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Post by desdinova on Jul 17, 2019 22:49:41 GMT -6
The Japanese Empire is unique among world powers. In the space of decades, the country transitioned from an agrarian, feudal society, to a modern, westernized industrial power, not just resisting colonization but pursuing its own imperial ambitions. Ever since the Meiji restoration in the 19th century, the Japanese military had embraced the forces of westernization, and by the end of the century had acquired a relatively modern, well-trained and equipped navy. But the Imperial Japanese Navy of 1900 was very much a force in transition. Although the last steam-and-sail cruisers had been retired, the IJN still lacked the resources to maintain a large fleet. Although now a world power, Japan's naval budget was barely half that of regional rivals Germany and Russia. Fortunately, they had no overseas possessions to defend other than Formosa. No foreign power except Russia would be able to support a force large enough to fully blockade the home islands. Therefore, in 1900, Japanese naval strategy was shifting towards the "Jeune Ecole" school of thought, in order to successfully prosecute a war with a foreign great power, although they would have to maintain a large enough fleet of battleships to ensure the defense of the home islands. Ships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, January 1900Yashima-class battleship: Yashima, Asahi, Shikishima, Iki, Mikasa, Hizen. The Yashima-class were designed as coastal defense battleships, intended to operate in Japanese home waters only, lacking the range and seaworthiness of true battleships. Despite their limitations, they packed a considerable weight of firepower for their small size. All six were constructed in Great Britain in the early 1890s. Complement: 696. Izumo-class armoured cruiser: Izumo, Azuma, Tokiwa. The Izumo-class were Japan's first domestically produced armoured warships; completed in 1896, they were designed for trade protection and fighting protected cruisers, although capable of standing in the battle line if called upon. Complement: 690. Izumi-class protected cruiser: Izumi, Naniwa. These second-class cruisers were Japan's newest ships at the turn of the century, with two ships recently delivered and four more still under construction: Akitsushima, Chiyoda, Yoshino, Hashidate. Complement: 470. Takachiho-class protected cruiser: Takachiho, Unebi, Yaeyama, Chiyoda, Chishima, Itsukushima. Dating to the early 1890s, these third-class cruisers would now be relegated to raiding and escort duty with the appearance of the Izumi-class cruisers. Complement: 274. Akikaze-class Torpedo Boat Destroyer: Akikaze, Hakaze, Hokaze, Namikaze, Numakaze, Nokaze, Okikaze, Minekaze, Sawakaze, Yukaze, Shimakaze, Shiokaze, Yakaze, Asakaze, Asanagi, Harukaze, Tachikaze, Hatakaze, Hayate, Kamikaze Matsukaze, Yunagi, Oite, Fumizuki. Complement: 85. Still under construction at the turn of the century, Yakumo and Iwate were designed as first-class cruisers capable of standing up to, or escaping from, almost any contemporary cruiser. 8" main guns were chosen, in hopes of achieving a good mix of weight and rate of fire. Complement: 714.
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Post by desdinova on Jul 18, 2019 0:16:09 GMT -6
Prelude to War: 1900-1903
Chitose, Hashidate, Iwate and Yakumo are all commissioned by the end of the year 1900; In October of that year, Japan flexes her colonial ambitions for the first time, in a failed attempt to annex Bougainville; but the situation spirals out of control and a local warlord takes over. Asama is laid down in a British shipyard in January 1901; she would be almost identical to the Yakumo class, with some internal improvements in machinery and equipment. Protected cruisers Matsushima and Akitsushima are commissioned in March 1901. The Russian Navy had begun a new battleship building program by 1901. In hopes of maintaining battleship parity, Japan ordered two British-designed first-class battleships: Fuso and Suwo. Unlike the coastal Yashima-class, these would be true seagoing battleships, with improved armament and protection. Complement: 787. The Kikuzuki-class destroyer, while only a knot faster than the Akikaze-class, improved on that design with a much heavier armament, mounting four 3" guns of an improved German design, and three centerline torpedo tubes. While moving away from the traditional turtleback bow improved their seakeeping, they were overgunned for their displacement, and the resulting stability problems made them poor gun platforms. Nevertheless, a dozen were built: Seven ships were laid down in July 1901, and five more in May 1902: Kikuzuki, Mikazuki, Kisaragi, Mutsuki, Minazuki, Satsuki, Mochizuki, Nagatsuki, Yayoi, Yuzuki, Asagiri, Uzuki. Complement: 102. Recognizing the danger of naval mines, six Asama Maru-class minesweepers are ordered in June 1902: Asama Maru, Tatuta Maru, Koan Maru, Kongo Maru, Dairen Maru, and Hoten Maru. Complement: 62. October 1902 also saw the Japanese order their first submarines: Ten small Holland-class boats, built in the United States and to be completed in Japan. Throughout 1902 tensions had been steadily rising between Japan, Russia, and Germany. Faced with two antagonistic European powers, the Japanese had been seeking allies, focusing on cultivating deeper ties with Great Britain. Tensions would continue to rise with Russia. Japan, fearing imminent war, mobilized their forces in January 1903. British-built Katori would be the final Japanese warship laid down before the outbreak of war. The largest and likely the most-powerful battleship class yet designed, only one ship was ordered due to her expense as well as a slowdown in Russian battleship production. Complement: 897. Katori would come too late to see service in the coming war: In July 1903, a Japanese dignitary in China was assassinated by Russian agents. The Japanese response was immediate. War had come to Japan.
