Part of the Fuji-class consisting of the Fuji and the Yashima, preceded by the Kongo-class and succeeded by the Shikishima-class. A with around 2.000 tons decreased but in many ways improved British Royal Sovereign-class battleships design. Fuji was designed by George C. Mackrow (1) and the Yashima by Philip Watts. Building ordered under the 1894 Naval Programme. Laid down by Thames Iron Works and Shipbuilding Company, Leamouth, London, England on 1 August 1894, launched on 31 March 1896, commissioned on 8 Auguts 1897, completed on 17 August 1897, modernized receiving new Miyabara water-tube boilers and Japanese manufactured guns, reclassified as training hulk and barrack on 1 September 1922, stationed since then at Yokosuka, decommissioned in 1923, damaged during an American air attack on 18 July 1945, sunk after the war and broken up in 1948.
Displacement 12.430 tons (normal) and as dimensions 125,6 (over all) x 22,25 x 7,925 (full load0 metres or 412 x 72 x 26 feet. The machinery consisted of 2 vertical triple expansion steam engines and 10 cylindrical boilers supplying via 2 shafts 13.500 ihp with forced draught allowing a speed of 18 (design)-18,5 (trial) knots and with a speed of 10 knots and a maximum coal bunker capacity of 1.200 tons was the range 4.000 nautical miles. Crew numbered 650 men. Original armament consisted of 2x2-30,5cm/12” guns, 10x1-15,2cm/6” quick firing guns, 20x1-4,7cm/1.9”/3pd guns, 4x1-4,7cm/1.9”/2,5 pd Hotchkiss guns and 5-45,72cm/18” torpedo tubes. The Harvey steel made armour consisted of a 35,6cm/14”-45,7cm/18” thick deck, a 6,4cm/2.5” thick deck while the gun turrets were protected by 15,2cm/6” thick armour.
Note
1. Georg Colby Mackrow (7 March 1830 born/11 April 1830 baptized Limehouse-7 February1907), naval architect of the shipyard.
