Fusō

Ballistics

Armor Model

Overview

The battleship project A-64 was designed by shipbuilder Yuzuru Hiraga based on the battlecruiser Kongō. To surpass the New York-class dreadnoughts being built in the United States, the number of 356 mm guns was increased to twelve in six turrets. Instead of triple turrets, twin turrets were chosen to improve survivability. The project also resulted in a faster ship than the American dreadnought, reflecting Japan's aim to compensate for its smaller number of ships with superior performance. Fusō was built in Kure. It saw virtually no action in World War I. Between 1930–35 and 1937–41, it underwent extensive modernization, which improved its armor and increased its power and speed. During World War II, the ship covered the raid on Pearl Harbor, participated in the diversionary Aleutian Islands operation during the Battle of Midway, and fought in the Battle of Surigao Strait. In the early morning of October 25, 1944, the battleship was struck by torpedoes from American destroyers and sank, breaking into several pieces.