Photos and the story

Takao

Class	Takao class
Type	Heavy cruiser (CA)
Fate	Afloat. In Kondo's bombardment group on 15 November 1942, and not sunk that night. USS Darter torpedoed her in Palawan Passage on 23 October 1944. She stayed afloat. British XE-craft damaged her at Singapore on 31 July 1945 and did not sink her. She surrendered there. Towed out on 27 October 1946 and sunk by gunfire from HMS Newfoundland on 29 October 1946.
Armament (class)	Five twin 8-inch turrets and two funnels, with a heavier bridge.
Command	Asakura, Bunji Captain from 15 August 1941; Relieved on 23 February 1943 Inoguchi, Toshihira Captain from 23 February 1943; Relieved on 28 October 1943 Hayashi, Shigechika Captain from 28 October 1943 Ishisaka, Takeo Captain from 22 March 1945

Laid down, displacement, length, beam, draft, speed, and complement are not stored for each hull, so this table leaves them out.

The armament line is the class drawing, not a measurement of this hull.

Takao was a heavy cruiser of the Takao class in the Imperial Japanese Navy. Captain Bunji Asakura commanded her from 15 August 1941 until 23 February 1943. On 15 November 1942, while he was her captain, she took part in the battleship night of the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal in Kondo's bombardment group, with Atago and Kirishima. That night she fired on South Dakota. She was still afloat when the action ended.

Captain Toshihira Inoguchi relieved Asakura on 23 February 1943 and held command until 28 October 1943. Captain Shigechika Hayashi took over on that date. In Palawan Passage on 23 October 1944, USS Darter torpedoed Takao. The cruiser stayed afloat.

Captain Takeo Ishisaka took command on 22 March 1945. At Singapore on 31 July 1945, British XE-craft damaged her, and she remained afloat. She surrendered at Singapore.

On 27 October 1946 she was towed out. On 29 October 1946 gunfire from HMS Newfoundland sank her in the Strait of Malacca.

The pictures on this page are the originals.