Heavy Cruiser Maya

Maya (摩耶) was the third ship of the Takao-class heavy cruisers, laid down at Kawasaki Shipyard in Kobe on 4 December 1928, launched on 8 November 1930, and commissioned on 30 June 1932. Named after Mount Maya in Hyogo Prefecture.

In 1943–1944, Maya underwent a unique reconstruction that made her distinctly different from her sisters. Her No. 3 main gun turret was removed and replaced with additional anti-aircraft weaponry including twelve 12.7 cm dual-purpose guns in six twin mounts and sixty-six 25 mm AA guns, effectively converting her into a specialized anti-aircraft cruiser. Her crew swelled to approximately 1,105 men.

Maya participated in the Battle of the Philippine Sea in June 1944 as part of the Mobile Fleet. She then joined Vice Admiral Kurita's Center Force for the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944.

On 23 October 1944, just after Atago was torpedoed, the American submarine USS Dace (SS-247) fired torpedoes at Maya from a range of 1,800 yards. Four torpedoes struck Maya—one in the forward chain locker, one near turret No. 1, one in boiler room No. 7, and one in the aft engine room. Powerful explosions followed, and Maya sank at about 06:05, some eight minutes after being hit. Of her 1,105-man crew, 769 were rescued and 336, including her captain, were lost.