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Following the
1914-1918 war, naval forces world-wide vied with each other in constructing
larger and more powerful warships. It was thought that during future naval
conflicts the "Big Gun" principle of battleships with large calibre guns would
be the main force in these engagements. The Japanese Naby decided to modernize
their aging fleet with an entire new line of powerful warships. Under a program
known as the "Eight-Eight" squadron, they planned to produce eight new
battleships and eight new battle cruisers. The squadron would also require light
cruisers to escort the new mainline vessels, so 5,500 ton light cruisers were
planned for production. The Isuzu was constructed at the Uraga dockyard and
launched on 15 August, 1923, as a Nagara-class light cruiser. The Isuzu was one
of the fourteen light cruisers produced during this era. It has a straight
narrow hull with a sppon-shaped bow, three funnels and tripod masts. she was
designed to be capable of cruising at 36 knots, a performance required to be
capable of cruising at 36 knots, a performance required to keep pace with the
new high speed Japanese Naval Fleet. Main armament was seven 14cm guns in single
turrets. She also carried two 8cm high-angle guns, and four dual-tube 61cm
torpedo launchers. From August to December 1928, Isoruku Yamamoto, was later
Admiral of the Japanese Fleet, served as Captain aboard this vessel. The Isuszu
was assigned as the flagship to numerous submarine Flotilla until the outbreak
of the Pacific War. During repairs of mine damage sustained at Kavieng, which
was being done at Yokosuka and Nagasaki shipyards, the Isuzu was modified to
counter air attack. All seven 14cm guns were removed and replaced with 12.7cm
anti-aircraft weapons mounted at three locations. In addition, eleven 25mm
triple machine guns and five single machine guns were added. The old double-tube
torpedo launchers were replaced with quadruple-tube launchers for the newer type
torpedoes. These modifications, coupled with new air and sea radars, greatly
enhanced the capabilities of the Isuzu and she was assigned as the flagship for
the 31st Squadron of the Combined Japanese Naval Fleet. She was sunk on April 7,
1945, while participating in the battle of Leyte Gulf.
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AS-7 - Neutral Gray (USAAF) |
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TS-1 - Red Brown |
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XF-1 - Flat Black |
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XF-16 - Flat Aluminum |
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XF-19 - Sky Grey |
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XF-2 - Flat White |
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XF-3 - Flat Yellow |
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XF-53 - Neutral Grey |
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