Launched on 31 May 1930, Mutsu was the second of the two ship Nagato-class battleships built for the Imperial Japanese Navy. Commissioned on 24 October 1921, and was assigned to the 1st Battleship Division in December of that year.
During World War Two, Mutsu saw little action being in the main body of the fleet at Midway. During the Battle of the Eastern Solomons on 27 August, Mutsu, assigned to the support force,[39] fired four shells at enemy reconnaissance aircraft, the first and only time her guns were fired in anger during the war.
On 8 June 1943, Mutsu experienced a magazine explosion which cut the ship in two. of the 1,474 crew members and visitors aboard Mutsu; 1,121 men were killed in the explosion.
Mutsu photographed circa early 1920sMutsu seen in 1921Mutsu starboard broadside view taken between 1925 and 1934Mutsu starboard quarter view taken between 1925 and 1934Mutsu in 1927Mutsu leaving Hong Kong, 14 April 1928Mutsu starboard bow view leaving Hong Kong, 14 April 1928Mutsu in Hong Kong, 14 April 1928Mutsu starboard bow view, probably taken about 1930Mutsu Port bow view taken 1930-33. Clipper bow added 1930, searchlight platforms installed abreast funnels by 1933Mutsu starboard bow view taken 1930-34. Clipper bow added 1930, trunked forward funnel removed during 1934-36 refitMutsu in 1932Mutsu starboard quarter view taken 1932-34Mutsu starboard quarter view taken 1932-34Mutsu in 1934Mutsu during her reconstruction, 20 February 1936Mutsu seen during reconstruction in May 1936Mutsu undergoing her second refit. (June 20, 1936)Mutsu 30 January 1937Mutsu at Tsingtao, China, in the late 1930sMutsu off the Chinese Coast, circa 1937Mutsu in 1940MutsuMutsu in drydock, prior to World War IIMutsuMutsuMutsuMutsuMutsu and other IJN battleshipsMutsu
