War Thunder’s Next Major Update Will Add the IJN Takao Heavy Cruiser
The Rank IV ship combines five 203 mm gun turrets with 16 torpedoes and 60 automatic 25 mm anti-aircraft guns.
War Thunder’s next major update will add IJN Takao, a Rank IV Japanese heavy cruiser with ten 203 mm guns, 16 610 mm Long Lance torpedoes, and radar. Gaijin’s Steam preview highlights added protection around the ammunition magazines, though the ship’s specifications may change before it enters the game.
Takao carries its main guns in five turrets and is fast for its class. Its best fit is medium- and long-range combat, where its main battery and ballistics stand out. Heavy ships remain a serious threat, while Takao’s large, poorly armored superstructure and slow turret traverse leave it exposed when engagements get close.
Four launchers carry the 16 torpedoes, giving Takao a close-range option despite its weak secondary armament. For air defense, it has 60 automatic 25 mm guns. The ship also brings an air-search radar and two catapults for seaplanes.
Takao was disabled by two torpedoes from the submarine Darter while passing through the Palawan Passage during the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944. Towed to Singapore, the cruiser was converted into a floating anti-aircraft battery. It was later sunk as a target ship in the Strait of Malacca on Oct. 29, 1946.
Would you rely on Takao’s guns at range or save its torpedoes for a close fight? For more on how Takao’s in-game specifications develop, follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Steam, and Telegram.
War Thunder
Developed by Gaijin Entertainment
War Thunder is a free-to-play vehicular combat MMO featuring aircraft, ground vehicles, and naval craft spanning from the early 20th century to the modern era. Players progress through technology trees across multiple nations, unlocking increasingly advanced military vehicles. The game offers three realism tiers for each vehicle type: arcade, realistic, and simulator modes. Originally developed as a flight simulator under the name "World of Planes," the game expanded to include tanks in 2014 and naval forces later, becoming a combined-arms experience. A mobile version was released in 2023.
- Genre Shooter, Simulator, Tactical
- Platforms Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Mac, Xbox One
- Perspective First person, Third person, Virtual Reality
- Modes Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative, Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO)
- Release January 28, 2013
- Publisher Gaijin Entertainment
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