DREADNOUGHTS
August 1914 Strength (2)
1. SETTSU class, KAWACHI, SETTSU, 2 ships, 1
lost - 21,400t, 20 knots, 4-30.5cm/50 and 8-30.5cm/45
(different barrel lengths)/10-15.2cm/8-12cm, 990 crew,
1912
HIJMS Settsu (Photo Ships)
KAWACHI (ancient province), 12th July
1918, Japan,
Tokuyama Bay, southern Honshu in Inland Sea (c 34-00N,
131-45E) - magazine explosion. 'Kawachi' sank in 4 minutes
with the loss of over 500 men killed; 25 officers and
312 ratings were saved. She was later broken up
Wartime Additions (4)
2. FUSO class, FUSO, YAMASHIRO (both lost in World
War 2) - 30,600t, 22 knots, 12-35.6cm/16-15.2cm, 1,190
crew, 1915/1917
3. ISE class, HYUGA, ISE (below) (both lost in World War 2)
- 31,300t, 23 knots, 12-35.6cm/20-14cm, 1,360 crew,
1917/1918
HIJMS Ise after later rebuild
(Maritime Quest)
BATTLECRUISERS
August 1914 Strength (1)
4. KONGO class, KONGO, 1 of 4 ships completed before
start of war (lost in World War 2) - 27,500t, 27 knots,
8-35.6cm/15-15.2cm, 1,220 crew, 1913
Wartime Additions (3)
4. KONGO class completed 1914-15, HARUNA, HIEI, KIRISHIMA
(all
lost in World War 2)
Haruna, according to two sources, was
damaged in the South Pacific on a mine laid by German
raider 'Wolf'. Mines were laid by the raider in
mid-1917 off New Zealand, the east coast of
Australia, and Singapore, but this incident needs
confirmation
HIJMS Haruna (Maritime Quest)
2nd Class BATTLECRUISERS
August 1914 Strength (4)
5. TSUKUBA class, IKOMA, TSUKUBA, 2 ships, 1
lost - 13,700t, 20 knots, 4-30.5cm/12-15.2cm/12-12cm, 880
crew, 1907/08
Tsukuba,
battlecruiser 'Kurama' and armoured cruiser 'Asama'
of First South Sea Squadron searched the Carolines,
Marshalls and Western Pacific north of the equator
for Adm von Spees Fleet, September - November
1914. After the Anglo-German Battle of Coronel, she
prepared to move to the South Central Pacific where
sister ship 'Ikoma' was to join the Squadron
TSUKUBA (ancient province in Tokyo
area), 14th January 1917, Japan off Yokosuka in Tokyo Bay (c 35-00N, 139-30E)
- magazine
explosion. The
fore magazine exploded killing 200 men and setting
'Tsukuba' on fire as she was at anchor in the Bay.
She sank 20 minutes later in shallow waters close
inshore with masts, bridge and funnels above water,
the explosion due to propellant decomposition.
Fortunately half of the crew was on shore leave, but
casualties still included 305 men lost. 'Tsukuba' was
later raised and broken up.
6. IBUKI class, IBUKI, KURAMA, 2 ships - 14,600t,
20.5 knots, 4-30.3cm/8-20.3cm/14-12cm, 840 crew, 1909/11
Ibuki joined
the hunt for 'Emden' in the East Indies in September
1914, in October took part in the escort of New
Zealand troops to Australia, and early next month,
because of the shortage of British ships helped
escort the combined ANZAC convoy across the Indian
Ocean. After 'Sydney' had been detached and sank
'Emden', the 'Ibuki' was for a while the only
protection for the ANZACs. She later joined the
Second South Sea Squadron in the SW Pacific to hunt
for von Spee
Kurama,
battlecruiser 'Tsukuba' and armoured cruiser 'Asama'
of First South Sea Squadron searched the Carolines,
Marshalls and Western Pacific north of the equator
for Adm von Spees Fleet, September - November
1914, and after the Battle of Coronel, prepared to
move to the South Central Pacific
PRE-DREADNOUGHT BATTLESHIPS
August 1914 Strength (10)
7. KASHIMA class, KASHIMA, KATORI, 2 ships
-
16,400t, 18 knots, 4-30.5cm/4-25.4cm/12-15.2cm, 860 crew,
1906
HIJMS Katori (Maritime
Quest)
8. SATSUMA class, AKI, SATSUMA, 2 ships -
19,400t, 18 knots, 4-30.5cm/12-25.4cm/12-12cm, 900 crew,
1910/1911
HIJMS Aki (Maritime Quest)
Satsuma with
light cruisers 'Hirado' and 'Yahagi' sailed as the
Second South Sea Squadron to search the Philippines,
Palau Islands and East Indies area, October-November
1914 in the von Spee hunt, and after Coronel moved
towards the South Central Pacific.
