Japanese Heavy Cruiser Takao

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Takao was the first of four Takao-class heavy cruisers, designed to improve upon the unstable Myōkō-class. Approved under the 1927 fiscal year budget, these ships were integral to the Imperial Japanese Navy's Decisive Battle strategy, serving as a multipurpose long-range strike force. Built at the Yokosuka Naval shipyards and named after a mountain, Takao was launched on 12 May 1930 and commissioned on 31 May 1932. From the onset of the war, she was assigned to the Pacific theater. In early 1942, Takao participated in operations in the Java Sea, including the Battle of the Java Sea, where one of her floatplanes bombed the Dutch merchant ship Enggano. The following night, she and Atago sank the U.S. Navy destroyer Pillsbury without any survivors. Throughout the war, Takao engaged in various Pacific campaigns against Allied forces. This new series delves into the construction of iconic ships—battleships, carriers, cruisers, and submarines—featuring groundbreaking 3D imagery that allows for detailed views of each vessel. It includes information on design, development, combat history, and numerous photographs, along with 1/350th scale drawings, making it an exceptional reference tool.