Могами крейсері: Жапония Әскери-теңіз күштерінің жетекші кемесі

Lead ship of the Mogami class of cruisers

Mogami (最上) was the lead ship in the four vessel of heavy cruisers in the Imperial Japanese Navy. She was named after the Mogami River in Tōhoku region of Japan. The Mogami class ships were constructed as "light cruisers" (per the London Naval Treaty) with five triple dual purpose guns. They were exceptionally large for light cruisers, and the barbettes for the main battery were designed for quick refitting with twin guns. In 1937 all four ships were "converted" to heavy cruisers in this fashion. Mogami served in numerous combat engagements in World War II, until she was sunk at the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944.

Built under the Maru 1 Naval Armaments Supplement Programme, the Mogami class cruisers were designed to the maximum limits allowed by the Washington Naval Treaty, using the latest technology. This resulted in the choice of the dual purpose (DP) 15.5 cm/60 3rd Year Type naval guns as the main battery in five triple turrets capable of 55° elevation. These were the first Japanese cruisers with triple turrets. Secondary armament included eight 12.7 cm/40 Type 89 naval guns in four twin turrets, and 24 Type 93 Long Lance torpedoes in four rotating triple mounts. To save weight, electric welding was used, as was aluminum in the superstructure, and a single funnel stack. New geared impulse turbine engines, driving four shafts with three bladed propellers gave a top speed of , which was better than most contemporary cruiser designs and the Mogami class had twin balanced rudders, rather than the single rudder of previous Japanese cruiser designs. In mid 1941, Mogami participated in the occupation of Cochinchina, French Indochina, from its forward operating base on Hainan after Japan and Vichy French authorities reached an understanding on use of air facilities and harbors from July 1941. At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Mogami was assigned to cover the Japanese invasion of Malaya as part of Cruiser Division 7 under Vice Admiral Jisaburo Ozawa's First Southern Expeditionary Fleet, providing close support for landings of Japanese troops at Singora, Pattani and Kota Bharu. In February 1942, Mogami was assigned to cover the landings of Japanese troops in Java, Borneo and Sumatra. On 10 February, Mogami and Japanese cruiser Chōkai were attacked by the submarine Searaven, which fired four torpedoes, all of which missed.

At 2300 on 28 February 1942, Mikuma and Mogami, destroyer Japanese destroyer Shikinami, light cruiser Japanese cruiser Natori and destroyers Japanese destroyer Shirakumo, Japanese destroyer Murakumo, Japanese destroyer Shirayuki, Japanese destroyer Hatsuyuki and Japanese destroyer Asakaze engaged the cruisers Houston and with gunfire and torpedoes after the Allied vessels attacked Japanese transports in the Sunda Strait. Both Houston and Perth were sunk during the engagement, as was Japanese transport Ryūjō Maru with IJA 16th Army commander Lieutenant General Hitoshi Imamura aboard.

From 1 April 1942 Cruiser Division 7 based from Mergui, Burma joined with Cruiser Division 4 to participate in the Indian Ocean raids against Allied shipping. Mikuma, Mogami and destroyer Japanese destroyer Amagiri detached and formed the "Southern Group", which hunted for merchant shipping in the Bay of Bengal, while Chōkai, Destroyer Squadron 4's light cruiser Japanese cruiser Yura and the destroyers Japanese destroyer Ayanami, Japanese destroyer Yūgiri, Japanese destroyer Asagiri and Japanese destroyer Shiokaze covered the northern areas. During the operation, the "Southern Group" claimed kills on the 7,726 ton British passenger ship Dardanus, the 5,281 ton British steamship Ganara, and the 6,622 ton British merchant vessel Indora, en route from Calcutta to Mauritius. On 22 April, Cruiser Division 7 returned to Kure, and Mogami went into dry dock for overhaul. On 26 May, Cruiser Division 7 arrived at Guam to provide close support for Rear Admiral Raizō Tanaka's Midway Invasion Transport Group.