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Another powerful IJN heavy cruiser of WW2, armed with six 8" guns in twin turrets: two forward and one aft. She was laid down in 1924 and completed in 1927.

Aoba's distinctive profile was marked by a heavy bridge superstructure and twin stacks, the foward stack being especially large. A catapult on the after deck could launch seaplanes.

Aoba saw action in the capture of Wake Island, took part in many of the naval battles around Guadalcanal, and survived to participate in the last sortie of the Yamato in April, 1945.

Aoba suffered heavy damage at the battle of Cape Esperance, in Octoer, 1942. Her bridge was hit by gunfire from USS Helena, and Admiral Goto was killed. Her action reports noted that she took forty hits in Number 2 and 3 turrets, but she still was able to retire from the scene at 30 knots.

Sources: Public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships

and pictures from my father's 1943 Naval Recognition Manual

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