Heavy Cruiser Takao
Open the military map重巡洋艦高雄
Cruiser
Takao was the lead ship of the Takao-class heavy cruisers. Heavily damaged by HMS XE3 midget submarine at Singapore in July 1945, she surrendered intact and was subsequently sunk as a target ship on 29 October 1946 in the Strait of Malacca by HMS Newfoundland.
- 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
- Scuttled
History
Takao (高雄) was the lead ship of the Takao-class heavy cruisers, laid down at Yokosuka Naval Arsenal on 28 April 1927, launched on 12 May 1930, and commissioned on 31 May 1932. Named after Mount Takao in Kyoto (and the city of Takao in colonial Taiwan), she was among the most advanced heavy cruisers of the interwar period.
Takao participated extensively in the Pacific War, including the Aleutians operation of June 1942, the Guadalcanal campaign, and various engagements in the Philippines. Her powerful armament of ten 20 cm guns and her impressive speed made her a formidable warship.
During the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944, Takao was struck by two torpedoes fired by the American submarine USS Darter, suffering severe damage that forced her withdrawal. She limped back to Singapore for repairs that were never completed due to lack of resources.
On 31 July 1945, the British midget submarine XE3 (with a four-man crew led by Lt. Ian Fraser) attached limpet mines to Takao's hull at Singapore and dropped a two-ton side charge beneath her, causing further serious damage. Takao remained at Singapore unable to move when Japan surrendered. She was formally surrendered to the British Royal Navy on 21 September 1945 and was subsequently towed to the Strait of Malacca, where she was scuttled, with gunfire from HMS Newfoundland, off Port Swettenham on 29 October 1946.
Related sites (4)
- Built35.290, 139.660
Built at Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, Kanagawa Prefecture. Laid down 28 April 1927.
- Homeport35.290, 139.660
Yokosuka Naval Base, primary home station of the Imperial Japanese Navy.
- Battle9.400, 117.250
Palawan Passage, 23 October 1944 (opening of the Battle of Leyte Gulf) — Takao was hit by two torpedoes from USS Darter and forced to withdraw.
- Sunk3.085, 100.683
Scuttled on 29 October 1946 in the Strait of Malacca off Port Swettenham (now Port Klang), approx. 3°05′N 100°41′E — sea valves opened and sunk by gunfire from HMS Newfoundland — after being surrendered at Singapore in September 1945.
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