IJN Aoba

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IJN Aoba

The Battle of Cape Esperance

The night was a velvet shroud, broken only by the cold, distant stars. On the bridge of the Aoba, Rear Admiral Gotō squinted into the inky blackness. The air hung heavy with anticipation. They were steaming towards Guadalcanal, another run for the "Tokyo Express," ferrying vital reinforcements to the beleaguered island. Tonight, however, felt different.

"Report from the Jake," a young officer announced, his voice tight. "Large surface contacts bearing two-seven-zero, range twenty thousand meters. Estimated enemy cruisers and destroyers."

Gotō's gut clenched. This wasn't a routine supply run. This was a fight. "All hands to battle stations! Prepare for action!"

The Aoba shuddered as her engines surged, pushing her through the dark waves. The tension on the bridge was palpable, a thick, electric current. Gotō knew the risks. The Americans had radar, a technological edge that could turn the tide of battle.
Suddenly, the night erupted. Brilliant flashes of light stabbed across the darkness, followed by the thunderous roar of naval guns. The enemy had found them.

"Incoming!" someone yelled.

Aoba lurched violently as a shell slammed into her hull, sending tremors through the ship. The acrid smell of cordite filled the air.

"Return fire! Target the leading cruiser!" Gotō commanded, his voice calm amidst the chaos.

The Aoba's 20cm guns roared in response, spitting fire and steel into the night. Tracers arced across the sky, painting ephemeral lines against the dark canvas. The night became a terrifying ballet of destruction, a dance of death played out with fire and steel.

Another hit rocked the Aoba, this time closer to the bridge. Shrapnel whined through the air, narrowly missing Gotō. He felt a searing pain in his arm, but ignored it. His focus was fixed on the battle.

"Enemy cruisers illuminated!" a lookout shouted.

Through the smoke and confusion, Gotō saw them: ghostly silhouettes outlined by the glare of searchlights. They were close, too close.

"Torpedoes! Prepare to launch!" he ordered.

The Aoba's torpedo tubes hissed as they ejected their deadly payload. Gotō held his breath, watching as the wakes of the torpedoes cut through the water, heading towards their targets.

A massive explosion rocked the night. One of the American cruisers erupted in flames, a towering inferno against the dark backdrop. A cheer went up from the Aoba's crew.

But the battle was far from over. The enemy returned fire with renewed intensity. Shells rained down on the Aoba, tearing through her superstructure and ripping holes in her hull. The ship shuddered under the relentless bombardment.

"Number three turret is out of action!" a report came from below. "Heavy casualties!"

Gotō felt a pang of despair. The Aoba was taking a beating. But he couldn't give up. Not yet.

"Maintain course! Continue firing!" he roared.

The Aoba pressed on, her guns blazing, fighting against overwhelming odds. The battle raged for what felt like an eternity, a chaotic melee of fire and destruction.

Then, as suddenly as it began, the enemy fire began to slacken. The remaining American ships, battered and bruised, began to withdraw.

A collective sigh of relief swept through the Aoba. They had survived.

As the smoke cleared and the first rays of dawn painted the horizon, Gotō surveyed the scene. The Aoba was heavily damaged, scarred by the night's brutal encounter. But she was afloat. And she had won.

The cost, however, was heavy. Many of his men lay dead or wounded. Gotō felt a deep sadness for their loss. But he also knew that their sacrifice had not been in vain. They had delivered their reinforcements to Guadalcanal. And they had proven that even in the face of overwhelming odds, the Aoba would fight to the last.

As the battered cruiser limped away from the battleground, Gotō looked back at the rising sun. The dawn brought a new day, but the memory of the night's brutal dance would forever be etched in his mind. The Battle of Cape Esperance was a victory, but it was a victory bought with blood.





The Ship

The Japanese heavy cruiser Aoba, lead ship of her class, was launched in 1926 and modernized in 1938-40. She served extensively in World War II, participating in numerous key battles including the Battle of Coral Sea, Savo Island, and Cape Esperance. She was repeatedly damaged and repaired throughout the war. In April 1945, she was crippled by bombing in Kure harbor and settled on the bottom.

Further attacks in July 1945 rendered her unsalvageable. Formally removed from the Navy List in November 1945, her wreck was scrapped in 1946-47.





Music inspired by the IJN Aoba

The Cruiser of the Rising Sun
Ghost of the Pacific
Aoba's Last Voyagt Pt.1
Aoba's Last Voyage Pt.2

Created with Suno





The model

This is a 1/700 Hasegawa model of the heavy cruiser Aoba. The kit was bought on ebay some years ago and opening the box, I found out that it was already started by the previous owner, as the hull was glued together.

Unfortunately, one of the heavy AA guns got lost during construction and was never found, so I had to 3D print a replacement.
As I wanted to do something other than the typical dark grey colour for the ship, I found a hypothetical camouflage painting of the ship on the internet and painted it that way.

The model was built with some PE parts and painted with Revell Aqua.

[NARSES2]

That's come out really well      Good read as well