Japanese armoured cruiser Tsukaba the best of the world according to the Dutch magazine Marineblad dated 1907-1908 no. 5

Japanese armoured cruiser Tsukuba

British Warior-class armoured cruisers

British Minotaur-class armoured cruisers

An item referred to the German magazine Schiffbau claimed that the Japanese armoured cruiser Tsukuba (1) was without any doubt the most combat valuable of the world. She was compared with the British Warrior (1) of 13.440 tons, 22,3 miles, 16cm belt, 6-28cm guns, 4-19cm guns and Defence (3) of 14.600 tons, 23 miles, 16cm belt, 4-28cm guns, 10-19cm guns against her own 13.750 tons, 21 miles, 19,05cm belt and 4-30,5cm guns, 12-15cm guns and 12-12cm guns. Her speed was similar to that of the British battleships. Some exports thought her speed was too low, others that her armour was too thin for an armoured ship. The Japanese navy though otherwise believing that she was able to compete against battleships as was proven in the war with Russia when the Nishin and Kasaga acted as battleships when the Hatsuse and Yashima sunk.

Notes
1. In 1914 reclassified as a battle cruiser. Of the Tsukuba-class. She was built according to the June 1904 Emergency Fleet Replenishment Budget caused by the war with Russia (8 February 1904-5 September 1906). Laid down at the Kure Naval Arsenal, Japan on 14 January 1905, launched on 26 December 1905, commissioned on 14 January 1907 and exploded while lying in the harbour of Yokosuka, Japan with the loss of 305 men. The wreck was salvaged and used as a target for naval aviation until it was broken up in 1918.
2. Laid down at Pembroke Dockyard, Pembroke Dock on 5 November 1903, launched on 25 November 1905, completed on 12 December 1906, participated in the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916 and such heavily damaged by German gunfire of the German battle cruiser Derfflinger and battleships and despite towed away by the seaplane tender HMS Engadine forced to be abandoned at 8:25 o’clock on 1 June 1916. Building costs 1.186.395 pond sterling. Machinery manufactured by Wallsend Slipway and Engineering. Built under the 1903-1904 Naval Programme. Of the Warrior-class.
3. Laid down at the Pembroke Dockyard on 25 February 1905, launched on 24 April 1907, commissioned on 9 February 1909, participated in the unsuccessful pursuit of the German battle cruiser SMS Goeben and light cruiser Breslau underway towards Turkey and sunk during the Battle of Jutland with her entire crew on 31 May 1916. She attacked the SMS Wiesbaden when she was destroyed by gunfire of the German SMS battle cruiser Derfflinger and four battleships. Building costs 1.362.970 pond sterling. British Minotaur-class.