Myoko-class
Summary
| Origin country | 🇯🇵 Japan |
| Category | Cruiser |
| Subtype | Heavy cruiser (World War II) |
| Manufacturer | Yokosuka Navy Yard, Kure Naval Arsenal, Mitsubishi Shipyard, Nagasaki, Kawasaki Shipyard, Kobe |
| Year commissioned | 1928 |
Description
The Myōkō-class cruisers were a series of four heavy cruisers constructed for the Imperial Japanese Navy in the late 1920s, of which three were ultimately lost during World War II. These vessels represented Japan's efforts to build powerful naval assets while still staying within the constraints of the Washington Naval Treaty, which limited naval construction. Exemplifying the Japanese Navy's ingenuity at the time, they were the first cruisers built by Japan that exceeded the 10,000-ton treaty limit, reflecting a tendency to maximize capability within restricted treaty limits.
Designed with a hull similar to the Aoba-class cruiser, the Myōkō-class featured substantial armor for protection. The side belt, armored deck, and torpedo bulkhead were all integrated into the hull structure, an innovation pioneered in the Yubari, to create a more efficient and resilient protective system. However, despite this ingenuity, their weight inevitably increased beyond the design intentions, adversely impacting their seakeeping qualities and reducing their operational range.
Initially, Myōkō-class cruisers were armed with ten 20 cm/50 3rd Year Type naval guns, the heaviest cruiser armament at the time, and also boasted a significant torpedo armament. The class featured an aircraft catapult and the capability to carry scouting planes, further enhancing their operational versatility.
Before World War II, the Myōkō-class cruisers underwent two major modernizations. The extensive first upgrade involved enhancements to their main armament, anti-aircraft guns, and torpedo armament, as well as structural modifications for improved stability at the cost of a slight reduction in speed. The second modernization focused on improving anti-aircraft defense capabilities and modifying the aircraft-launching systems.
As the war progressed, additional refits were implemented to counter the increasing threat from aircraft, which included the installation of numerous 25mm anti-aircraft guns and radar systems. Ultimately, to accommodate the escalating need for anti-aircraft weaponry, some torpedo mounts were removed.
Technical specifications
| Myoko | |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 14740 tons |
| Range | 14000 km at 14 knots |
| Crew | 773 members |
| Width | 19.5 m (64.0 ft) |
| Length | 204.0 m (669.3 ft) |
| Propulsion | 12 boilers and 4 steam turbines with a power of 130,000 hp - 4 propellers |
| Armament | 10 203mm guns + 8 127mm guns + 52 25mm AA guns + 12 13.2mm machine guns + 16 610mm TLTs |
| Maximum speed | 36 knots |
Photo of Myoko class