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Post by desdinova on Jul 18, 2019 12:07:14 GMT -6
The Russo-Japanese War, Part 1Japanese Order of BattleRussian Order of Battle* Denotes Under Construction The Russians had a single coastal submarine in service, and 2 corvettes. On paper, the Russians enjoyed an advantage not just in numbers, but in individually powerful ships, with their battleships, as well as the Pamyat Azova-class and Pallada-class cruisers outmatching Japan's equivalent types in firepower. But Russia's force was split between East Asia, the Baltic, and Black Sea fleets, and at the outbreak of war the Russian Pacific Squadron consisted only of two battleships, the armoured cruiser Pamyat Azova, and 12 destroyers. However, with tensions having grown steadily over a period of two years, Japan had had substantial time to prepare. The Imperial Japanese Navy was in a good state of readiness, and had been drilling gunnery constantly, to a high level of skill. They were also operating in home waters, whereas the Russians were operating at the very end of their supply chain. This would give the Japanese a crucial qualitative advantage against the Russians. 8/13/1903 - Attack on Port ArthurThe first action of the war commences when the Japanese attempt a surprise attack on the Russian Pacific Squadron at Port Arthur. Unfortunately, fired upon by shore batteries just as they sight the enemy at anchor, the Japanese destroyers abort their attack and leave without firing a shot. The Japanese battleships Mikasa, Yashima, and Asahi inflict heavy damage on Russian shore batteries, but unfortunately the Russian Pacific Squadron escapes to sea. Two patrol boats and two transports are sunk; the Japanese suffer little damage. Nevertheless, the departure of the Russian squadron allows the Japanese to land soldiers in the hills around Port Arthur. 9/18/1903 - Battle of Phusan
On a cloudy night off the shore of Korea, cruiser Yakumo is leading Azuma when Chitose, screening, frantically signals an unknown vessel bearing right for them. The Japanese immediately engage the Vladimir-class protected cruiser, which turns away - a Russian armoured cruiser right behind it. Yakumo and Azuma immediately line up and begin exchanging broadsides with the 12,300-ton Pamyat Azova-class cruiser Gromoboi, at a range of 2600 yards. Japanese gunnery is superior, scoring 30 hits in the opening minutes - Asama suffers just 4 in return. The quality of Japanese gunnery greatly exceeds the Russian cruiser, which soon finds itself unable to reply as it is hit by 8" shell after 8" shell, one of which knocks out her fire control. After more than two hours of pursuit, Gromoboi, her superstructure aflame, loses electrical power and begins to drift. She sinks after being hit by over 90 shells and three torpedoes. The Japanese cruisers turn away and find themselves face to face with Gromoboi's escorts, the 3,000-ton protected cruiser Vladimir and four destroyers. Vladimir is trapped and cannot escape, but the Japanese are almost out of 8" ammunition. It takes over five hours for the Japanese to sink her, most of the damage done by the escorts Izumi, Akitsushima, Matsushima, Chitose and Hashidate. The last destroyer is chased down and sunk over 9 hours from the start of the engagement. The Japanese have won their first major victory, with the entire enemy force of two cruisers, as well as the destroyers Zhivoi, Blestyashchi, Burni, and Moshhni, all sunk. Yakumo has suffered moderate damage and some casualties from a few penetrating shells, including one that destroyed one of her port-side torpedo rooms, but casualties and damage among the rest of the Japanese force are light. British InterventionWhen word of the defeat is wired to Russian headquarters, the enraged Tsar demands the Baltic Fleet sail immediately for East Asia. This would have terrible consequences, however. Paranoid and poorly-trained Russian crewmen, while passing English territorial waters, somehow mistake British fishing trawlers for Japanese warships in the night and open fire upon them, sinking one and killing several British sailors. Immediately after the "Dogger Bank Incident", a British cruiser squadron sorties to intercept the Russian fleet. The Russians open fire again, and in the ensuing skirmish destroyer Bistri and protected cruiser HMS Pearl are sunk. Great Britain, which had previously declined to intercede in a war of aggression against another European power on behalf of Japan, declares war on Russia, and the British Fleet chases most of the Russian Second Pacific Squadron back to port. The ensuing blockade will have grave strategic consequences for the Russians.
