Tamiya 31804 US Heavy Cruiser Indianapolis 1/700 Scale Plastic Model Kit

Tamiya ventured into the modeling business in 1948, with a scale wooden ship model kit. Since then, Tamiya has been striving to offer merchandise that can truly be called 'First in Quality Around the World.' Now Tamiya is offering more than 300 different products, both in the fields of precision static models and high performance radio control vehicles. These products are not only sold in Japan but also exported in vast quantities to the United States, Europe, South East Asia, and to many other parts of the world. The standard of excellence achieved by Tamiya is regarded as among the very finest in the world of model hobbies. The U. S. Navy heavy cruiser, Indianapolis, was commissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard on November 15, 1932. On the opening day of the Pacific War, December 7, 1941, as flagship of Scouting Force, US Fleet, she was making a simulated bombardment near Hawaii. In March 1943, she became flagship of Admiral Raymond Spruance, Commander Fifth Fleet which consisted of Task Force 58 plus 130,000 marines and army troops. Leading the giant fleet, she participated in most of the major Central Pacific campaigns. In March 1945, she was severely damaged and returned to Mare Island for repairs. For the 2 months period of repairs, her equipment was renewed and much improved with the latest radar, electronic gun sights and new Curtiss Seahawks. After the repairs, she loaded secret cargo and personnel at San Francisco, and sailed for Tinian Island on July 16 , where a B29 bomber base was located, , and arrived there to unload the cargo and personnel on July 26. Then 4 days later, on July 30, she sunk taking 2 torpedo hits from the submarine I-58. She served with honor from Pearl Harbor through the last campaign of World War II, sinking in action two weeks before the end of the war, and earned ten battle stars. This finely detailed plastic model kit requires assembly and painting.