Takao was a Japanese heavy cruiser the keel of which was laid in 1927, launched in May 1930, and commissioned in the Imperial Japanese Navy in May 1932. The length of the ship at the time of launching was 192.5 m, width 18.03 m, and the actual full displacement, after modernization - 15,800 tons. The cruiser Takao's top speed was up to 35.5 knots. At the outbreak of World War II, the main armament was 10 203 mm guns in five turrets, two guns each, and the additional armament included: 8 127 mm guns and as many as 16 610 mm torpedo tubes!
Takao was the first cruiser of the type to bear the same name - ie the Takao. Cruisers of this type were built respecting the limitations of the Washington Disarmament Treaty signed by the government in Tokyo in 1922. The ships of this type are clearly based on the design of the Myoko-class cruisers. The changes concerned: the use of new main artillery cannons, improved armor, expansion of the bow superstructure and better layout of the torpedo armament. Emphasis was also placed on high top speed. The pursuit of such extreme goals led to the creation of ships with powerful artillery and torpedo armament, great speed, but with a lower range than assumed, average sea bravery and with considerable stability problems. Subsequent modernizations on the first two ships of this type partially eliminated these disadvantages, but did not completely eliminate them. Takao's combat trail in World War II began as early as December 1941 with support for Japanese landings in Malaya. In February of the same year, it took part in the attack on Port Darwin, and from May to July it took part in the fighting in the Aleutian region. In October, however, he fought in the battle near the island of Santa Cruz. In July 1943, in connection with an air attack on the Truk base in which he was located at that time, he suffered serious damage and was sent to Japan to a repair shipyard. Takao did not return to the line until January 1944. He took part in the Battle of Leyte Bay, suffering severe damage again, but survived it and, retreating from the battle, entered Singapore. The ship remained there until the end of the Pacific War. He was sunk by the British on October 27, 1946.