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Post by mycophobia on Jul 18, 2019 13:19:00 GMT -6
British Intervention and the High Seas Fleet chases most of the Russian Second Pacific Squadron back to port. The ensuing blockade will have grave strategic consequences for the Russians. Great AAR so far, just a minor nitpick, I don't think the British ever had a High Seas fleet?
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Post by desdinova on Jul 18, 2019 13:42:36 GMT -6
Whoops wrong Navy
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Post by desdinova on Jul 18, 2019 19:06:49 GMT -6
Russo-Japanese War, Part 2October 1903On 27 October, cruisers Tokiwa and Izumo sink the destroyer Zvonki in a night action. The Russian Navy abandons Port Arthur, as Japanese artillery is able fire down into the harbor. Without support, the Russian garrison is overrun and by the end of the month, Port Arthur is in Japanese hands. On November 30th, Yakumo, Iwate, and Asama leading the armoured cruisers of the British China Squadron, Cressy and Monmouth, raid Russian coastal shipping. The Russian cruisers stationed there withdraw from the superior force, and the allies sink a pair of transports. Two Aso-class cruisers, Aso and Kasuga, are laid down mid-November. Japan's next cruiser program was originally contracted to an Italian firm, but the single ship ordered, provisionally named Furutaka, was cancelled just after the keel was laid as improving technology allowed Japan to build such ships locally. The design was substantially expanded, taking into account lessons learned from the last three months of war, and reauthorized as the Aso-class, to be constructed in Japanese shipyards. These cruisers would be considerably larger than the preceding Asama and Yakumo-classes, with the extra displacement going to armament. Each cruiser will have a uniform main battery of 10 8" guns, in two twin and six single turrets, for a seven-gun broadside. Complement: 876. 12/22/1903 - Battle of Mordvinova BayTokiwa and Izumo are tasked with destroying a Russian supply convoy to Sakhalin, the target of the Japanese Army's next assault. But they find the convoy escorted by the 12,800-ton Pervenets-class battleship Tri Svyatitelya, and engage her in hopes of driving her off the convoy. Tokiwa's commander's plan is to engage from directly astern and at close range, using their superior speed to minimize the battleship's ability to fire on them with her 12" guns. For a while, the plan works, with the cruisers raining 8" shells on Pervenets, setting her superstructure aflame - but then a critical hit to Tokiwa strikes her torpedo compartment below the waterline, and she begins flooding uncontrollably. She tries to disengage, but the progressive flooding is too much to control and she quickly capsizes. Japanese destroyers are only able to pull 4 men from the water as shells continue to rain around them. But Tri Svyatitelya is herself badly slowed at this point, and the commander of the undamaged Izumo orders his destroyer screen to harrass the battleship and draw her fire. The plan succeeds - Izumo is never hit by a Russian 12" shell, as the destroyers swarm all around her. After another hour, the Russian battleship, furiously ablaze, slows to ten knots, and a torpedo from Mutsuki finally strikes home. The Russian battleship's magazine detonates, taking all hand with her. Izumo returns to sink the destroyer Zadorny and all but one transport in the convoy. Although he battle is a tactical victory, and the Japanese leadership praises Tokiwa's self-sacrifice and aggressive spirit, behind closed doors they quickly realize the danger of throwing their precious few cruisers against Russian battleships. Russia, with half a dozen new armoured cruisers in commission or commissioning soon, can afford to be cavalier with them in a way that perhaps Japan cannot. In the European theater, the protected cruiser Velikii Knyaz Konstantin and destroyer HMS Afridi are lost in action. 1/20/1904 Battle of Vladivostok
British cruisers Aboukir and Cressy join Iwate, Yakumo, and Asama on a nighttime raid on Vladivostok. They are engaged by the Russian armoured cruisers Vityaz and Polkan, and protected cruisers Avrora and Nadezhda. Just as the Japanese are getting the upper hand, Cressy's commander - who claims at his court martial to have been signalled to do so by the Japanese flagship - abandons his station and charges head-first into the Russian destroyer escorts, making no attempt whatsoever to evade. Both British cruisers are torpedoed. Even worse, the blunder allows the Russian force to escape back to the safety of Vladivostok harbor with moderate damage - only the destroyer Lovki is lost. Although both British cruisers are able to stem the flooding at first, one of Aboukir's bulkheads gives way during the trip home, causing her to sink. The Japanese take off as many survivors as they can. The escape of the Russians is a missed opportunity; the loss of another cruiser is a stinging rebuke after the victory at Phusan.
