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Takao was the lead vessel of her class and they were the largest and more modern cruisers in the Japanese fleet. Her sister ships were Atago, Maya and Chōkai.This re-release of their previous Takao kit now comes with a dedicated photo-etch set.

Takao served throughout the war until being seriously damaged in October, 1944. On October 23rd, during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, she was hit by two torpedoes from submarine USS Darter, which shattered two propeller shafts, broke her fantail and flooded three boiler rooms. She limped to Singapore where she was assessed as too damaged to be taken back to Japan for full reparis. She remained there as an artillery platform, only to be attacked again in July, this time by British midget submarines. They failed to sink her and she survived the war to be a target ship for the guns of the HMS Newfoundland in 1947.

This kit (No. FUJ43129) is due for a mid-April release and pre-orders are available at Hobby Link Japan for $25.38 (US) plus shipping.