Suzuya (鈴谷, namesake: Suzuya River), the third of the four Mogami-class cruisers, was launched in November 1934 and completed in January 1936. Initially designed as a light cruiser with fifteen 155 mm guns to comply with the Washington Naval Treaty, she was refitted in 1937 with ten 203 mm guns, classifying her as a heavy cruiser. After rearmament in December 1939, Suzuya was assigned to the 7th Cruiser Division, serving in the South China Sea and French Indochina. Following the attack on Pearl Harbour, she supported the invasion of Malaya and later participated in commerce raiding in the Indian Ocean. In 1942, she took part in the Battle of Midway, though her mission to bombard the island was called off. Suzuya also escorted carrier fleets during the Solomon Islands campaign and supported the bombardment of Henderson Field. In June 1944, during the Marianas campaign, Suzuya was involved in the Battle of the Philippine Sea, witnessing the destruction of the Japanese air arm. In October 1944, during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, she was bombed by American aircraft, causing a near-miss explosion of her torpedoes, which led to fires and catastrophic damage. After being abandoned, she capsized and sank hours later. The wreck of Suzuya remains undiscovered, as she sank directly above the Philippine Trench, presumably settling at a depth of over 8 kilometres.
Introduced in Update 1.95 "Northern Wind" in her 1937 refit, Suzuya represents the peak of Japanese light cruisers, with excellent survivability, outstanding torpedoes, a supply of hydroplanes, and, along with Mikuma, the highest number of primary guns among Japanese cruisers. She is an excellent counter to enemy coastal vessels (particularly SKRs) and destroyers, while also being very capable of dealing with enemy cruisers. Where she struggles the most is when dealing with battleships or battlecruisers, as her guns lack both explosive filler and penetration to cause significant damage, while battleship-grade guns can easily penetrate her magazines and machine spaces. Overall, she is a highly competent cruiser, able to turn the tide of battle if used to her full potential.
