IJN Atago

## Atago

The Atago, as seen in game.

"*Atago* coming. Run or get sunk."- *Teammate warning others*

IJN *Atago* was a Japanese cruiser featured in the game.

## Background History

The IJN *Atago* (愛宕) was the second vessel of the Takao-class heavy cruisers of the Imperial Japanese Navy.

Laid down at Kure Naval Arsenal on April 28 1927 and entering service on March 30 1932, *Atago* and her sister ships formed the backbone of Japan's multipurpose long-range strike force. *Atago* and her sister ship Takao, the lead ship of the class, usually patrolled together and, after Japan entered World War II, the sisters patrolled the coast of China from 1940-1941. At the end of the year she was made the flagship of Vice Admiral Nobutake Kondō's *Sentai*-4, along with sister ships *Maya*, *Chōkai*, and *Takao*.

Later on in World War II, she had took on many support roles in landing invasions and was a part of several naval engagements in the Pacific War, and had some support roles during the Guadalcanal Campaign. She would later be involved in minor engagements and searches for US carriers.

During the Battle of Leyte Gulf, *Atago* served as the flagship of the Center Force for the Japanese. After a small naval engagement between the Japanese and Americans, two US submarines shadowed her battle group. On October 23rd, 1944, the USS Darter fired four torpedoes all of which struck the *Atago* and sunk her quickly. Of *Atago*'s crew only 529 survived, including Vice Admiral Takao Kurita.

## Tactics

*Atago*, like the *Shimakaze*, is the final ship of the cruisers and can be absurdly powerful. Her maxed out total gun damage leads to about ~29k damage dispensed with each broadside, and her 16 torpedoes sum to ~240k damage, the largest total torpedo damage of any ship, even the *Shimakaze* which she can keep up with at about +40 knots, excluding speed boost. Her only downfall, which isn't even much, is a slightly worse turn radius compared to the *San Diego* and a larger hull. As such, her playstyle is unique and can be deployed a multitude of ways, mostly used as a torpedo spammer or a bruiser. Basically, she's the end result of combining a *Brooklyn* and *Admiral Hipper* with the end reputation of a *Shimakaze*.

### Playing a Atago

When playing a mediocre upgraded *Atago*, be aware of your stats and pick either the Brazilian flag for maneuverability, speed and health for a survival build or the American flag for damage and reload speed for an assault build. As previously stated, her more frequently used play styles are bruisers and torpedo spammers which individually are the most viable options at half max upgrades.

At a medium pace, an early *Atago* upgrade is best used at range and relies on torpedoes when enemies get within 3km. Her large size and low speed at first leaves her to the wolves, and is only able to solo destroyers and sometimes cruisers. She can inflict flooding damage on larger ships she is not yet ready to face and her mere presence, maxed or not, can make an enemy think twice before facing you or the fleet you're in. While her gun damage is pretty good at an early upgrade, an HE shell combination is not recommended because of her low fire rate despite a 10 round broadside count.

A fully upgraded *Atago* with the right flags (Brazilian, American, or Pirate) makes her a nasty ship to face. Her maxed stats shine in battle and in any map or situation. Her gun and torpedo damage can tear into a battleship while using her amazing maneuverability to dodge incoming rounds. Even when is facing a more powerful opponent, she can use her speed to escape danger and use her turn rate to swing side-to-side whilst firing 3 of her 5 turrets (60% of your gun damage) because of her odd turret placement. She is an incredible ship of her class, a medium-sized ship with the stance of a battleship. And while she is a large threat against large ships because of her torpedoes, she is living hell against an unwavering ship or a ship that's stuck. Her total torpedo damage combined with her gun damage and apply it to a large unmoving target and you have yourself a kill within 10-20 seconds.

Now, to be more specific in her playstyle. She is a very unique ship can take on various roles. She can make fine escort vessel, a close range brawler, or a less-efficient fire starter. Long range fights she can do well in, but she is more fit for medium-range brawls. This is for good reason as she has a 10 shell broadside count that can be properly distributed at 3-2km range with nearly all rounds hitting, plus her 8 torpedo broadsides that can lash out ~120k damage at most with a side of flooding. Close range engagements at about 1km or less leave her lacking with no secondary weapons to dish out extra damage.

Since most of your damage is through torpedoes, it's best to know how to dish out that damage. So your a large cruiser and most battleships will try to take you on for an easy kill. You can use this to lure them away and into your torpedoes. The easiest way to land your torpedoes is leading an enemy around a corner, and leaving a trail of torpedoes at that corner instead of wide, because more than likely they're gonna try to predict you as an easy kill and dodge your torpedoes.

