Japanese cruiser Maya

{{nofootnotes|date=February 2008}} {| |} {{nihongo|'''''Maya'''''|摩耶}} was one of four [[Takao class cruiser|''Takao''-class]] [[heavy cruiser]]s, designed to be an improvement over the previous [[Japanese cruiser Myōkō|''Myōkō''-class]] design. These ships were fast, powerful and heavily armed, with enough firepower to hold their own against any cruiser in any other navy in the world. The ''Takao''-class ships were approved under the 1927 fiscal year budget as part of the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]]'s strategy of the Decisive Battle, and forming the backbone of a multipurpose long range strike force. ''Maya'' was built by the [[Kawasaki Heavy Industries|Kawasaki]] shipyards in [[Kobe]]. It shares its name with the early [[Japanese gunboat Maya|Japanese gunboat ''Maya'']], and per Japanese naval naming conventions, is named after a mountain, specifically [[Mount Maya]] outside of Kobe. ==History== At the start of the [[Pacific War]], ''Maya'' was assigned to support the invasion of the [[Philippine Islands]]. From January through March 1942, the ''Maya'' was involved in operations to seize the oil-rich [[Dutch East Indies]]. On March 3, 1942 the ''Maya'' was present at the sinking of the US gunboat [[USS Asheville (PG-21)]], south of [[Java (island)|Java]]. Returning to Japan in April 1942, ''Maya'' was assigned to the unsuccessful pursuit of Admiral [[William F. Halsey]]'s Task Force 16.2 after the [[Doolittle Raid]] on [[Tokyo]], which had damaged the aircraft carrier [[Japanese aircraft carrier Ryuho|Ryuho]] during her conversion. In May–June 1942, she participated in the successful invasion of the [[Aleutian Islands]]. In August 1942, the ''Maya'' was assigned south, to the reinforcement of the [[Solomon Islands]], and participated in the [[Battle of the Eastern Solomons]]. The ''Maya'' was based out of [[Truk]] through the remainder of 1942. However, during the American bombardment of [[Henderson Field (Guadalcanal)|Henderson Field]] on November 14, 1942, the ''Maya'' task force was attacked by the [[USS Flying Fish (SS-229)|USS ''Flying Fish'']] (SS-229), which missed the ''Maya'' with six torpedoes. Later, the ''Maya'' was attacked by [[Douglas SBD Dauntless|Douglas SBD "Dauntless"]] [[dive-bomber]]s of VB-10 squadron, one of which dropped a 500-lb (227 kg) bomb astern of the ship, but whose starboard wing struck the ''Maya''{{'s}} mainmast; the plane crashed into the ship's portside and ignited 4.7-inch (120 mm) shells. Thirty-seven crewmen were killed. The ''Maya'' returned to [[Yokosuka]] for repairs and refit in January 1943, and was then reassigned to the Northern fleet, supporting supply missions to the [[Kurile Islands]] and the [[Aleutian islands]]. On March 26, 1943, the Maya participated in the [[Battle of the Komandorski Islands]], off [[Kamchatka Peninsula]]. Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) [[Charles H. McMorris]] Task Group 16.6's [[USS Richmond (CL-9)|USS ''Richmond'']] (CL-9), [[USS Salt Lake City (CA-25)|USS ''Salt Lake City'']] (CA-25) and four destroyers engaged Vice Admiral Hosogaya's Fifth Fleet cruisers [[Japanese cruiser Nachi|''Nachi'']], ''Maya'', [[Japanese cruiser Tama|''Tama,'']] [[Japanese cruiser Abukuma|''Abukuma'']] and two destroyers, escorting a convoy with troops and supplies for the isolated garrison on [[Attu Island|Attu]].　