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Japanese cruiser Mikuma

Mikuma.jpg
Heavy cruiser Mikuma
History
Empire of Japan
Name: Mikuma
Namesake: Mikuma River
Ordered: 1931 Fiscal Year
Laid down: 24 December 1931
Launched: 31 May 1934
Commissioned: 29 August 1935
Struck: 10 August 1942
Fate: sunk 6 June 1942 by United States Navy and USMC aircraft during Battle of Midway at 29°20′N 173°30′E / 29.333°N 173.500°E / 29.333; 173.500Coordinates: 29°20′N 173°30′E / 29.333°N 173.500°E / 29.333; 173.500
General characteristics
Class and type: Mogami-class cruiser
Displacement:
  • 8,500 tons (official, initial)
  • 13,668 tons (final)
Length:
  • 197 metres (646 ft) (initial)
  • 198 metres (650 ft) (final)
Beam:
  • 18 metres (59 ft) (initial)
  • 20.2 metres (66 ft) (final)
Draught:
  • 5.5 metres (18 ft)(initial)
  • 5.9 metres (19 ft)(final)
Propulsion:
  • 4-shaft geared turbines
  • 10 Kampon boilers
  • 152,000 shp (113,000 kW)
Speed:
  • 37 knots (43 mph) (initial)
  • 34.9 knots (40.2 mph) (final)
Range: 8,000 nmi (15,000 km) at 14 knots (26 km/h)
Complement: 850
Armament:
  • (initial)
  • 15 × 155 millimetres (6.1 in)/60-cal guns (5x3)
  • 8 × 127 millimetres (5.0 in)/40-cal guns (4x2)
  • 4 × 40 millimetres (1.6 in) AA guns
  • 12 × 610 millimetres (24 in) torpedo tubes
  • (final)
  • 10 × 20.3 centimetres (8.0 in)/50 3rd Year Type naval guns (5x2)
  • 8 × 127 millimetres (5.0 in)/40-cal guns (4x2)
  • 8 × 25 millimetres (0.98 in) AA guns
  • 4 × 13.2 millimetres (0.52 in) AA guns
  • 12 × 610 millimetres (24 in) torpedo tubes
Armor:
  • Belt 100–125 mm (3.9–4.9 in)
  • Deck 35–60 mm (1.4–2.4 in)
  • Turret 25 mm (0.98 in)
Aircraft carried: 3 x floatplanes

Mikuma (三隈 Mikuma?) was the second vessel in the four-vessel Mogami class of heavy cruisers in the Imperial Japanese Navy. It was named after the Mikuma river in Oita prefecture, Japan. Commissioned in 1935, it participated in the Battle of Sunda Strait in February 1942 and the Battle of Midway in June 1942. It was sunk the last day of the battle, June 6.

Built under the 1931 Fleet Replenishment Program, the Mogami-class cruisers were designed to the maximum limits allowed by the Washington Naval Treaty, using the latest technology. This resulted in the choice of a 155 mm dual purpose (DP) main battery in five triple turrets capable of 55° elevation. To save weight, electric welding was used, as was aluminum in the superstructure, and the use of a single funnel stack. New impulse geared turbine engines, coupled with very heavy anti-aircraft protection, gave the class a very high speed and protection. However, the Mogami class was also plagued with technical problems due to its untested equipment and proved to be unstable and top-heavy as well, due to cramming too much equipment into a comparatively small hull.

Mikuma was completed at Mitsubishi's Nagasaki shipyards on 29 August 1935.


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