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Post by desdinova on Jul 18, 2019 20:56:44 GMT -6
Russo-Japanese War, Part 3Action of 3/1/1904Japanese destroyers sink half a Russian convoy, and the destroyers Krepki and Molodetski. Oite is sunk after being hit by the protected cruiser Avrora, and Asakaze badly damaged. 3/11/1904 - Second Battle of VladivostokCruisers Iwate, Izumo, and Yakumo, supported by Izumi, Akitsushima, Matsushima, Hashidate, Chitose, and destroyers, engage a Russian cruiser squadron comprising armoured cruisers Vityaz and Polkan, and protected cruisers Avrora, Pallada, Boyarin, and Nadezhda. The Japanese have a crucial advantage not just in numbers but in weight of shell, as the newly-commissioned Russian armoured cruisers mount only 6" guns, while the Japanese have 8". The armoured cruiser battle is short and decisive; both Russian ships are disabled and left burning wrecks in turn, and torpedoed for good measure. But while that fight rages, the screening protected cruisers fight a duel of their own. Akitsushima and Chitose get the better of the 6600-ton Avrora, and set her superstructure aflame. The fire spreads rapidly, when it reaches the ready 6" shells stored on the deck. With the fire raging out of control, she is abandoned hours later. Protected cruiser Pallada, similarly, suffers damage from Hashidate, allowing the Japanese armoured cruisers to chase her down and finish her off. The protected cruisers Boyarin and Nadezhda, and the destroyers Bedovi and Boiki, are the only survivors of the Russian force. The Japanese lose Satsuki, when a 6" shell from Boyarin detonates her magazine, and Tachikaze, which sinks after striking a mine outside the harbor. Action of 4/20/1904Itsukushima, while on patrol duty, encounters and inflicts heavy damage on the 3,000-ton raider Pamyat Merkuriya, but she escapes into the night as Itsukushima is too slow to pursue. With Port Arthur secure, and a heavy blow dealt to the Russian cruiser force, Japanese troops are able to land on Sakhalin by May. 5/9/1904 The Battle of YaluAfter bombarding targets in Manchuria, Iwate, Yakumo, and Asama encounter the unfortunate protected cruisers Nadezhda and Boyarin. Both enemy cruisers are no match for the superior Japanese force, and too slow to escape. Both are destroyed; the Japanese force takes no appreciable damage. On the first of June, destroyer Kisaragi is torpedoed and sunk by a Russian submarine. 7/30/1904 Second Battle of Yalu
Armoured cruisers Iwate, Izumo, and Azuma, supported by the British cruiser Cressy, set sail to bombard land targets in Manchuria, only to find the Russian battleship Retvizan sculking nearby. Although Japanese cruiser captains had learned to respect Russian battleships with the loss of Tokiwa eight months earlier, Retvizan is completely unsupported and too tempting a target to pass up. The cruisers give chase, attacking from astern, while Cressy moves independently to envelop the battleship and control her course. Dozens of 8" shells smash into Retvizan's superstructure, setting it on fire. After almost five hours of punishment, Retvizan rolls over, taking her crew with her. Destroyer Kikuzuki sinks after the battle; Mikazuki is badly damaged. Despite taking a few 12" hits, the Japanese cruisers are only lightly damaged. The difference between the now battle-hardened Japanese crews and inexperienced Cressy is obvious in the results of their gunnery - Cressy scored only 6 hits out of 383 rounds fired, less than a third of the lowest Japanese cruiser's accuracy. After sinking Retvizan, the cruisers successfully complete their bombardment mission.
