cruisers "Myoko" were originally designed for oil heating, the power on the propeller shafts was 130,000 hp.
Death story:
"Mioko" - during a fierce battle near the island of Samar was damaged by a torpedo from a carrier-based torpedo bomber. Despite the damage, he was able to limp to Singapore. During an emergency repair, a B-29 came under attack. A month later, on December 13, 1944, it was again torpedoed by the submarine USS Bergall - this time it was not possible to restore the Mioko's combat capability. The cruiser was sunk in shallow water in the harbor of Singapore and was later used as a stationary artillery battery. All that remained of the Mioko was captured by the British in August 1945.
"Nati" - in November 1944 in Manila Bay was subjected to massive attacks by US Navy carrier-based aircraft, was hit by 10 torpedoes and 21 bombs, broke into three parts and sank.
"Haguro" - sunk by British destroyers in the battle of Penang, May 16, 1945.
"Ashigara" - sunk by the British submarine HMS Trenchant in the Bangka Strait (Java Sea), June 16, 1945.
Takao-class heavy cruisers
Number of units in a series - 4
Years of construction - 1927 - 1932
Full displacement - 15200 - 15900 tons
Crew - 900-920 people.
Armor belt thickness - 102 mm
Main caliber - 10 x 203 mm
They are a natural evolution of the Myoko-class cruisers. Recognized as the most successful and balanced project among all Japanese heavy cruisers.
Outwardly, they were distinguished by a massive, armored superstructure, which made the cruisers look like battleships. The elevation angle of the main battery guns was increased to 70 °, which made it possible to fire the main battery at air targets. Fixed torpedo tubes were replaced by rotary ones - a salvo of 8 Long Lance on each side was capable of finishing off any enemy. The booking of the ammunition storage has been increased. The composition of aviation weapons was expanded to two catapults and three seaplanes. In the construction of the case, high-strength steel of the Ducol brand and electric welding are widely used.
Death story:
"Takao" - hit by the American submarine "Darter" on the way to Leyte Bay. With some difficulty I made it to Singapore, where it was turned into a powerful floating battery. On July 31, 1945, the cruiser was finally destroyed by the British dwarf submarine XE-3.
"Atago" - October 23, 1944 was sunk in the Sibuyan Sea by the American submarine "Darter".
"Chokai" - mortally wounded in a battle near the island of Samar, as a result of a shell hitting a torpedo tube. A few minutes later, the cruiser's flaming box was bombed by carrier-based aircraft. Due to the complete loss of progress and combat effectiveness, the crew was removed, the cruiser was finished off by the escort destroyer.
Maya - October 23, 1944 was sunk in the Sibuyan Sea by the American submarine Deis.
Mogami-class heavy cruisers
Number of units in a series - 4
Years of construction - 1931 - 1937
Full displacement - about 15,000 tons
Crew - 900 people.
Armor belt thickness - 100 … 140 mm
Main caliber - 10 x 203 mm
Having familiarized himself with the information obtained by intelligence about the new Japanese cruiser "Mogami", the Chief Designer of Her Majesty's fleet only whistled: "Are they building a ship out of cardboard?"
Fifteen 155 mm guns in five main turrets, 127 mm universal artillery, Long Lance, 2 catapults, 3 seaplanes, armor belt thickness up to 140 mm, massive armored superstructure, 152,000 hp power plant. … and it all fits into a hull with a standard displacement of 8,500 tons? The Japanese are lying!
"Mogami" with a torn off nose - the result of a collision with the cruiser "Mikuma"
In reality, everything turned out to be much worse - in addition to the forgery from the displacement (the standard air displacement, according to secret calculations, reached 9,500 tons, later it increased to 12,000 tons), the Japanese made a clever trick with artillery of the main caliber - with the beginning of hostilities "fake" 155 mm the barrels were dismantled and ten formidable 203 mm guns stood in their place. The Mogami has turned into a real heavy cruiser.
At the same time, the Mogami-class cruisers were monstrously overloaded, had poor seaworthiness and critically low stability, which, in turn, affected their stability and accuracy of artillery fire. In view of these shortcomings, the lead cruiser of the project - "Mogami" in the period from 1942 to 1943. underwent modernization and was turned into an aircraft-carrying cruiser - instead of a stern group of artillery, the ship received a hangar for 11 seaplanes.
Aircraft carrier "Mogami"
Death story:
"Mogami" - damaged by artillery fire in the Surigao Strait on the night of October 25, 1944, the next day was attacked by carrier-based aircraft, collided with the cruiser "Nati" and sank.
The Mikuma was the first Japanese cruiser to be lost in World War II. Was attacked by carrier-based aircraft in the battle of Midway Atoll on June 7, 1942. The detonation of the torpedo ammunition left no chance of salvation: the cruiser skeleton left by the crew drifted for 24 hours until it disappeared under water.
"Mikuma" after the detonation of its own torpedoes. On the roof of the fourth tower, the wreckage of a downed American plane is visible (similar to the feat of Gastello)
Suzuya - sunk by carrier-based aircraft in Leyte Bay, October 25, 1944. It is noteworthy that the cruiser was named after the Susuya River on about. Sakhalin.
"Kumano" - lost its bow in a skirmish with American destroyers in Leyte Gulf, the next day it was damaged by carrier-based aircraft. A week later, during the transition to Japan for repairs, he was torpedoed by the submarine "Ray", but still managed to get to Luzon. On November 26, 1944, she was finally finished off by carrier-based aircraft in the harbor of Santa Cruz: 5 torpedoes hit the cruiser, completely destroying the Kumano's hull. Oh, and it was a tenacious beast!
Tone-class heavy cruisers
Number of units in a series - 2
Years of construction - 1934 - 1939
Full displacement - 15 200 tons
Crew - 870 people.
Armor belt thickness - 76 mm
Main caliber - 8 x 203 mm
A feature of the "Tone" was its advanced aircraft armament - up to 8 seaplanes (in reality, no more than 4).
"Tone" on the way to Midway
Cruiser legend. Fantastic combat vehicle with four main-caliber turrets concentrated in the bow of the hull.
The bizarre appearance of the "Tone" was dictated by a serious calculation - such an arrangement of the main battery towers made it possible to reduce the length of the armored citadel, saving several hundred tons of displacement. By unloading the aft end and shifting the weights to the midsection, the strength of the hull was increased and seaworthiness was improved, the spread of main battery salvos decreased, and the ship's behavior as an artillery platform improved. The freed aft part of the cruiser became the base for the deployment of aviation - now the seaplanes were not exposed to the risk of exposure to powder gases, in addition, this made it possible to increase the air group and simplify the operation of aircraft.
However, for all the seeming genius of this solution, the placement of all main battery towers in the bow had an important drawback: a dead zone appeared at the aft corners - the problem was partially solved by deploying a pair of main battery towers with their trunks back. In addition, one single hit threatened to disable the entire main caliber of the cruiser.
In general, despite a number of significant and insignificant shortcomings, the ships turned out to be worthy and ruffled a lot of nerves for their opponents.
Death story:
"Tone" - the damaged cruiser was able to escape from the Leyte Gulf and reach its native shores. Was restored, but never again participated in hostilities at sea. On July 24, 1945, he was sunk by American aircraft during a raid on the Kure naval base. On July 28, the cruiser wreck was re-bombed by US Navy aircraft.
Chikuma (also found Chikuma) - sunk by carrier-based aircraft in Leyte Gulf, October 25, 1944.
Heavy cruiser "Tikuma"
