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The Aoba-class cruisers were a class of two heavy cruisers constructed for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) which saw service during World War II.
The Furutaka class of heavy cruisers (also called “A class” cruisers in the Imperial Japanese Navy) was originally planned to include Aoba and her sister ship Kinugasa. The two ships were laid down in early 1924 with that intent.
In 1924 the IJN Naval General Staff pressured the acting head of the Basic Design Section, Fujimoto Kikuo, to use the newly designed twin 20 cm (8 in) gun turrets on the Furutaka-class ships. Fujimoto agreed to modify Aoba and Kinugasa, but it was already too late to retrofit Furutaka and Kako, which had been laid down in late 1922. The two ships were subsequently renamed as a separate class.
The modifications were significant. The six 12 cm (4.7 in) semi-turrets, 1 through 6, were replaced by three twin turrets, two fore and one aft. The main superstructure was also modified to accommodate the different fire control requirements of the twin turrets. Other design modifications included using 12 cm (4.7 in)/45-cal HA guns rather than the 7.62 cm (3 in) guns. The airplane takeoff platform, part of which mounted atop the number 4 semi-turret, was replaced with a catapult fitted just fore of the No.3 twin turret. The superstructure aft of the funnels was extensively modified due to the new catapult. The catapults weren't ready before the ships were commissioned. Kinugasa had an compressed-air unit mounted in March 1928, while Aoba had a gunpowder-propelled model mounted in March 1929.
Aoba and Kinugasa were otherwise built on the same hull as Furutaka and Kako, with identical machinery and armor. As built the Aoba was more than 900 tons heavier than its design weight, with negative effects on the performance of the ships similar to that of the Furutaka class overweight condition.
Item created by: Lethe on 2015-05-31 17:46:30
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