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Post by desdinova on Jul 18, 2019 21:27:17 GMT -6
The End of the Russo-Japanese WarThe Second Battle of Yalu turns out to be the final surface action of the war. The Russian Pacific Squadron has been reduced to a handful of destroyers; with Great Britain enforcing the blockade, no reinforcement is likely. Japan takes Sakhalin by the end of September. Russian unrest has grown, and the Tsar is now facing revolution and total collapse; in order to maintain the European status quo, Great Britain agrees to mediate a peace agreement. A ceasefire is signed in September 1904. Russia is forced to pay Japan significant reparations, including ceding the resource-rich Kamchatka Peninsula. Summary of Losses
The Imperial Japanese Navy suffered the loss of the armoured cruiser, Tokiwa, and five destroyers: Akikaz-eclass Tachikaze and Oite, and Kikuzuki-class Kikuzuki, Kisaragi, and Satsuki. Great Britain lost the armoured cruiser Aboukir in action in Asia, and the protected cruiser Pearl and destroyer Afridi in the European theater. Russian losses were far higher. Battleships Retvizan and Tri Svyatitelya were both sunk by Japanese cruisers. The Russian cruiser force was decimated: armoured cruisers Gromoboi, Vityaz, and Polkan were all sunk, as were the protected cruisers Pallada, Avrora, Nadezhda, Velikii Knyaz Konstantin, Vladimir, and Boyarin. 10 destroyers were also sunk. Impact of Trade and Submarine Warfare
As Russia spent most of the war under allied naval blockade, Japanese raiders had little impact on the war, sinking 25 merchant ships over the course of the war, 4 of which were sunk by Japanese submarines. 2 Japanese submarines were lost. The Takachiho-class cruisers spent the entire war on trade protection or raiding duty, claiming 21 Russian merchant ships. Russia was known to have operated 3-4 submarines over the course of the war. Russian raiders sunk 10 Japanese merchant ships, only 1 of which is known to have been sunk by a submarine. 1 Russian submarine was sunk by Japanese patrols. A Russian sub also sank the destroyer Kisaragi. Conclusion
Of the major actions fought by Japan and Russia, all but two involved superior numbers of Japanese (and British) cruisers against their Russian equivalents. Russian cruisers were more powerfully-armed, but the Japanese enjoyed a considerable training and experience advantage. Combined with quicker-firing guns, most Russian cruisers had their weapons disabled before they were able to inflict significant damage in return. The Japanese learned that battleships, operating alone, are vulnerable to armoured cruisers. While the value of a large armoured cruiser fleet was made clear, it also did not escape notice that the outcome might have been different without Great Britain's huge battleship force maintaining the blockade. Worldwide, Japan was now being recognized as a great naval power, having dealt defeat after defeat to a modern European nation with only nominal tactical assistance from Great Britain. Balance of Power, October 1904
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Post by desdinova on Jul 18, 2019 23:54:56 GMT -6
Rise of the DreadnoughtImmediately after the end of the war, the Japanese fleet entered an extended refit, reequipping with the latest British-designed fire control systems. Battleship Katori would commission in October 1905, and easily surpassed her design speed, reaching 20 knots sustained on trials. She was the largest battleship in the world at commissioning, and perhaps the best armed and protected as well. But Katori would have a short tenure as the world's most powerful warship. For some time, the major navies of the world had been aware that mixed-caliber gun batteries were inferior to uniform batteries: naval gunnery requires observing shell splashes to adjust fire and hit a target accurately, but 12" and 10" shell splashes are indestinguishable, but have different ballistics. A uniform battery greatly simplifies the gunnery problem. The name "Dreadnought" became attached to the concept through British Admiral Jackie Fisher, who, after being forced to retire early for reasons of ill health, became a tireless advocate for the concept. His hypothetical "HMS Dreadnought" used steam turbines to exceed 24 knots, sacrificing armor protection to maintain a uniform battery of twelve 12" guns. Although such a ship was not to be built, the name stuck with naval theorists, and, while the world's first dreadnought was not named Dreadnought, it became "a" dreadnought, as did all battleships after it, such was the popularity of the concept. Two months after Katori entered service, Japan laid down