Japanese preliminary defence budget 1922-1923 reduced

Akagi

Kaga

Nagato

On 22 May 1922 (!) received the Dutch naval staff at The Hague, Netherlands from the Dutch embassy at Tokyo, Japan a detailed specification of Japanese merchant ships of minimum 1.500 tons tonnage usable for troop transport over sea on 13 December 1921. Further more was a note included dealing with the preliminary budget for 1922-1923 totally 1,466,000,000 yen of which 253,000,000 for the army (1921-1922 273,000,000) and 394,000,000 (1921-1922 499,000,000) for the navy. Or 44% for army and navy in contrary to the 49% the budget before. Originally was 479,000,000 yen estimated for the navy but this amount was in November reduced without consequences for the so-called 8 and 8 program (1) of the navy stated the minister of finances. The Dutch naval staff thought otherwise. In the meantime was new building continued waiting for positive tidings from the Washington conference.(2) The Kaga (3) was launched in November, the Tosa (4) to be launched in December and the keel for a battle cruiser (5) was laid down in November.

Notes

1. Washington Naval Conference (12 November 1921-6 February 1922) resulting in 3 treaties including the Five-Power Treaty (USA, United Kingdom, France, Italy and Japan) with as main purpose reduction of the navies and prevent an arms race. Four more countries Belgium, China,  Netherlands and Portugal) with interests in the Pacific Ocean and East Asia also attended the conference.

2. A Japanese naval program including the building of 8 battleships and 8 battle cruisers, starting with the building of two Nagato-class and two Tosa-class battleships and 4 Amagi-class battle cruisers. As a result of the Washington Naval Conference was the maximum allowed tonnage to small for completing the program.

3. Part of Tosa-class battleships, preceded by Nagato-class, succeeded by Kii-class, laid down by Kawasaki Shipyard, Kobe, Japan on 19 July 1920, launched on 17 November 1921, completed however as an aircraft carrier (preceded by Akagi, succeeded by Ryujo) to replace the battle cruiser Amalgi which was damaged beyond repairs in the 1923 Great Kanto earthquake.

4. Part of Tosa-class battleships, preceded by Nagato-class, succeeded by Kii-class, laid down by Mitsubishi Shipyard, Nagasaki, Japan on 16 February 1920, launched on 18 December 1921, to be completed in March 1923 but due to the naval conference limitations scuttled on 9 February 1925.

5. The Amagi-class consisting of the Amagi, Akagi, Atago and Takao all laid down, the Atago on 22 November 1921. The Akagi was laid down on 6 December 1920 and finally completed as an aircraft carrier.

Source

Archive Dutch Naval Staff 1886-1942 inventory number 137 (National Archive at The Hague, Netherlands.