As with any ship with torpedoes never get in front of the *Atago* unless they have already launched their torpedoes. Blocking their torpedoes strips over half of the total damage that could be dealt by the *Atago*.

### Playing with a Atago

Considering *Atago*'s versatility and firepower that is top of the line among cruisers, mid to top tier battleships should act as heavy artillery support. Low tier battleships and cruisers should help provide AA defense and supporting fire to *Atago* and should stick close to it. Act as meat shields for the *Atago* if the player is deemed valuable enough as the *Atago* in skilled hands often can turn the tide of the battle and deal a punishing amount of total damage to the enemy fleet.

### Playing against Atago

*Atagos* are usually mediocre players and usually easy to kill alone. However, an expert player will be much harder and much more dangerous to deal with. She is capable of being a one-man-army and as such it requires a number of vessels to sink her. If facing her alone you'll need to know which ships to use and not to use.

Destroyers are the least capable of the bunch due to low damage and torpedoes becoming nearly useless because of her speed and turn rate. *Shimakaze and Mahan*, as expected, are the only destroyers that can dance toe-to-toe with the *Atago*. Their high speed, high turn rate, and high hp can makes it capable of dodging and taking only a minimal amount of damage. The 12k max damage and the 15 or 12 torpedoes give *Atago* some real trouble. *Atago*'s large size is the ultimate downfall, as she becomes easily targetable with *Shimakaze*'s guns and having at least 2-3 torpedoes striking the *Atago* and causing significant damage, if not flooding.

Cruisers versus cruisers depend on style and skill. *San Diego* is capable of taking on the *Atago* and setting her on fire, but is usually outdone in damage in the form of guns and many more torpedoes, so battles are short and almost always end in the *San Diego*'s defeat if not properly played or supported. The *San Diego* must rely on ranged engagements due to her superior reload and broadside count. *Atago* versus *Atago* comes down to upgrade amount, flag being used, and skills. Most Atago players you might encounter aren't usually living that long. However, expert *Atago* players are hardier and kill much more than their worth. A proper *Atago* fight is a close range fight of about 2-3km. This distance is usually used for laying broadside damage and torpedo damage, although the distance allows to dodge incoming torpedoes. who ever can set the other on fire twice, or flood the other twice, is usually the victor.

Battleships: To survive attacks from the *Atago* you need to trick them in wasting torpedoes, like going max speed and suddenly stopping just before a corner of an island. Another tactic is just letting your vessel burn if they use HE shells and if they are in visual, and then extinguishing when out of sight. All battleships are tanky, but *H41*s and *Super-Alsaces* have the highest likely hood of surviving. 8 broadside ships - *Bismarck*, *Tirpitz*, *Hood*, and *H41* - have a harder time landing blows on this vessel despite her size due to shell dispersion. 9 shell broadside capable ships are more viable but still lack the pure accuracy needed, although accuracy oftentimes come down more to experience with each particular ship. *Musashi*, *Yamato*, *Montana* and *Super-Alsace* are the best ships that can deal with the *Atago* to the fullest extent. these ships are capable of 12-16 shell broadsides are more than likely to land more than a few shells. In addition, these ships have a high chance of setting her on fire, although this is not recommended. Torpedo wielding battleships are highly effective if you manage to close the gap, but that has it's own issues.

Aircraft carriers are more than likely to land several torpedo strikes on the *Atago* due to her size. However, her speed will make it very tough to land torpedo or bomb hits on her unless you plan ahead and predict their movements. If an Atago tries to get in close within 1km, you can send bombers her way and deal massive amounts of damage with a high chance of sinking her within 2 salvos.

## Advantages and Disadvantages

**Advantages**

* High mobility and maneuverability.
* Fastest cruiser in the game, can reach up to 60Kn !!! (Speed flag + speed boost)
* Has two torpedo launchers per broadside.
* Hard hitting guns.
* Has good AA along with interceptors.
* Great HP.

**Disadvantages**

* Lacks secondary guns.
* Large hitbox for a cruiser, though not wide, this ship is quite long.

## Editor/Contributor's Opinion

1) **XercesDenial** :- " I just don't know what to say about his beauty... she's just SO good... it's torpedo soup all day folks.. "

## Trivia

* The ship is named after Mount Atago.
	+ *Atago*'s sister ships were all named after mountains found in Japan.
* During May 26 to 28, 1932; the Atago hosted Emperor Hirohito on a cruise from Kobe to Etajima and back to the inland sea.
* *Atago* was built two months earlier than *Takao* - the lead ship of the class.
* On the night of November 15, during the Second Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, *Atago* and *Takao* had struck the USS *South Dakota* with seventeen 8 inch rounds and one 5 inch round.