Mikuma (三隈, Mikuma) was the second vessel in the four-vessel Mogami class of heavy cruisers in the Imperial Japanese Navy.She was named after the Mikuma river in Oita prefecture, Japan. Commissioned in 1935, she participated in the Battle of Sunda Strait in February 1942 and the Battle of Midway in June 1942. She was sunk the last day of the battle, June 6.
Built under the 1931 Fleet Replenishment Program, the Mogami-class cruisers were designed to the maximum limits allowed by the Washington Naval Treaty, using the latest technology. This resulted in the choice of a 155 mm dual purpose (DP) main battery in five triple turrets capable of 55° elevation. To save weight, electric welding was used, as was aluminum in the superstructure, and the use of a single funnel stack. New impulse geared turbine engines, coupled with very heavy anti-aircraft protection, gave the class a very high speed and protection. However, the Mogami class was also plagued with technical problems due to its untested equipment and proved to be unstable and top-heavy as well, due to cramming too much equipment into a comparatively small hull

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