Development of the Imperial Japanese Navy Battle Cruiser (Part 8)

Nachi class construction was started in Showa 6, and the battle cruiser of the imperial navy became 16 ships. There are Furutaka, Aoba, Nachi, Mogami class. (4 ships each).
However, the battle cruiser of 20 ships was required.

The battle cruiser of 20 ships was required for the strategy which intercepts the U.S. navy in the sea near Japan.

Then, Showa 9 (1934),
Starts a new style battle cruiser at construction of 2 ships. it is Tone class.
However, the main $B!! (Bguns for the Washington (London) treaty were restricted to 15.5cm.
(All hevy battle cruisers replaced the main guns for 20cm in after years.)

Mr.Ezaki of the subordinate of Mr.Fujimoto took charge of the design of this new style battle cruiser. The Tone class feature, in order to make small of the pattern of the main guns , 4 sets of all main gun turrets were arranged at the bow.
An intensive arrengement of this main guns obtained the good result.

1:An intensive defense of a powder magazine was attained.
2:Even if a powder magazine explodes, is only the portion of a bow.
3:The hull central part may be safe and may escape sinking.
4:The warship of the imperial navy does not have the hangar of a floatplane. floatplane puts on the deck.

For this reason, when it becomes a bombardment game, all floatplanes have to make start (Otherwise, airplane is destroyed with the blast of bombardment)

Tone class was able to make the hangar in the stern. 8 set loading was possible for the floatplane.

Equipment of the arms of Tone is the same as Mogami class.
However, the pattern of the main guns has obtained good results.
Record of the pattern of a battle cruiser : $B!J (BRecord of Syouwa15 (1940).)

Tone: In front and behind is 355m. Right and left are 73m.
Chikuma: In front and behind is 346m. Right and left are 75m.
Takao: In front and behind is 331m. Right and left are 69m.
Atago: In front and behind is 367m. Right and left are 51m.
The rate of a hit of Tone is recording 16%.
If ,in the case of ten shooting of the main guns was discharged with 80 shells,. And 13 hits the mark.
This figure is 3 times the rate of a hit of 'Nachi' at the time of new construction

Tone class is scheduled to complete 4 ships by the end of Showa 11.
And, the second fleet of the imperial navy completes by construction of this Tone class.

Showa 9,
The Japanese government gave notice of canceling a disarmament treaty in Showa 11 coming ends of the year to the world.

And, Showa 12 or later,
The navy in the world(Britain, U.S. Germany, Italy, Japan) rushed into competition of constructio of an unrestricted warship.