Japanese cruiser Suzuya from World War II clamping blocks

Designed and authorized by count_of_brick, this carefully crafted model faithfully recreates the details and design elements of the legendary Japanese heavy cruiser Suzuya. Equipped with five triple turrets with an elevation angle of 55° and four double turrets.

Suzuya was launched on 20 November 1934 at the Yokosuka Naval Arsenal in the presence of Emperor Hirohito. She was completed in January 1936, but was placed in reserve immediately after completion, awaiting reconstruction and drydock yard modifications incorporating experience gained from the Mogami trials to strengthen her welds and add bulges to the hull to reduce weight. She was officially commissioned on 31 October 1937; however, she did not enter active service and immediately returned to drydock for refitting. These modernizations were completed on 30 September 1939, when she was assigned to the Kure Naval District, along with her sister ships Mogami, Mikuma, and Kumano, in the 7th Cruiser Division of the Japanese Navy's Second Fleet. Deployed on 23 January 1941 as part of a show of force following the Battle of Koh Chang in the Franco-Thai War, she took part in the occupation of Cochinchina in July 1941 from her forward operations base at Hainan after an agreement was reached between Japanese and Vichy French authorities for the use of air facilities and harbors. Participating in the Indian Ocean assault, the Battle of Midway, the Solomon Islands operation, the Battle of the Philippine Sea, and the Battle of Leyte Gulf, Suzuya was struck from the Navy list on 20 December 1944. Although the wreck of the Suzuya has not yet been found, it is believed to be in approximately 27,600 feet (8,400 metres) of water, making it one of the deepest wrecks ever recorded.