ITA46502 World of Warships : IJN ATAGO 1:700

 

Atago is one of four Takao-class heavy cruisers, built between 1927 and 1932, for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN). Like her sister ships, Atago was named after a mountain: Mount Atago - located just outside of Kyoto.

 

The design of the Takao-class evolved from the preceding Myōkō-class heavy cruisers, built in the 1920s. With thicker armor, dual-purpose main-battery guns and improved torpedo launcher safety, Takao-class vessels became the backbone of the IJN.

 

Their main armament consisted of ten 20 cm/50 3rd Year Type naval guns, in five twin-mounted turrets and 24 Type 93 “Long Lance” torpedoes that could be launched from four quadruple-torpedo launchers.

Due to this, Atago became one of the most heavily armed cruisers in the world – at least at the time. It was quickly discovered that the ship design was top-heavy, which affected stability and seaworthiness. For this reason Takao and Atago were rebuilt.

 

The size of the bridge was reduced, the main mast was relocated aftwards, and hull bulges were added to improve stability. Laid down on the 28th of April 1927 at the Kure Navy Arsenal – the same shipyard where the famous battleship Yamato was later constructed – Atago was launched on the 16th of June 1930. The final outfitting and sea trails took nearly 2 years, and the ship was finally commissioned on the 30th of March 1932.