Nihon Kaigun 1946

[emperor_andreas]

After the initial drawing for the Oyabe-class (the above) was submitted and rejected, it was back to the drawing board. What emerged was more acceptable to the IJN's higher-ups, with the torpedo mounts being a throwback to the Furutaka- and Aoba-class cruisers in that each side only had one mount. However, the mounts were the same as those used on the Umigiri-, Yamazuki-, and Kitakaze-class DDs: one quintuple mount for either side mounted side-by side on deck.

[emperor_andreas]

In 1935, the third class of Large Cruiser started entering service. Originally, the Katsuma-class was to have mounted 15 x 10-inch guns in five triple turrets, but naval designers were unable to fit that many turrets onto the hull without drastically lengthening it, and so, like the preceding Nantai-class, the Katsumas mounted 12 x 10-inchers in four triple turrets. This design marked the end of the 'Large Cruiser' concept for the IJN, and their next design, the B64, evolved into the Tsushima-class battle cruisers.

Katsuma as commissioned in 1935:


Katsuma in 1944:

[BB1987]

Might i suggest to replace the single 25mm mounts on the bow and stern with the latest ones from the IJN parts sheet? you should have an homogeneous AA suite then.

also i'm happy thet you liked the Mogami-class superstructure

[emperor_andreas]

Fixed the AA guns in the 1944 version. And I'm glad you drew the Mogamis...I'm pretty sure you can guess what the Nantai-class Large CAs will feature.

[BB1987]

Something related to the Takaos for sure

[emperor_andreas]

You are astonishingly perceptive, my friend.

-Matt

[eswube]

Great work!

[emperor_andreas]

In 1934, the second group of Large Cruisers debuted. In the previous couple years, there were some IJN officers who opined the large superstructure of the Takao-class CAs would not look out of place on a BB. On 24 July 1934, they got their chance to see this, when the Nantai was commissioned. Her three sisters followed her into service in August, and all were looked favorably on, with their massive superstructures and their four triple 10-inch turrets.

The four ships as commissioned. Nantai steamed to Spithead in 1937 as one of the IJN representatives, and she and heavy cruiser Ashigara made quite the handsome pair.


In 1939, the newest ship in the class, Azami was refitted with a different bridge structure, along with CAs Maya and Chokai:


The first three ships of the class as of 1941:


Azami in 1943:


The first three ships of the class as they appeared in 1944:


And finally, Azami in 1945:

[BB1987]

They look very nice, on a serious note it higlited how the massive Takao superstructure fits well even on much bigger hulls.
as a small nitpicking, you have some glitches around the catapults in the 1941 (ends the same way on both sides) and 1944 version (there is an end floating near turret 4).

[emperor_andreas]

Will fix those ASAP...thanks!