Takao was the lead ship of the Takao-class Heavy Cruisers, their designs were the evolution of their predecessor, the Myoukou-class heavy cruisers. Takao was built on Yokosuka Naval Yard, she was launched May 12, 1930, and commissioned on May 20, 1932. Her speed ranges from 34.2 to 35.5 knots, her original armaments were five twin 8 inch 50 cal. 3rd year type naval guns, four single 4.7 inch Type 10 high-angle guns, two quadruple 24 inch torpedo tubes, and two 44mm anti-aircraft guns. Her final armaments are five twin 8-inch 50 cal. 3rd Year Type main guns, four twin 5 inch 40 cal. Type 89 secondary guns, sixty-six Type 96 25mm auto-cannons, and four quadruple 24 inch torpedo tubes. She is equipped with 12 Kampon Boilers and 4-shaft geared turbines capable of producing 132,000 shaft horsepower. She's equipped with two aircraft catapults and could carry one Aichi E131 recon floatplane and two Mitsubishi F1M floatplanes. They are considered as the best heavy cruisers the IJN ever built.
During the beginning of the war, she was assigned on CruDiv 4 which is part of the main body of the IJN's 2nd Fleet along with her sisters, Atago and Maya. She supported several operation within Southeast Asia. She participated the invasion of British Malaya, she joined with the CruDiv 7 and the DesRon 3 to intercept the incoming British Force Z along with the BatDiv 3. In the same day, they were detected by a USN submarine USS Sargo SS-188, but the submarine failed to attack them. After the operations within Malaya, she provides cover for the invasion force landing to Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, and patrolled the island. She operated within Java Sea and participated in the Battle of Java Sea, one of her floatplanes bombed the Dutch merchant ship Eganno which sunk afterwards, she overhaul and sunk a USN destroyer USS Pillsbury DD-227 along with Atago. She attacked a convoy near Tjilatjap (Cilacap) along with Atago and Maya with destroyers Arashi and Nowaki from the DesDiv 4, they engaged the Royal Australian Navy sloop HMAS Yarra which sunk afterwards, they sunk a tanker, a depot ship, and a minesweeper, and captured two Dutch freighters from the convoy.
CruDiv 4 were commanded to pursuit TF-16.2 during the Doolittle Operations but failed to engaged the ships. She supported the invasion of the Aleutian Islands along with Maya which they provided air recon with their floatplanes, their floatplanes were attacked by an incoming group of P-40 Warhawks from Umnak Island, they lost two floatplanes and the other two were damaged from the fight. Her floatplane somehow manage to shoot down a B-17 Flying Fortress.
The CruDiv 4 which still part of the 2nd Fleet was assigned to operate within the Solomon Islands to reinforce the Guadalcanal. She participated in the Battle of Santa Cruz Island. She was present in the first engagement in Guadalcanal but did not engage the American Fleet. She was detected by another USN Submarine USS Trout SS-202, the submarine fired five torpedoes at Kirishima and misses. She received action during the second engagement of Guadalcanal, she engaged the USN battleships USS Washington BB-56 and USS South Dakota BB-57. Together with Atago, they scored seventeen hits from their 8-inch canons, five hits from their 6-inch guns, and one hit from their 5-inch guns which heavily damaged the battleship. Amidst of heavy exchange of gunfire, they did not detected the incoming USS Washington, Washington fires her guns at Kirishima which sunk afterwards. Takao and Atago fired sixteen Type 93 long lance torpedoes at Washington but all miss. Takao manage to escape from the battle with no damage, whie Atago received minimal damage, they retreated to Truk afterward.
Takao assisted for the evacuation of troops in Guadalcanal. During the Raid in Rabaul, she was attacked by SBD Dauntless dive-bombers from USS Saratoga CV-3, she was hit by two 500-lb bombs which damaged her steering. She was forced to return at Yokosuka for repairs.
After her repairs and modifications, she departed for Truk, she assisted the damaged escort carrier Unyou and she accompany Unyou to Yokosuka afterward. The CruDiv 4 was reassigned to Ozawa's First Mobile Fleet but never participated in the Battle of Marianas. While on Davao, she encountered the USN submarines USS Dace SS-247 and USS Darter SS-227 for the first time, Dace fired 6 torpedoes but all miss while Darter failed to attack. She also encountered another USN submarine, USS Scamp SS-277 which also failed to attack them. After the decisive lose in Marianas, she returned to Kure for another modification.
She was assigned to Kurita's Central Force for the Operation Sho-go along with Atago, Maya and Chokai, they departed at Brunei. During the actions in Palawan Passage, they encountered the submarines Darter and Dace for the second time. She suffered two torpedo hits from Darter, she was set a fire and completely disabled, Darter also sunk Atago while Dace sunk Maya, Darter was grounded on Bobay Shoal after an attempt to finish Takao, Dace rescued Darter's crew, Darter was scuttled by another USN submarine, USS Nautilus SS-168, scuttled the submarine afterwards. Takao was towed by transport ship Mitsu Maru. She stayed at Singapore together with Myoukou till the end of the war.
At Singapore, Takao was moored and used as a floating anti-aircraft battery to defend Singapore against Allied invasions, she was attacked by a British midget submarine HMS XE3 during the Operation Struggle. They attached six limpet mines at her hull, the explosion creates a large hole, put out her guns, destroyed her rangefinders, and flooded her compartment.
After the formal surrender of Japan, she was surrendered on September 5, 1945, she boarded by the British on September 21, 1945. On October 27, 1946, she departed from Seletar to Straight of Malacca, she was towed by British Fleet Tugs Griper and Assiduous escorted by the British Cruiser HMS Newfoundland. Takao was used as a target ship by Newfoundland, her crew were given to the ex-submarine chaser CH-7, CH-7 returned them to Singapore.
Takao was scuttled on October 27, 1946, off Port Swettenham, Malaya (which is now Port Klang, Malaysia).
Checking the Wiki, seems like the agreed translation for her night battle line is "Nuts" (that one, from the Battle of Bulge)
Even if she's born as cruiser, she had appearance that's not less than a battleship. Her bridge is equipped with battle command centre which size grow bigger even after weight reduction ordered by the navy. The design is also similar to present day AEGIS cruiser.
Revision of IJN ships after the incident that showed their ship's stability is compromised by top-heavy design.We really went to places…Takao class Cruiser
The Takao class name is previously used as ship name in the Amagi class battlecruiser design. In this respect, it's possible that she had close relationship to Akagi. In reality, she did have sexy body that rivalled even those of battleships.
Takao and Atago's name used to be reserved for the third and fourth Amagi class battlecruisers after Amagi and Akagi.The first and last First Class Cruiser
Born in Yokosuka, this sexy and glamorous ship is one of the strongest cruisers. She always take care of the Admiral like an elder sister. She seems calm, but her provocative line during night battle is also enticing. By the way, seems like there's really captain who say those words, both in history and in anime. While she can't return home after the end of the war, Takao stayed in the front line, watching the sky with in her valiant figure.
First of the last heavy cruiser is probably more accurate. Takao-class is the last heavy cruiser built by IJN. The preceeding Mogami class is categorized as light cruiser.Idiots…To the end of the war
After the Leyte Campaign, Takao is damaged by submarine and have to stay anchored in Singapore until the end of the war. It is said that Takao's hull is being camouflaged using palm leaves. Closing to the end of war, she still managed to fire her main gun against B-29 bombers' air strike and fulfilled her life showing pride as first ship of Takao class.To the north is the Aleutian, while to the south is GuadalcanalIf I hide with this…