Japan (1911) Chikuma, Yahagi, Hirado The Japanese turbine Cruisers: The three cruisers described here are in the straight line of the early prewar turbine cruisers, very fast and often recoignised to their numerous funnels. They are to be compared to the Admiral Spaun, Nino Bixio, Magdeburg, Chester, C-class and “Town” classes. Chikuma participated in various … Read more
Japan (1906) Satsuma, Aki The original half-dreadnoughts: The 薩摩型戦艦 Satsuma-gata senkan class was ordered in late 1904, under the War Naval Supplementary Program established during the Russo-Japanese War. It could have been a simple follow-up of previous battleships, but in reality the Satsuma were a clear departure from the Katori-class pre-dreadnoughts. They were the first … Read more
Asama, Tokiwa (1898) IJN Asama and Tokiwa (常盤) was the second and last Asama-class armored cruiser built abroad for the IJN in the late 1890s. At that stage the achipelago reached enough industrial capacity to build its own from now on. Tokiwa was involved in the Boxer Rebellion and in the heavy action of the … Read more
Naniwa, Takachiho White’s first Japanese cruiser: The Naniwa and Takachiho (浪速型防護巡洋艦 Naniwa-gata bōgojun’yōka) were the first Japanese protected cruisers. They were also considered at their completion, the most advanced and powerful cruisers in the world. Since naval industry in Japan was in its infancy, there was no skills available to design, let alone to built … Read more
Imperial Japanese Navy IJN Ise, Hyūga 1915-1945. From super-dreadnoughts to hybrid battleships: Ise and Hyūga were two fast dreadnoughts built by capitalizing from the experience gained with the two Fuso, the first battleships built and designed in Japan, although still with under strong influence of British engineering. They were launched in 1916 and 1917 and … Read more
Nihhon Kaigun – Imperial Japanese Navy Unebi, the mystery cruiser: In 1883, Japan was still reeling from the devastating Boshin war, but industrialisation and modernisation soared and hopes were high. Prior to prior to the First Sino-Japanese War however growing tensions with China made the general staff believed their small navy would be no match … Read more
Shikishima class battleships (1898) Japan (1898) – Shikishima, Hatsuse The Fuji improved: The Shikishima and Hatsuse were built in two British shipyards on plans derived from the Majestic. They were more heavy versions of the previous Fuji and differed externally by their three funnels. The subsequent Asahi and Mikasa derived from it so closely that … Read more
Japan (1898) – Chitose, Kasagi The US-built IJN Cruisers: Chitose and Kasagi were built in the USA, at the Union Works shipyards in San Francisco and at Cramp in Philadelphia. These were enlarged versions of the Takasago built in UK. Both served during the Battle of the Yellow Sea and at Tsushima, being hit hard. … Read more
The Fuji class pre-dreadnoughts Japan (1896): Fuji, Kashima The first modern Japanese battleships The Fuji class pre-dreadnought battleships, 富士型戦艦 Fuji-gata senkan, were the first of their kind built for Japan. Notice the “For”, as like the following Shikishima class, Asahi and Mikasa (1900) they were all built in Great Britain, on British plans, and led … Read more
Tsukuba class Battlecruisers (1905) Japan (1905) Tsukuba, Ikoma Half-way between armoured cruisers and battlecruisers: Tsukuba and Ikoma, massive ships armed with 12 in (305 mm) pieces were the result of a request from the navy after the observation of the Russians long-range gunnery at the Battle of the Yellow Sea, but also replacement of the … Read more