their first dreadnought. A second ship followed in May. Fuji and Satsuma would enjoy excellent protection compared to previous battleships, a uniform main battery of 10 12" guns in five triple turrets, and a 21-knot speed due to steam turbine propulsion. For defense against torpedo boats and destroyers, she would maintain a secondary battery of 20 4" guns on deck, behind gunshields. Aso and Kasuga commissioned early in 1906. They were fated to be Japan's last armoured cruisers. The Russo-Japanese War had taught the world the value of armoured cruisers, and so the trend continued to expand armoured cruisers in armament and displacement until a new ship type emerged. The first "Battlecruiser", HMS Invincible, launched in mid-1906, rendering all existing cruisers obsolete. Japan quietly cancelled its plan for another cruiser class, a 26-knot ship with a Fuso-style battery scaled down to 8" caliber. With every other country ceasing construction of new armoured cruisers, such a ship wouldn't have a mission for very long. July 1906 saw a dozen Tachikaze-class destroyers ordered, chiefly to replace combat losses: Tachikaze, Kisaragi, Oite, Satsuki, Akebono, Ayanami, AMagiri, Fubuki, Hatsuyuki, Miyuki, Isonami, Murakumo. Significantly faster than the preceding Kikuzuki-class, the design would end up slightly overweight. Japan's first battlecruiser, Tsukuba, was laid down in December 1907. By this time, it was apparent that the 12" gun would soon be obsolete for battleship use - Japanese intelligence knew of no new battleship armed with anything below a 13" gun. Thus, Japanese designers chose 14" guns, with only eight guns in four turrets, in order to preserve the ship's speed and protection. The turrets were mounted one fore, one aft, and two staggered wing turrets capable of firing across the ship's deck. A second ship, Tsukuba, would be laid down in July 1908, after Fuji's commissioning. In March 1908, Britain's HMS Centurion became the first dreadnought battleship. France's Massena followed two months later, making Fuji, commissioned in June, the third dreadnought in the world. Satsuma would be commissioned by November. Funds freed up by Satsuma's completion would be spent on six Oboro-class destroyers: Oboro, Sazanami, Shikinami, Sagiri, Shinonome, Shirakumo. Essentially an enlarged Tachikaze-class, they would be faster, with a heavier main armament, in the same layout. The increased displacement finally solved their predecessor's balance and weight issues, as well. A wave of violence in the Balkans caused tensions between Japan and Germany to spike in late 1908. Japan's security agreement with Great Britain expired in January 1909, but, as tension between Great Britain and Germany continued to grow, it was renegotiated two months later. Anglo-German tensions reached a critical point by April, causing Japan to fully mobilize and begin training for war once again.
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Post by desdinova on Jul 19, 2019 19:32:34 GMT -6
The Anglo-German War of 1909-1910In October 1909, Japan joined Great Britain in declaring war on the German Empire. The official British casus belli was a series of German provocations: support for British rivals in the tumultuous Balkans, and a series of serious espionage incidents. For Japan, it would be an opportunity to claim Germany's Asian possessions, with little risk, as Germany's battle fleet would be needed to prevent a total naval blockade by the grand fleet. Balance of Power, September 1909Japanese Order of BattleGerman Capital ShipsGerman Light ForcesBritish Capital ShipsBritish Light ForcesA * by the name denotes ship is under construction at the outbreak of war. Additionally, the Japanese operated 6 Asama Maru-class corvettes, and 8 submarines. The Germans had 9 corvettes, and 14 submarines. The British also operated 9 corvettes and 14 submarines at the start of the war. Japan's navy hadn't changed considerably since the Russo-Japanese war, except for the addition of dreadnoughts Fuji, Satsuma, semi-dreadnought Katori, and several improved destroyers. Japan's newest battleship, Iwami, and the Tsukuba-class battlecruisers, would enter service too late to see action. On paper, the German Navy actually exceeded the Royal Navy in strength in some areas. British ships would need to be spread across the globe to protect their overseas empire, giving Germany a stronger concentration of force in the Atlantic theater. Crucially, though, Germany possessed no dreadnoughts at the outbreak of hostilities. The British, meanwhile, had just commissioned their first two dreadnoughts and six battlecruisers, which were as of yet untested in actual combat.
