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ATAGO IJN (Japan)

Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2016 7:22 pm
by D. v. Nieuwenhuijzen
Built in 1927-1932 by Kure Naval Arsenal, laid down 28-04-1927, launched 16-06-1930, commissioned 30-03-1932.
'Takao' class cruiser, Displacement:9,850 long tons (10,010 t) (standard) 14,616 long tons (14,851 t) (full load) Length:203.76 m (668.5’) Beam:19–20.4 m (62–67’) Draft:6.11 m (20.0’) (standard) 6.32 m (20.7) (full load) 12 × Kampon boilers, 4 × geared steam turbines
4 shafts, 133,100 shp (99,300 kW) Speed:34.2–35.5 kn.
Range:8,500 nm/14 kn. Complement: 773.
Armament:
Original Layout: 10 × 20 cm/50 3rd Year Type naval guns (5x2)
4 × 12 cm/45 10th Year Type naval guns (4x1)
2 × 40 mm (1.6 in) anti-aircraft guns (2x1)
Type 90 torpedoes (4x2 + 8 reloads)
Final Layout: 10 × 20 cm/50 3rd Year Type naval guns (5x2)
8 × Type 89 12.7 cm dual purpose guns, (4x2)
60 × Type 96 25 mm (1.0 in) AA guns
4 × Type 93 13.2 mm (0.5 in) AA machine guns
Type 93 torpedoes (4x4 + 8 reloads)
depth charges
Armor:
Belt: 38–127 mm (1.5–5.0 in)
Deck: 37 mm (1.5 in) (main, max); 127–25 mm (5.00–0.98 in) (upper)
Bulkheads: 76–100 mm (3.0–3.9 in)
Turrets: 1 in (2.5 cm)
Aircraft carried: 3 × floatplanes (1 × Aichi E13A1 "Jake" and 2 × Mitsubishi F1M2 "Pete"s)
Aviation facilities: 2 × catapults


