Japanese armoured cruiser Izumo 1898-1947

Asama

Izumo-class

Part of the Izumo-class armoured cruisers consisting of the Izuma and Iwate, preceded by the Asama-class and succeeded by the Yakumo. Designed by Sir Philip Watts. Building ordered on 24 September 1897. Laid down by Armstrong Whitworth&Co., Elswick, England on 14 May 1898, launched on 13 September 1899, completed on 25 September 1900, reclassified as 1st class coastal defence ship on 1 September 1921, used in the 192s as cadet training ship, modernized 1930-1931 and 1935 reclassified as 1st class cruiser on 1 July 1942, reclassified as training ship for cadets in 1943, sunk due to an American air attack at Kure on 28 July 1945, stricken on 20 November 1945 and broken up by the Harima Dock Company in 1947.

Displacement 9.503 (normal load)-10.305 (full load)-10.864 (after refitting 1935) tons and as dimensions 121,92 (between perpendiculars)-132,28 (overall) x 20,94 x 7,21-7,25 metres or 400.0-434.0 x 68.8 x 23.8-23.0 feet. Machinery consisted of 2 vertical triple expansion steam engines and 24 Belleville boilers supplying via 2 shafts 7.000 (after 1935)-14.500 ihp allowing a speed of 16 (after 1935)-20,75 (design)-21,74 (trials) knots. With a speed of 10 knots and a maximum coal bunker capacity of 1.551 tons was the range 7.000 nautical miles. Since 1935 bunker capacity 1.429 tons coals and 329 tons fuel oil. Crew numbered 672 men. The Krupp cemented armour consisted of a 8,8cm/3.5”-17,8cm/7.0” thick waterline belt, a 6,3cm/2.5” thick deck, 12,7cm/5.” bulkheads with the gun turrets, barbettes, casemate and conning tower protected by respectively 16cm/6.3”, 15,2cm/6.0”, 5,1cm/2.0”-15,2cm/6.0” and 35,6cm/14.0”. Original armament consisted of 2x2-20,3cm/8” /45 type 41 naval guns, 14x1-15,2cm/6” quick firing guns, 12x1-12pd/12cwt quick firing guns, 8x1-7,6cm/2.5pd Yamauchi quick firing guns and 4x1-45,7cm/18.0” submerged torpedo tubes (2xbroad side).