9. Russo-Japanese 1904-05 War prizes, HIZEN, IKI, IWAMI, SAGAMI, SUWO,
TANGO, 5 ships
Sagami (13,500t,
4-25.4cm) returned as 'Perseviet' to Russia in 1916
Hizen (12,700t,
30.5cm guns) joined armoured cruiser 'Idzumo' in 1914
in North American waters on trade protection, and
after the Battle of Coronel moved down the the west
coast of the Americas in the hunt for von Spee.
Tango (11,000t)
returned as 'Poltava' to Russia in 1916
COAST DEFENCE SHIPS (ex-battleships)
August 1914 Strength (4)
10. FUJI (mount Fuji-Yama) - 12, 500t, 18 knots,
4-30.5cm/10-15.2cm, 640 crew, 1897
11. SHIKISHIMA class, ASAHI (morning or rising
sun), SHIKISHIMA (old poetic name for Japan),
2 ships - 15,200t, 18 knots, 4-30.5cm/14-15.2cm, 840
crew, 1900
12. MIKASA (mountain) - 15,100t, 18 knots,
4-30.5cm/14-15.2cm, 830 crew, 1902.
Mikasa, a
pre-dreadnought, is still in existence as museum ship
at Yokosuka, south of Tokyo
HIJMS Mikasa (Maritime Quest)
ARMOURED CRUISERS
August 1914 Strength (8)
The four 2nd class battlecruisers of the 'Ibuki' and
'Tsukuba' classes (above) are sometimes classified as
armoured cruisers to give a total of 12
13. ASAMA class, ASAMA (sacred volcanic
island), TOKIWA (evergreen), 2 ships -
9,700t, 21 knots, 4-20.3cm/14-15.2cm, 730 crew, 1899
Asama, with
battlecruisers 'Kurama' and 'Tsukuba' of First South
Sea Squadron searched the Carolines, Marshalls and
Western Pacific north of the equator for Adm von
Spees Fleet, September - November 1914, and
after the Battle of Coronel, prepared to move to
Chilean waters
Tokiwa and
armoured cruiser 'Yakumo' were at Singapore when
'Emden' was sunk in early November 1914, preparing to
form a Japanese squadron to work in the Bay of Bengal
14. IDZUMO class, IDZUMO, IWATE, 2 ships -
9,700t, 20 knots, 4-20.3cm/14-15.2cm, 670 crew, 1900-01
Idzumo moved
from Mexican to North American waters after the
declaration of war to protect Allied trade, later
heading for South American waters to play her part in
the hunt for von Spee. In August 1917 she arrived in
the Mediterranean to relieve protected cruiser
'Akashi' as flagship of the destroyer flotillas based
at Malta on convoy protection duties
Iwate joined
First South Sea Squadron in the South Central Pacific
to hunt for von Spee
15. YAKUMO - 9,600t, 20 knots, 4-20.3cm/12-15.2cm, 700
crew, 1900
Yakumo and
armoured cruiser 'Tokiwa' were at Singapore when
'Emden' was sunk, preparing to form a Japanese
squadron to work in the Bay of Bengal
16. ADZUMA - 9,300t, 20 knots, 4-20.3cm/12-15.2cm, 650
crew, 1900
17. KASUGA class, KASUGA, NIISHIN, 2 ships -
both 7,600t, 20 knots, 600 crew, 1904; 'Kasuga' -
1-25.4cm/2-20.3cm/14-15.2cm, 'Niishin' -
4-20.3cm/14-15.2cm
Nisshin prepared
to join the Second South Sea Squadron based at Truk
in the search for von Spee
PROTECTED CRUISERS
August 1914 Strength (15)
18. TAKACHIHO - 3,600t, 18 knots, 6 or 8-15cm, 325 crew,
1886
Takachiho was
part of the large Japanese fleet engaged in the
capture of the German base of Tsingtau in northern
China. Directly engaged in the attack were three old
battleships, two coast defence ships, three armoured
cruisers, a seaplane carrier and destroyer flotilla
with its light cruiser leader. Patrolling the Yellow
Sea was a dreadnought, two battleships, four light
cruisers and a destroyer flotilla, and further south
still another light cruiser and six gunboats
TAKACHIHO (also 'Takaschio', sacred place
in Japan), 17th October 1914, NE China, off Tsingtau in the Yellow Sea (c 36-00N, 120-30E)
- torpedoed by German torpedo boat 'S-90'. Employed as a minelayer, the
'Takachiho' was attacked by the 'S-90' which managed
to slip out of Kiaochow (Kiao Chau) Bay on the night
of the 17th/18th as the siege approached its end; 271
men were lost as she went down. Some sources locate
her loss in Kiaochow Bay, others further offshore in
the Yellow Sea. 'S-90' was run aground SE of Tsingtao
later the same day and scuttled. (One source
describes 'Takachiho' as on patrol when she was mined
on the 19th with the loss of 243 men.)