The ''Maya'' catapulted her spotter aircraft and launched [[Type 93 torpedo|Type 93]] "Long Lance" [[torpedoes]], but scored no hits. In a four-hour running gun battle, the ''Salt Lake City'' and the [[USS Bailey (DD-492)|USS ''Bailey'']] (DD-492) were damaged by gunfire. The ''Maya'' and the ''Nachi'' were also damaged in the exchange of fire and the Japanese were forced to abort their resupply mission. After repairs again at Yokosuka, the ''Maya'' returned to the Kuriles in late April, and became flagship of the Fifth Fleet, assisting in the evacuation of [[Kiska]] island after the loss of Attu to the Americans in August 1943. After refit in Yokosuka with additional twin-mount Type-96 AA guns (bringing its total to 16 barrels), the ''Maya'' accompanied the [[Japanese cruiser Chōkai|Chōkai]] back to Truk, arriving in late September, and started shuttling troops and supplies between Truk and [[Rabaul]]. In November, the ''Maya'' was attacked by SBD Dauntless dive-bombers from the [[USS Saratoga (CV-3)|USS ''Saratoga'']] (CV-3). A bomb hit the aircraft deck portside above the No. 3 engine room and started a major fire. Seventy crewmen were killed. Emergency repairs were made at Rabaul, and the ''Maya'' returned to Yokosuka at the end of 1943. At [[Kure, Hiroshima|Kure]], the ''Maya'' embarked two [[Aichi E13A|Aichi E13A1 Jake]] long-range scout planes, troops and materials. A monkey, donated to the ''Maya'' by the Kure Zoo, was also embarked. During the voyage, the aircrew taught the monkey to smartly salute the senior officers, much to their annoyance. From April through June 1944, the ''Maya'' supported other units in the defense of the Philippines, culminating in the June 19–20, 1944 [[Battle of the Philippine Sea]], in which the ''Maya'' was damaged slightly by near-misses. On June 20, 1944, the ''Maya'' retired with the remnants of the fleet via [[Okinawa]] to Yokosuka, where the aircrew and their pet monkey disembarked. On October 22, 1944, the [[Battle of Leyte Gulf]], ''Maya'' was assigned to Cruiser Division 5 with sister ships ''Atago, Takao'' and ''Chōkai''. On October 23, 1944, ''Maya'' was part of the [[Battle of the Palawan Passage]]. At 05:33, the ''Maya''’s sister-ships ''Atago'' and ''Takao'' were torpedoed by the American submarine [[USS Darter (SS-227)|USS ''Darter'']] (SS-227). The ''Atago'' sank in approximately 18 minutes. Twenty minutes later the submarine [[USS Dace (SS-247)|USS ''Dace'']] (SS-247) fired six torpedoes at the ''Maya'', mistaking it for a [[Japanese battleship Kongō|''Kongō''-class]] [[battleship]]; the ''Maya'' was struck by four torpedoes portside: one in the forward chain locker, another opposite No. 1 gun turret, a third in No. 7 boiler room and the last in the aft engine room. Powerful secondary explosions followed immediately, and by 06:00 ''Maya'' was dead in the water and listing heavily to port. She sank five minutes later, taking 336 officers and men to the bottom, including her last captain ({{coord|09|27|N|117|23|E |type:event_region:PH-04_dim:500000 |display=inline,title}}). The ''Akishimo'' rescued 769 men, and transferred them to the battleship [[Japanese battleship Musashi|''Musashi'']] , which was sunk the following day; 143 of ''Maya''{{'s}} crewmen were lost with ''Musashi.'' Thus, from the final crew of 1,105 crewmen, 479 were lost. ==Armament and equipment notes== From the end of December 1943 through April 1944, the ''Maya'' underwent a massive refit. Her No. 3 8-inch (200 mm) turret was removed. Her twin-mount 25 mm AA guns, 4.7-inch (120 mm) [[dual purpose gun]]s, twin torpedo tube mounts and the seaplane hangar were also removed. With substantial weight saved, thirteen Type 96 triple-mount 25 mm AA guns and six twin 5-inch (127 mm) DP guns were installed, as were nine Type 96 single-mount 25 mm AA guns and 36 Type 93 13 mm MGs. Four Type 92 quadruple torpedo mounts, loaded with 16 Type 93 "Long Lance" torpedoes, were also fitted, as well as a Type 22 surface-search radar. A centerline depth charge rail is installed aft. As a result of this work, the ''Maya''{{'s}} displacement rose to 13,140 tons. In a final refit at [[Yokosuka]] in July 1944, eighteen more Type 96 single-mount 25 mm AA guns were installed. This brought the ''Maya''{{'s}} total 25 mm suite to 66 barrels.