Heavy Cruiser Atago
Open the military map重巡洋艦愛宕
Cruiser
Atago was a Takao-class heavy cruiser and the flagship of Vice Admiral Takeo Kurita's First Striking Force during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. She was sunk on 23 October 1944 by four torpedoes from the American submarine USS Darter in the Palawan Passage.
- Armament
- 20cm連装砲5基10門、12.7cm高角砲4基8門、61cm4連装魚雷発射管4基、零式水上偵察機3機
- Fate
- Sunk by submarine
History
Atago (愛宕) was the second ship of the Takao-class heavy cruisers, laid down at Kure Naval Arsenal on 28 April 1927, launched on 16 June 1930, and commissioned on 30 March 1932. Named after Mount Atago in Kyoto, she was one of the most powerful heavy cruisers of her era, displacing 13,400 tons after reconstruction and armed with ten 20 cm guns.
During World War II, Atago participated in numerous major operations including the Battle of Midway, the Guadalcanal campaign, and various engagements in the Solomon Islands. She served as flagship for multiple fleet operations due to her command facilities.
As flagship of Vice Admiral Takeo Kurita's First Striking Force during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, Atago led the powerful Center Force toward Leyte Gulf in October 1944. In the pre-dawn hours of 23 October 1944, the American submarine USS Darter (SS-227) intercepted the fleet in the Palawan Passage and fired six torpedoes at Atago, with four finding their mark. Atago capsized and sank at 05:53, about 20 minutes after being hit at 05:33, in about 1,800 meters of water. Vice Admiral Kurita survived and transferred his flag to the battleship Yamato.
Related sites (3)
- Built34.231, 132.565
Built at Kure Naval Arsenal, Hiroshima Prefecture. Laid down 28 April 1927.
- Homeport35.290, 139.660
Home port Yokosuka: Atago was registered to the Yokosuka Naval District on commissioning in 1932.
- Sunk9.467, 117.283
Sunk by USS Darter (SS-227) in the Palawan Passage on 23 October 1944. Four torpedoes struck Atago at 05:33 and she capsized at 05:53, about 20 minutes later, in approximately 1,800 m of water.
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