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Sunday, 24 January 2016

Japanese dreadnought battleship Settsu 1909-1947


In Brassey’s Naval Annual are different sketches published. For instance in the 1913 sketch were 2 funnels visible in contrary to the 1915 sketch with 3 funnels just like the sketch in Jane’s All the World Fighting Ships of 1919.

Of the Kawach-class consisting of the Kawachi and the Settsu, preceded by the Satsuma-class and succeeded by the Fuso-class. Building ordered on 22 June 1907 under the 1907 Warship Supplement. Laid down at the Kure Naval Arsenal on 18 January 1909, launched on 30 March 1911, completed on 1 July 1912, laid up in reserve in 1919, disarmed as a result of the Washington Naval Treaty in 1922, stricken on 1 October 1923, converted into a target ship in 1924, used a deceive ships pretending she was an aircraft carrier in 1941, heavily damaged during an Allied air attack on the Kure navy base and deliberately run aground to prevent sinking on 24 July 1945, for some days used as floating barracks, stricken from the navy list on 20 November 1945, wreck raided in June 1946 and finally broken up between 1946-August 1947.

General specifications. A displacement of 21.157 tons (standard) and as dimensions 160,3-162,5 (0ver all0 x 25,7 x 8,2-8,5 metres or 526-533 x 84.3 x 27-27.8 feet. The 2 Curtiss steam turbine sets and 16 Miyabari water-tube boilers supplied via 2 shafts 25.000 ships allowing a speed of 21 knots and with a speed of 18 knots a range of 2.700 nautical miles. Coal bunker capacity 2.300 ton coal maximum) and 410 ton fuel oil. The crew numbered between 999-1.100 men. The armour consisted of a 12,7-30,5cm thick water line belt, a 3cm/1.2:  thick deck with the gun turrets, barbettes and conning tower protected by respectively 27,9cm/11”, 28,9cm/11” and 25,4cm/10”. The armament consisted of 2x2-30,5cm/12 /50 guns, 4x2-30,5cm/12” /45 guns, 10x1-15,24cm/6” guns, 8x1-11,9cm/4,7”guns, 12x1-7,6cm/3” guns and 5-45,7cm/18” torpedo tubes. There was a small difference in the appearance of both ships due to the longer clipper bow of the Settsu and the vertical stem of the Kawachi.