19. MATSUSHIMA class, HASHIDATE (port), ITSUKUSHIMA,
2 ships - 4,200t, 16 knots, 1-32cm/12-12cm, 360 crew,
1894/91.
Training ships from
1906
20. AKITSUSHIMA - 3,100t, 19 knots, 4-15.2cm/6-12cm, 330
crew, 1894
21. SUMA class, AKASHI (place in Japan),
SUMA (place in Japan), 2 ships - 2,700t, 19 knots,
2-15.2cm/6-12cm, 310 crew, 1899/96
Akashi arrived
in Malta in mid-April 1917 as flagship of eight
destroyers of 10th and 11th Flotillas, sent at
British request for convoy protection in the
Mediterranean. She was relieved by armoured cruiser
'Idzumo' in August
22. CHITOSE class, KASAGI, CHITOSE (long life),
2 ships, 1 lost - 4,800t, 22 knots, 2-20.3cm/10-12cm, c
430 crew, 1898/99
KASAGI (mountain), 13th August 1916, Japan in Tsugaru Strait separating northern Honshu from Hokkaido - wrecked. Serving as a training ship
23. TSUSHIMA class, NIITAKA, TSUSHIMA (strait),
2 ships - 3,400t, 20 knots, 6-15.2cm, 320 crew, 1904
24. OTOWA - 3,000t, 21 knots, 2-15.2cm/6-12cm, 310
crew, 1904
OTOWA (mountain or river?), 1st
August 1917, Japan,
near Cape Daio or Taio, southern Honshu in Pacific Ocean (c
34-50N, 137-00E) - ran aground and wrecked. Presumed serving as protected
cruiser
25. Russo-Japanese 1904-05 War prizes, ASO, SOYA, TSUGARU
('Suzuya'
stricken 1913)
Soya (6,500t)
returned as 'Varyag' to Russia in 1916, but ran
aground, salved and taken over by British
LIGHT CRUISERS
August 1914 Strength (6)
26. TONE - 4,100t, 23 knots, 2-15.2cm/10-12cm, 370
crew, 1910
27. YODO class, MOGAMI, YODO, 2 ships - 1,250t, 22
knots, 2-12cm/4-7.8cm, 180 crew, 1908.
Reclassified as
gunboats
28. CHIKUMA class, CHIKUMA, HIRADO, YAHAGI, 3
ships - 5,000t, 26 knots, 8-15.2cm/4-7.8cm, 415 crew,
1912
Chikuma joined
the hunt for 'Emden' in the East Indies and Indian
Ocean in September, and later prepared to move to the
Pacific in the hunt for von Spee
Yahagi first
joined the hunt for the 'Emden' in the Indian Ocean.
Then Hirado and Yahagi with battleship
'Satsuma' sailed as the Second South Sea Squadron to
search the Philippines, Palau Islands and East Indies
area, October-November in the von Spee hunt, and
after Coronel moved towards the South Central
Pacific.
SEAPLANE CARRIER
August 1914 Strength (1)
29. WAKAMIYA - 5,900t, 10 knots, 4 Farman seaplanes, 230
crew, converted 1914 from naval transport
Wakamiya and
her aircraft took part in the siege of Tsingtao.
According to Conway, the Farmans reportedly sank one
German minelayer and damaged shore installations. If
so this would be the first successful carrier air
raid in history, but needs confirmation
DESTROYERS
August 1914 Strength (50)
30. IKAZUCHI class, AKEBONO (dawn
or daybreak), OBORO (haziness at moonlight), 2
ships - 360t, 31 knots, 1-12pdr/5-6pdr/2-45.7cm tt, 55
crew, 1899/00
Class nameship
'Ikazuchi' sank in 1913
31. MURAKUMO class, KAGERO (shimmering mist or
gossamer), MURAKUMO (cloud cluster), SHIRANUI (or
'Siranui', phosphorescent foam), USUGUMO (fleecy
clouds), YUGIRI (evening mist), 5 ships - 275t, 30
knots, 1-12pdr/5-6pdr/2-45.7cm tt, 54 crew, 1898/00
32. KASUMI (mist of flowers) - 360t, 31 knots,
2-12pdr/4-6pdr/2-45.7cm tt, 59 crew, 1902
33. SHIRAKUMO class, ASASHIO (or 'Asasio',
morning tide), SHIRAKUMO (or 'Sirakumo', white
clouds), 2 ships - 340t, 31 knots,
2-12pdr/4-6pdr/2-45.7cm tt, 59 crew, 1901/02
34. HARUSAME class, ARARE (hail), ARIAKE
(dawn with the moon present), ASAGIRI (morning
mist), FUBUKI (or 'Hubuki', blizzard), MURASAME
(scattered showers), 5 ships - 375t, 29 knots,
2-12pdr/5-6pdr/2-45.7cm tt, 55 crew, 1903-05
Class nameship
'Harusame' sank in 1911
35. ASAKAZE class, ASAKAZE (morning breeze),
SHIROTAYE and others, 31 ships in total, 1 lost -
380t, 29 knots, 6-7.8cm/2-45.7cm tt, 70 crew, 1905-09
SHIROTAYE (or 'Shirotae', white in
poetical language), 3rd September 1914, NE China, off Tsingtau in the Yellow Sea (c 36-00N, 120-30E)
- wrecked.
Taking part in
operations against besieged fortress of Tsingtau;
reportedly in action with German gunboat
"Jaguar" at the time she was wrecked. Some
sources locate her loss in Kiaochow (Kiao Chau) Bay,
others further offshore in the Yellow Sea
36. UMIKAZE class, UMIKAZE (sea breeze), YAMAKAZE
(wind from the hills), 2 ships - 1,030t, 33 knots,
2-12cm/5-7.8cm/4-45.7cm tt, 140 crew, 1911
37. SAKURA class, SAKURA (cherry),
TACHIBANA, 2 ships - 605t, 30 knots,
1-12cm/4-7.8cm/4-45.7cm tt, 92 crew, 1912
Wartime Additions (c 27)
38. KABA class, KABA (birch), KAEDE, KASHIWA,
KATSURA, KIRI, KUSUNOKI, MATSU, SAKAKI, SUGI, UME, 10
ships - 665t, 30 knots, 1-12cm/4-7.8cm/4-45.7cm tt, 92
crew, 1915
Eight of the 'Kaba'
class, including 'Sakaki' arrived at Malta in
mid-April 1917 for convoy protection duty as the 10th
and 11th Flotillas with cruiser 'Akashi' as their
flagship
Sakaki, damaged 11th June 1917, Eastern
Mediterranean off Crete - torpedoed once by Austrian
'U.27'. On escort
duty, her bows were blown off when many of the crew
were forward in the mess hall; 68 men killed. She was
salvaged and repaired
39. MOMO class, HINOKI, KASHI, MOMO, YANAGI, 4 ships
- 835t, 31 knots, 3-12cm/6-45.7cm tt, 110 crew, 1916-17
The four 'Momos'
arrived in Malta in August 1917 as the 15th Flotilla
with cruiser 'Idzumo' to add to the Japanese
contribution to convoy protection in the
Mediterranean
40. ISOKAZE class, AMATSUKAZE (heavenly wind),
HAMAKAZE, ISOKAZE (shore breeze), TOKITSUKAZE (or 'Tokitukaze', fair wind), 4 ships - 1,230t, 31
knots, 4-12cm/6-45.7cm tt, 130 crew, 1917
41. British ACORN class, SENDAN, KANRAN, 2 ships -
770t, 27 knots, 2-10.2cm/2-53.3cm tt, 72 crew, 1912
'Minstrel' and
'Nemesis' handed over to Japanese Navy in June 1917
and manned by them for duration of the war in the
Mediterranean. Renamed 'Sendan' and 'Kanran', to
bring the Japanese total in the Mediterranean to 14
destroyers. Returned at end of war
42. ENOKI class, ENOKI, KEYAKI, KUWA, MAKI, NARA,
TSUBAKI , 6 ships - 850t, 31 knots, 3-12cm/6-45.7cm
tt, 110 crew, 1918
43. URAKAZE - 910t, 30 knots, 1-12cm/4-7.8cm/4-53.3cm
tt, 120 crew, 1915
British built; not
delivered until 1919
SUBMARINES
August 1914 Strength (12)
44. HOLLAND type, Nos 1-5, 5 boats - 100/125t,
8/7 knots, 1-45.7cm tt, 13 crew, 1905
No.4, 14th November 1916, Japan, at Kure, southern Honshu in Inland Sea (c 34-30N,
133-00E) - petrol explosion. Petrol-engined submarine, later
raised and repaired; 2 men dead, 14 survivors
45. KAIGUN HOLLAND type, No 7 - 57/63t, 8/4 knots,
1-45.7cm tt, 14 crew, 1906 (No 6 lost in 1910)
46. C1 - C2 VICKERS class, Nos 8-12, 5 boats -
290/320t, 12/4 knots, 2-45.7cm tt, 25 crew, 1909/11
47. VK type, No 13 - 305/340t, 11/8 knots,
2-45.7cm tt, 26 crew, 1912
Wartime Additions (3)
48. C3 VICKERS class, Nos 16-17, 2 boats -
290/320t, 12/4 knots, 2-45.7cm tt, 26 crew, 1916/17
49. S1 class, No 15 - 420/665t, 17/10 knots,
4-45.7cm tt/1-2pdr, c 30 crew, 1917.
French built; No 14
was commissioned as the French 'Armide'