Copyright © R A Burt 1989 and 2015
First published in Great Britain in 2015 by
Seaforth Publishing,
Pen & Sword Books Ltd,
47 Church Street,
Barnsley S70 2AS
Published and distributed in the United States of America and Canada by
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road
Annapolis, Maryland 21402-5034
This edition is authorized for sale only in the United States of America, its territories and possessions and Canada.
First Naval Institute Press eBook edition published in 2016.
ISBN 978-1-59114-149-5 (eBook)
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing of both the copyright owner and the above publisher.
The right of R A Burt to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
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CONTENTS
Introduction
Fuji Class
Asama Class
Shikishima Class
Idzumo Class
Asahi
Azuma
Yakumo
Mikasa
Kasuga Class
Kasuga
Nisshin
Tsukuba Class
Tsukuba
Ikoma
Tango
Suwo Class
Suwo (ex-Pobieda)
Sagami (ex-Peresviet)
Hizen (ex-Retvizan)
Iwami (ex-Orel)
Iki (ex-Imperator Nikolai)
Katori Class
Katori
Kashima
Satsuma Class
Satsuma
Aki
Kurama Class
Kurama
Ibuki
Settsu Class
Settsu
Kawachi
Kongo Class
Kongo
Haruna
Hiei
Kirishima
Drawings
Kongo class appearance changes
Ise and Hyuga appearance changes
Fuso and Yamashiro appearance changes
Nagato and Mutsu appearance changes
Fuso Class
Fuso
Yamashiro
Ise Class
Hyuga
Ise
Nagato Class
Nagato
Mutsu
Yamato Class
Yamato
Musashi
Nagato’s bow 1926.
See page 113.
Although a relative newcomer to the ‘modern’ naval scene, the origins of the Japanese Battle Fleet can be traced back as far as 600 BC. Like the British, the Japanese are an island race who quickly recognised the fact that to protect themselves properly a strong maritime force was needed. This prompted urgent demands for information about naval matters from foreign sea powers that continued down the centuries until as late as 1910.
Until about 1870, most Japanese warships were built primarily for coastal defence, but in 1875 the Japanese finally decided to stretch their abilities and order first-class seagoing vessels. They naturally turned to Great Britain for the most advanced shipbuilding technology of that time and placed an order in London with Samuda Bros of Poplar for a steel-hulled, armoured frigate. Designed by the ex-Director of Naval Construction, Sir Edward Reed, the resultant Fuso can be regarded as the genesis of the modern Japanese Navy. She proved very successful as completed and set the pattern for future investment.
Many ships were laid down in Great Britain, France and at home to build the fleet up numerically, and by 1894 Japan was able to adequately protect her own interests. The first real test came in that same year when war broke out with China, and the sea battles of Asan, Yalu and Wei-Hai-Wei proved the soundness of investing in good naval forces. This can also be said of the following war with Russia, when the Japanese fleet practically annihilated the Russian battleships at the Yellow Sea and Tsushima, in 1904 and 1905 respectively, with what was, in all essentials, a British-built squadron.
The Japanese were quick to learn and they began major construction in their home yards. Their progress in just thirty years was quite remarkable, and