Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
Imperial Japanese Navy — Cruiser

Japanese cruiser Mikuma

Mogami-class cruiser

Japanese cruiser Mikuma
Imperial Japanese Navy — http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jVZllhVvt7Q/UjXURJ9gv-I/AAAAAAAAAg4/iwT1cEeNN4A/s1600/Mikuma+1939.jpg1.jpg — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons Plate Japanese cruiser Mikuma anchored in Kagoshima Harbor and photographed from the submarine tender Tsurugizaki.

Service

  1. Imperial Japanese Navy as Mikuma29 August 1935 — 10 August 19421,074 days of the war
Mogami-class cruiser Particulars
Name
Mikuma
Namesake
Mikuma River
Builder
Mitsubishi
Ordered
1931
Laid down
24 December 1931
Launched
31 May 1934
Commissioned
29 August 1935
Struck
10 August 1942
Fate
Sunk by American aircraft during Battle of Midway, 6 June 1942 173
By aircraft (1942)
Status
Wreck

Specifications

Displacement, standard
8,500 long tons (8,636 t)
Length
197 m (646.3 ft)
Beam
18 m (59.1 ft)
Draught
5.5 m (18 ft)
Speed
37 knots (68.5 km/h, 42.6 mph)
Range
8,000 nmi (14,816 km)
Complement
850
Main gun
203 mm (8 in)

Mikuma was a Mogami-class cruiser in service with the Imperial Japanese Navy. She was named for Mikuma River. Mitsubishi laid her keel on 24 December 1931. She entered service on 29 August 1935, having been launched on 31 May 1934.

Her class ran to four ships. The class followed the Takao-class cruiser and was succeeded by the Tone-class cruiser.

She displaced 8,500 long tons. She measured 197 m (646 ft) long with a beam of 18 m (59 ft). Her designed speed was 37 knots, and she carried a complement of 850.

Her main battery was ten 203 mm (8.0 in) guns. Her belt armour was 125 mm (4.9 in) and her deck 60 mm. She carried three aircraft.

She was in commission for 1,074 days of the Second World War. She was struck from the register on 10 August 1942.

She was sunk on 6 June 1942 by aircraft, at 29°20′N 173°30′E. The wreck survives.

Written from the harvested record. Every figure above is sourced; the wording is this site's own.

Armament and machinery

Armament and machinery
Propulsion
  • 4-shaft geared turbines
  • 10 Kampon boilers
  • 152000 shp
Armament
  • (initial)
  • 15 × 155 mm/60 cal guns (5x3)
  • 8 × 127 mm/40 cal guns (4x2)
  • 4 × 40 mm AA guns
  • 12 × 610 mm torpedo tubes
  • (final)
  • 10 × 20.3 cm/50 3rd Year Type naval guns (5x2)
  • 8 × 127 mm/40 cal guns (4x2)
  • 8 × 25 mm AA guns
  • 4 × 13.2 mm AA guns
  • 12 × 610 mm torpedo tubes
Armour
  • Belt 100 - 125 mm
  • Deck 35 - 60 mm
  • Turret 25 mm
Aircraft
  • 3 x floatplanes

Sister ships

Sources

  • Facts harvested from Japanese cruiser Mikuma on Wikipedia. Figures only — no wording is taken from it.
  • Photograph: Imperial Japanese Navy — http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jVZllhVvt7Q/UjXURJ9gv-I/AAAAAAAAAg4/iwT1cEeNN4A/s1600/Mikuma+1939.jpg1.jpg — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons