Imperial Japanese Battleship Asahi (1900)
The new Asahi making the customary call at Portsmouth on her way out to Japan. This photo was taken before the grounding incident which marred the new battleship's departure.
The new Asahi making the customary call at Portsmouth on her way out to Japan. This photo was taken before the grounding incident which marred the new battleship's departure.
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The Asahi was a kissing cousin of the Shikishima class, as will be seen from a comparison of the profiles and specs of these ships. Built by John Brown & Co.'s sprawling plant at Clydebank, Scotland, Asahi was the largest battleship ever made on the Clyde at the time of her launch in 1899. "Asahi" means rising sun in Japanese (literally morning sun), and the ship had a special place in the affections of patriotic Japanese during her long and distinguished career. Unlike the Mikasa, rescued several times and preserved as a national monument, Asahi served in 3 wars and a military occupation of Vladivostok, and was sunk by a U.S. submarine while on active duty in World War II.
Differences from the Shikishima included greater displacement and different funnels. Instead of three stacks, the Asahi had two, in the typical British configuration of the time, introduced by the Canopus class in 1899. The Asahi also resembled the Mikasa but was distinguishable because her forward funnel was far nearer the mast than the Mikasa's and in fact both funnels were further forward than in the flagship. Mikasa's funnels were of equal size and on the centerline, as in slightly later British ships such as the Duncan class.
Asahi was laid down in 1898 at the Clydebank Works near Glasgow, Scotland. Owned by the Sheffield conglomerate John Brown & Company, the gigantic Clydebank Works was one of Britain's foremost shipbuilding and armaments manufacturing complexes; at right, a hydraulic riveting machine at work at the yard, circa 1905. John Brown's was to build such famous British battleships as HMS Barham, Duke of York, and Vanguard; the battlecruisers Tiger, Renown, and Hood were all birthed at Clydebank too. The attached engineering works could produce anything from centrifugal pumps to ornately carved paneling, but of particular interest was the engine shop, one of the first erecting facilities in the world capable of producing high-performance turbines. The company licensed manufacture of the U.S.-invented Curtis turbine, and Brown-Curtis turbines were soon renowned the world over, being selected for numerous warships of the British, Japanese, and U.S. navies. John Brown's yard also specialized in constructing ocean liners of the greatest size and luxury. The Clydebank produced the 785-foot Lusitania in 1906, the 901-foot Aquitania in 1914, and -- much later -- Cunard's fabled Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth -- each of these being, in turn, the world's largest ship. Asahi too laid claim to a record: upon her launch on March 13, 1899, she was the heaviest battleship yet built on the River Clyde. Her delivery in 1900 was delayed when the vessel ran aground while leaving for Japan. Stores and ammunition were removed and the ship was pulled clear. After a hull inspection in drydock, she proceeded to Japan, arriving at Yokosuka on October 23, 1900.
Differences from the Shikishima included greater displacement and different funnels. Instead of three stacks, the Asahi had two, in the typical British configuration of the time, introduced by the Canopus class in 1899. The Asahi also resembled the Mikasa but was distinguishable because her forward funnel was far nearer the mast than the Mikasa's and in fact both funnels were further forward than in the flagship. Mikasa's funnels were of equal size and on the centerline, as in slightly later British ships such as the Duncan class.
Asahi was laid down in 1898 at the Clydebank Works near Glasgow, Scotland. Owned by the Sheffield conglomerate John Brown & Company, the gigantic Clydebank Works was one of Britain's foremost shipbuilding and armaments manufacturing complexes; at right, a hydraulic riveting machine at work at the yard, circa 1905. John Brown's was to build such famous British battleships as HMS Barham, Duke of York, and Vanguard; the battlecruisers Tiger, Renown, and Hood were all birthed at Clydebank too. The attached engineering works could produce anything from centrifugal pumps to ornately carved paneling, but of particular interest was the engine shop, one of the first erecting facilities in the world capable of producing high-performance turbines. The company licensed manufacture of the U.S.-invented Curtis turbine, and Brown-Curtis turbines were soon renowned the world over, being selected for numerous warships of the British, Japanese, and U.S. navies. John Brown's yard also specialized in constructing ocean liners of the greatest size and luxury. The Clydebank produced the 785-foot Lusitania in 1906, the 901-foot Aquitania in 1914, and -- much later -- Cunard's fabled Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth -- each of these being, in turn, the world's largest ship. Asahi too laid claim to a record: upon her launch on March 13, 1899, she was the heaviest battleship yet built on the River Clyde. Her delivery in 1900 was delayed when the vessel ran aground while leaving for Japan. Stores and ammunition were removed and the ship was pulled clear. After a hull inspection in drydock, she proceeded to Japan, arriving at Yokosuka on October 23, 1900.
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Plans and Specifications
Specifications for the Asahi:
Dimensions: 425' x 75' x 27' LWL: 450'0" Displacement: 15,200 tons. Armament: (4) 12"/40 cal (2x2), (14) 6"/45 QF, (8) 4.7"/40, (3) 3"/40, and (4) 3"/28 guns; (5) submerged 18" torpedo tubes. Armor: Krupp Cemented type throughout. 229/100 mm belt; 254 mm turrets; 356 mm conning tower; 360/200 mm barbettes; 152 mm casemates; 100/63 mm deck. Fuel capacity: 1,200 tons of coal std; 2,000 tons maximum. Propulsion: (25) coal-fired Belleville boilers; (2) vertical triple expansion steam engines developing 15,000 SHP, shafted to twin screw. Maximum speed: 18.5 kts. Crew: 836. Endurance: 9,000 nm @ 10 kts.
Metric specs:
Dimensions: 129.62m x 22.9m x 8.3m. Displacement: 15,200 tons. Armament: (4) 305 mm/40 cal (2x2), (14) 152 mm/45, (8) 120 mm/40, (12) 76 mm/40 and (4) 76 mm/28 guns; (5) submerged 457 mm torpedo tubes. Armor: Krupp Cemented type throughout. 229/100 mm belt; 254 mm turrets; 356 mm conning tower; 360/200 mm barbettes; 152 mm casemates; 100/63 mm deck. Fuel capacity: 1,200 tons of coal std; 2,000 tons maximum. Propulsion: (25) coal-fired Belleville boilers; (2) vertical triple expansion steam engines developing 11,200 kW, shafted to twin screw. Maximum speed: 34 km/hr. Crew: 836. Endurance: 17,000 km @ 19 km/hr.
Dimensions: 425' x 75' x 27' LWL: 450'0" Displacement: 15,200 tons. Armament: (4) 12"/40 cal (2x2), (14) 6"/45 QF, (8) 4.7"/40, (3) 3"/40, and (4) 3"/28 guns; (5) submerged 18" torpedo tubes. Armor: Krupp Cemented type throughout. 229/100 mm belt; 254 mm turrets; 356 mm conning tower; 360/200 mm barbettes; 152 mm casemates; 100/63 mm deck. Fuel capacity: 1,200 tons of coal std; 2,000 tons maximum. Propulsion: (25) coal-fired Belleville boilers; (2) vertical triple expansion steam engines developing 15,000 SHP, shafted to twin screw. Maximum speed: 18.5 kts. Crew: 836. Endurance: 9,000 nm @ 10 kts.
Metric specs:
Dimensions: 129.62m x 22.9m x 8.3m. Displacement: 15,200 tons. Armament: (4) 305 mm/40 cal (2x2), (14) 152 mm/45, (8) 120 mm/40, (12) 76 mm/40 and (4) 76 mm/28 guns; (5) submerged 457 mm torpedo tubes. Armor: Krupp Cemented type throughout. 229/100 mm belt; 254 mm turrets; 356 mm conning tower; 360/200 mm barbettes; 152 mm casemates; 100/63 mm deck. Fuel capacity: 1,200 tons of coal std; 2,000 tons maximum. Propulsion: (25) coal-fired Belleville boilers; (2) vertical triple expansion steam engines developing 11,200 kW, shafted to twin screw. Maximum speed: 34 km/hr. Crew: 836. Endurance: 17,000 km @ 19 km/hr.
Ship's History
Asahi's forward turret and distinctive bridge seen from the foredeck. The ship's Elswick 12" artillery is well shown here.
Asahi's forward turret and distinctive bridge seen from the foredeck. The ship's Elswick 12" artillery is well shown here.
Asahi was very active in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, starting with the February sneak attack on Port Arthur and subsequent naval blockade of that Russian stronghold. In August of 1904 the Asahi participated in the Battle of the Yellow Sea, where she took one hit. Later she struck a floating mine on October 26, 1904; repairs were completed in time for the Battle of Tsushima where she suffered nine hits, killing 8 and wounding 23. During the Battle of Tsushima, Captain W. C. Pakenham, the Royal Navy's official military observer under the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, took notes of the battle's progress from a deck chair on the exposed quarterdeck of the Asahi. His reports confirmed the superiority of Japanese training and tactics and publicized the historic victory within Western naval circles. His observation of the dominance of big guns led, in part, to the adoption of the all-big-gun battleship in the Royal Navy, beginning with the 1906 Dreadnought.
In 1908, Asahi was part of the Japanese fleet which escorted the American Great White Fleet through Japanese waters during its round-the-globe voyage. In 1914, the Asahi became a gunnery training ship, and in 1917 she was rearmed with Japanese-made 50-calibre guns, replacing her original Armstrong weapons.
Between the Wars
Although rendered obsolete by the development of dreadnought-type battleships, Asahi was used as a support vessel to cover the landings of Japanese troops in revolutionary Russia during Japan's Siberian Intervention in 1918-19. Reclassified as a 1st-class Coastal defence ship in 1921, she served as a combatant until 1923, when, under the terms of the Washington Treaty for Naval Disarmament, Asahi was disarmed and converted into a training ship. Her displacement dropped to 11,441 tons with the loss of her armor and guns, and her speed was limited to 12 knots (22 km/h). In May 1925 Asahi ran aground off Toba, and after refloating was taken back to Yokosuka for extensive modifications.
From 1926 to October 1927 Asahi's 25 Belleville boilers were replaced with four Kanpon boilers, with flues leading to one funnel. One of her two funnels was also removed, and a large crane was installed amidships. Asahi was converted into a submarine salvage ship and also conducted experiments as Japan's first submarine rescue vessel using the formerly German submarine U-125.
In May 1928 in the capacity of an experimental test bed, the Asahi was fitted with a 19-meter compressed-air Type 1 aircraft catapult and successfully launched a E2N1 Type 15 seaplane. Later, after repeated accidents, the compressed-air catapult was discarded in favor of a gunpowder-propelled one. On the completion of testing, Asahi was placed in the Naval Reserve.
However, in November 1937, after the China Incident manufactured by Japan's Kwangtung Army to start the Second Sino-Japanese War, Asahi was taken out of reserve to serve as a transport landing troops at Hangzhou Bay.
Asahi was very active in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, starting with the February sneak attack on Port Arthur and subsequent naval blockade of that Russian stronghold. In August of 1904 the Asahi participated in the Battle of the Yellow Sea, where she took one hit. Later she struck a floating mine on October 26, 1904; repairs were completed in time for the Battle of Tsushima where she suffered nine hits, killing 8 and wounding 23. During the Battle of Tsushima, Captain W. C. Pakenham, the Royal Navy's official military observer under the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, took notes of the battle's progress from a deck chair on the exposed quarterdeck of the Asahi. His reports confirmed the superiority of Japanese training and tactics and publicized the historic victory within Western naval circles. His observation of the dominance of big guns led, in part, to the adoption of the all-big-gun battleship in the Royal Navy, beginning with the 1906 Dreadnought.In 1908, Asahi was part of the Japanese fleet which escorted the American Great White Fleet through Japanese waters during its round-the-globe voyage. In 1914, the Asahi became a gunnery training ship, and in 1917 she was rearmed with Japanese-made 50-calibre guns, replacing her original Armstrong weapons.
Between the Wars
Although rendered obsolete by the development of dreadnought-type battleships, Asahi was used as a support vessel to cover the landings of Japanese troops in revolutionary Russia during Japan's Siberian Intervention in 1918-19. Reclassified as a 1st-class Coastal defence ship in 1921, she served as a combatant until 1923, when, under the terms of the Washington Treaty for Naval Disarmament, Asahi was disarmed and converted into a training ship. Her displacement dropped to 11,441 tons with the loss of her armor and guns, and her speed was limited to 12 knots (22 km/h). In May 1925 Asahi ran aground off Toba, and after refloating was taken back to Yokosuka for extensive modifications.
From 1926 to October 1927 Asahi's 25 Belleville boilers were replaced with four Kanpon boilers, with flues leading to one funnel. One of her two funnels was also removed, and a large crane was installed amidships. Asahi was converted into a submarine salvage ship and also conducted experiments as Japan's first submarine rescue vessel using the formerly German submarine U-125.
In May 1928 in the capacity of an experimental test bed, the Asahi was fitted with a 19-meter compressed-air Type 1 aircraft catapult and successfully launched a E2N1 Type 15 seaplane. Later, after repeated accidents, the compressed-air catapult was discarded in favor of a gunpowder-propelled one. On the completion of testing, Asahi was placed in the Naval Reserve.
However, in November 1937, after the China Incident manufactured by Japan's Kwangtung Army to start the Second Sino-Japanese War, Asahi was taken out of reserve to serve as a transport landing troops at Hangzhou Bay.
Asahi in humbler guise, as a repair ship and submarine tender, a role she assumed from 1936 to her sinking in 1942. The harmonious lines of a British-built pre-dreadnought battleship are still very evident -- and the Imperial momo, or chrysanthemum emblem, denotes her active-duty status. Click here for super-detailed enlarged view.
Asahi in humbler guise, as a repair ship and submarine tender, a role she assumed from 1936 to her sinking in 1942. The harmonious lines of a British-built pre-dreadnought battleship are still very evident -- and the Imperial momo, or chrysanthemum emblem, denotes her active-duty status. Click here for super-detailed enlarged view.
Asahi found renewed life as a submarine tender from 1937 on, providing repair services, supplies, and serving as a floating barracks until 1938, when the old vessel was once again converted. Heavy lifting frames were installed on either side amidships, along with machine shops and repair facilities. Her new career as a repair vessel ended on Dec. 18, 1938 when she was fitted with dummy wooden guns fore and aft to resemble an old battleship and assigned to "patrols" out of Shanghai from through November 7, 1940.
From 15 November 1940 Asahi was assigned to the Combined Fleet and used as a transport, shuttling between Camranh Bay in occupied French Indochina and Kure. From April 1942, Asahi was stationed at Singapore, and performed repairs in on the light cruiser Naka that had been torpedoed by the USS Seawolf off Christmas Island. Departing Singapore for Kure on May 22, the Asahi was sighted by the USS Salmon on May 25, 1942 100 miles (160 km) SW of Cape Paderas. Asahi was torpedoed in a night attack, being hit in her port central boiler room and aft spaces by two of the four torpedoes fired. At 0103, moments after being hit, Asahi capsized and sank. Sixteen crewmen were killed in the incident, but 583 survived, including the ship's commander, Capt. Tamura.
From 15 November 1940 Asahi was assigned to the Combined Fleet and used as a transport, shuttling between Camranh Bay in occupied French Indochina and Kure. From April 1942, Asahi was stationed at Singapore, and performed repairs in on the light cruiser Naka that had been torpedoed by the USS Seawolf off Christmas Island. Departing Singapore for Kure on May 22, the Asahi was sighted by the USS Salmon on May 25, 1942 100 miles (160 km) SW of Cape Paderas. Asahi was torpedoed in a night attack, being hit in her port central boiler room and aft spaces by two of the four torpedoes fired. At 0103, moments after being hit, Asahi capsized and sank. Sixteen crewmen were killed in the incident, but 583 survived, including the ship's commander, Capt. Tamura.
- The Imperial Japanese Fleet, 1897-1912
- The Mikasa: Japan's Pre-Dreadnought Flagship (1902)
- The Battle of Tsushima (1905)
- The Russo-Japanese War (1904-05)
- The China Incident (1937)
- Top of Page
- The Imperial Japanese Fleet, 1897-1912
- The Mikasa: Japan's Pre-Dreadnought Flagship (1902)
- The Battle of Tsushima (1905)
- The Russo-Japanese War (1904-05)
- The China Incident (1937)
- Top of Page
