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IJN Shikishima (BC-1942)
The conversion of the Ise, Hyuga, Fuso, Yamashiro to either battlecarriers or aircraft carriers, provided the Japanese with 12 to 20 twin 14" turrets. On the drawing boards the Japanese had a design for a fast battlecruiser to act with the fast cruisers. With some alteration to the design, up to 5 ships armed with 8 x 14" could be laid down and built.
The main armament made these ships into cruiser killers as they had enough armour to withstand a cruisers weapons and were fast enough to run down any cruiser. With the 20 3.9" DP guns they were formidable escorts to the fast carriers also.
| Displacement | 31,500 tons std, 35,250 tons full load |
| Length | 802 ft |
| Breadth | 89 ft |
| Draught | 28 ft |
| Machinery | 4 shaft Steam turbines, 160,000shp |
| Speed | 33 knots |
| Range | 7,500 miles at 18 knots |
| Armour | 7.5" side, 4.7" deck, 8" turrets. |
| Armament | 8 x 14" (4x2) 20 x 3.9" (10x2) 66 x 25mm (10x3,18x2) |
| Aircraft | 3 |
| Torpedoes | 8 x 24" (2x4) |
| Complement | 940 |
| Notes |
The twin 3.9|"/100mm weapon system performed better than the US 5"/38. Fired
further, higher, and faster.
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