Atago was laid down at Kure Naval Arsenal on 28 April 1927, launched on 16 June 1930, and commissioned into the Imperial Japanese Navy on 30 March 1932.[3] Although Takao was the lead ship in the class, Atago was actually completed a day earlier.
All of the Takao class were assigned to the Yokosuka Naval District, forming Sentai-4 of the IJN 2nd Fleet, and trained as a unit during the 1930s. On 14 May 1932, the day before he was assassinated, Prime Minister Inukai Tsuyoshimade a tour of inspection of the new cruiser. From 26–28 May, Atago hosted Emperor Hirohito on a cruise from Kobeto Etajima and back on the Inland Sea, and the emperor presided over a naval review at Kobe on his returun, Atago was commanded by Captain Ibō Takahashi from December 1932 to November 1933, and by Captain Seiichi Itō from April 1936 until he was relieved from 1 December 1936 to 12 July 1937 by Captain Aritomo Gotō.
During this time, issues with their stability and seaworthiness due to the top-heavy design became evident. Takao and Atago were rebuilt, resulting in an improved design: the size of the bridge was reduced, the main mast was relocated aft, and hull bulges were added to improve stability. After rebuilding was completed, Takao and Atago patrolled off the coast of China in 1940 and early 1941 She was commanded by Captain Tomiji Koyanagi from October 1940 to July 1941.
From 11 August 1941, Atago was commanded by Captain Matsuji Ijuin, and on 29 November was made flagship of Vice Admiral Nobutake Kondō's Sentai-4, along with sister ships Maya, Chōkai, and Takao.
At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Atago had sortied from Mako Guard District in the Pescadores Islands to provide support for Japanese landings in the invasion of Malaya and in the invasion of the Philippines.
From January–March 1942, Atago was based out of Palau, and was involved in operations to seize the oil-rich Netherlands East Indies, participating in numerous combat operations, including the Battle of the Java Sea. On 2 March, south of Bali, Atago and Takao sank the old destroyer USS Pillsbury. On 4 March, Atago, Takeo and Maya, together with the destroyers Arashi and Nowaki attacked a convoy which had departed Tjilatjap for Fremantle,Australia, and sank the Royal Australian Navy sloop HMAS Yarra after a 90-minute battle, along with the British tanker Francol, depot ship Anking, and British minesweeper 51. In the same battle, Atago captured the 1030 ton Dutch freighter Duymaer van Twist and 7089 ton freighter Tjisaroea, both of which were later placed into Japanese service. After taking Vice Admiral Kondō on an inspection tour of Japan’s new possessions in the former Netherlands East Indies, Atago returned to Yokosuka Naval District on 17 April 1942, where she was assigned to the unsuccessful pursuit of Admiral William F. Halsey's Task Group 16.2 (TG 16.2) after the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo .
Atago underwent a second modernization program at Yokosuka from 22 April to 21 May 1942 in which her single 12 cm/45 10th Year Type naval guns were replaced with new dual Type 89 12.7 cm (5 in) dual purpose guns, Atago departed for the Battle of Midway, where she was used to escort the transports ferrying the invasion force. She returned from the battle unscathed.
Guadalcanal campaign.
On 11 August 1942, Atago departed Hashirajima together with Sentai-4 with the IJN 2nd Fleet for Truk, from which she was tasked with “Operation Ka”, the reinforcement of Guadalcanal from 20 August. During the Battle of the Eastern Solomons (24–25 August), aircraft from the American aircraft carrier USS Wasp shot down two of Aichi E13A1 "Jake" floatplanes from Atago that were engaged in reconnaissance missions, killing all four aircrew members in the two aircraft. Atago also played a very minor role in Battle of Santa Cruz Islands (26–27 October)
In the Second Naval Battle of Guadalcanal (15 November), during a night gun duel with the American battleships USS South Dakota and Washington, Atago and Takao hit South Dakota with seventeen 20 cm (8 in) rounds, five 15 cm (6 in) and one 12.7 cm (5.0 in). The battleship Kirishima also hit South Dakota with a single 14 in (360 mm) round that exploded on her aft No. 3 turret's barbette. South Dakota was damaged, but not sunk. Early in the battle, Atago and Takao each launched eight Type 93 "Long Lance" torpedoes at Washington but they all missed. Atago was damaged slightly as a result of the action, and returned to Kure for repairs on 17 December.
On 25 January 1943, Atago returned to Truk to continue Japanese efforts to hold the Solomon Islands, and eventually to support the evacuation of Guadalcanal. The force consisted of the carriers Zuikaku, Zuihō and Jun'yō, the battleships Kongō and Haruna, heavy cruisers Atago, Takao, Myōkō and Haguro, the light cruisers Nagara andAgano, and 11 destroyers. The Japanese transports were successful in evacuating 11,700 troops from the island.
Atago remained based out of Truk through July 1943, when she returned to Yokosuka Naval Arsenal for her third modernization and refit, which added two triple-mount Type 96 25 mm (0.98 in) anti-aircraft guns.
On 23 August 1943, Atago returned to Truk with Army reinforcements for Rabaul, and continued making sorties supporting Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands through November. In response to American carrier aircraft raiding in the Gilbert Islands, Atago sortied with Vice Admiral Jisaburō Ozawa's fleet to engage the American carriers. The fleet consisted of the aircraft carriers Shōkaku, Zuikaku and Zuihō, the battleships Yamato and Nagato, heavey cruisers Myōkō, Haguro, Tone, Chikuma, Mogami, Atago, Takao, Chōkai and Maya, the light cruiser Agano and fifteen destroyers. Despite extensive searches, this force failed to make contact with the American striking force and returned to Truk.
In response to the Allied landings on Bougainville on 1 November 1943, Atago and several other Japanese cruisers were sent to Rabaul to prepare to attack the Allied landing forces. On 5 November, while refueling at Rabaul, the task force was attacked by 97 planes from the carriers USS Saratoga and Princeton. Atago sustained three near-misses by 500 lb (230 kg) bombs that killed 22 crewmen, including her skipper Captain Nakaoka who was hit by a bomb splinter while on the bridge. On 15 November, Atago returned to Yokosuka for repairs, during which time a Type 22 surface-search radar set, along with additional Type 96 25 mm anti-aircraft guns were installed.
In January 1944, Atago returned to Truk. On 10 February, the cruiser force was attacked by the American submarineUSS Permit in a night surface attack, but she missed with four torpedoes. Atago was then reassigned to Sentai-4 based in Palau under Vice Admiral Jisaburō Ozawa's First Mobile Fleet at Palau from 1 March, and was stationed at Davao in the southern Philippines from 1 April. The cruiser force was unsuccessfully attacked by the submarine USS Dace on 6 April.
On 13 June, during the Battle of the Philippine Sea, Atago was part of Vice Admiral Takeo Kurita’s Mobile Force Vanguard, deployed from Tawi Tawi in an attempt to force the American 5th Fleet into a “decisive battle” off of Saipan. In what came to be called the "Great Mariana's Turkey Shoot”, Japanese aircraft attacking US Task Force 58 off of Saipan suffered overwhelming losses. Atago was undamaged from this battle and arrived at Hashirajima on 24 June for a final refit, at which time a Type 13 air-search radar set was installed, along with further four triple- and 22 single-mount Type 96 AA guns (which brought her total to 60) .
Sinking in the Battle of Leyte Gulf.
From July–October 1944, Atago was flagship of Vice Admiral Takeo Kurita's First Mobile Striking Force, which comprised the major remaining surface force of the Imperial Japanese Navy. The force consisted of seven battleships, eleven heavy cruisers, two light cruisers, and 19 destroyers, and was based at Lingga Roads near Singapore. The force sortied on 22 October in what would be the last major naval engagement of the war, the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Atago served as flagship for what the Allies termed the “Center Force”, and was a part of Sentai-4, along with Chōkai, Takao and Maya. The next day two submarines that had been shadowing the force attacked in the Palawan Passage. Atago was one of the ships hit. Four torpedoes fired from the submarine USS Darter struck the Atago, setting her ablaze. She capsized at 05:53 in about 1,800 m (5,900 ft) of water at 09°28′N 117°17′E.
Of Atago’s crewmen, there were 529 survivors, including Vice Admiral Kurita, but 360 were killed. CoS Rear AdmiralTomiji Koyanagi and Atago’s skipper Rear Admiral Araki and 355 crewman were rescued by the destroyer Kishinami; 171 others were rescued by the destroyer Asashimo. She was removed from the navy list on 20 December.

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Re: ATAGO IJN (Japan)

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