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 and the Yashima by Philip Watts.(1) Building ordered under the 1894 Naval Programme. Laid down by Armstrong, Whitworth&Co., Elswick, England on 6 December 1894, launched on 28 December 1896, sea trials executed in September 1897, completed on 9 September 1897 and heavily damaged after striking Russian mines she sunk on 15 May 1904. Fitted out to serve as flagship for the admiral.
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 (design)-14.075 ihp (sea trials) with forced draught allowing a speed of 18,25 (design)-19,46 (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. Philip Watts (30 May 1846 Deptford, Kent, England-15 March 1926 Chelsea, London, England), naval architect who designed also the British HMS Dreadnought, but also designed ships for navies all over the world. Worked for the British Royal Navy and for Armstrong, Whitworth&Co., Elswick, England
