"ith her sister-ships AGANO, NOSHIRO, and the famous YAHAGI, the SAKAWA began life as a design intended to be a new light cruiser armed with 6-inch guns and high speed designed to replace the old four and three stack light cruisers in commission.
Finally it was decided to redesign the vessels and complete them as high speed scouting cruisers designed to serve as Destroyer Squadron flagships or screen flags for striking forces.
The emphasis on speed resulted in comparatively light armoring, even around the turrets, machinery and ammunition rooms.
As completed the AGANO-class with three twin turrets with two 5.9-inch guns each. Two of the turrets were situated forward of the bridge, the third on the quarterdeck abaft the mainmast. Two quadruple 24-inch torpedo tubes were installed, complete with the rapid reloading gear that made IJN torpedoes among the most effective in the world. Sixteen torpedo spares were carried, and these tubes were partly concealed and protected by a light aircraft deck built over them, which could handle two aircraft. The crane and winch for handling the aircraft was built into the mainmast aft, and swung forward. Finally, the cruisers carried sixteen depth charges. By the time SAKAWA entered service, she carried the same number of light A.A. as the final complement on her sisters – ten triple and twenty-nine single mount 25mm guns. The designed complement was 730 officers and men, but staffs and increased anti-aircraft armament pushed this number higher. Thus at Leyte Gulf the NOSHIRO's complement was 60 officers and 688 petty officers and men for a total of 748 officers and men…"
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Armand
goes to sea with the Terrain Mat.