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Post by desdinova on Jul 19, 2019 22:49:42 GMT -6
10/4/1909 - Battle of Kiautschou BayAs with the Russian Pacific Squadron five years earlier, Japan opened hostilities with a surprise attack on the enemy fleet at anchor. Unlike the attack on Port Arthur, however, the attack on the German far east squadron meets with immediate success, as Japanese destroyers score half a dozen torpedo hits on several ships. Behind the destroyer force, cruisers Kasuga and Iwate move in, firing upon damaged German ships and shore batteries. The battleships Fuji and Satsuma, with predreadnoughts Katori, Mikasa and Hizen behind them, move in once the enemy have dispersed. Cautious to avoid giving an enemy ship a torpedo solution, the Japanese capital ships position themselves to fire on the enemy from astern, and lay down a withering fire with their 12" main guns. When the carnage is ended, the German battleship Hessen is sunk, with Rheinland and Brandenburg sunk at their moorings with the protected cruiser Lubeck. While these ships will be salvaged, armoured cruisers Stettin, Friedrich Carl, Leipzig, and protected cruiser Arcona are all sunk, along with two German destroyers - Friedrich Carl and Stettin both having exploded spectacularly after torpedo hits detonated their magazines. Two more cruisers, Freya and Gazelle, are badly damaged. The Japanese suffer the loss of eight destroyers to German ship and shore batteries, and minor damage to their larger ships. With the German far east fleet virtually annihilated, and Kiautschou Bay swiftly falling into Japanese hands, the Japanese fleet departs for Europe, with allied British coaling stations enabling the voyage. Once on station, they will contribute to the blockade of Germany. Action of 3/17/1910Chitose, Matsushima evade armoured cruisers Stuttgart and Scharnhorst in Southeast Asian waters in order to sink a German supply convoy. 4/23/1910 - Battle of Gulf of DanzigHaving reached their station in the Atlantic, the Japanese begin enforcing a blockade of Germany. Raiding German shipping, Kasuga, Aso, and the cruiser HMS Essex encounter and sink the armoured cruiser Victoria Louise, corvette Delphin, a patrol boat, and a transport. Action of 5/6/1910
Hashidate, patrolling with light cruisers Brilliant and Pearl, pursues and sinks the German light cruiser Nymphe in the Baltic. End of the WarBy July, Germany's Kaiserin and Helgoland-class battleships have entered service, and their forces have been withdrawn to Europe in order to challenge the blockade. With Germany now roughly at parity with British and Japanese forces, the blockade is unmaintainable, and the British, their goal of humiliating the Kaiser accomplished, negotiate for a compromise peace. Japan, strongly prefering to continue the war and claim Germany's pacific colonies, strongly objects. Nevertheless, by the end of the month, a ceasefire is reached, with Japan retaining Kiautschou Bay. Summary of LossesGermany suffered tremendous losses to her cruiser fleet: armoured cruisers Victoria Louise, Hansa, Friedrich Carl, Leipzig, and Stettin being sunk, as was the predreadnought Hessen. Two protected cruisers were sunk: Nymphe and Arcona, as were two destroyers. The battleships Rheinland and Brandenburg, and the protected cruiser Lubeck, were refloated and returned to service. Japan lost four 500-ton Akikaze-class destroyers, Hokaze, Numakaze, Nokaze, and Okikaze, and four new 700-ton Tachikaze-class destroyers: Satsuki, Akebono, Hatsuyuki, and Murakumo. All eight were sunk in the raid on Kiautschou Bay. Trade WarfareJapanese submarines sank 5 enemy ships, with 2 submarines lost. German submarines sank 3, also with 2 lost. German raiders sank 6 Japanese merchant ships. ConclusionJapan's devastating victory over the German far east fleet showed not just the skill of Japanese sailors, but the maturity of the torpedo as a devastating anti-ship weapon. The brief night action was also the only time the new dreadnoughts saw combat; the quick end to the war prevented a larger confrontation in the Atlantic - fortunate for the crew of those ships, perhaps, but not for naval theorists and observers who will forever speculate how such a scenario would have played out.
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Post by desdinova on Jul 20, 2019 1:50:39 GMT -6
Immediately after the war with Germany ends, Tsukuba, Japan's first battlecruiser, is commissioned; Kurama, a few months later. The Japanese navy would not lay down another capital ship immediately afterward, recognizing that the nation's cruiser fleet was in dire need of modernization. No light cruiser had been commissioned since the last Izumi-class protected cruiser in 1901. Other nations had begun developing "light armoured cruisers" capable of 25 knot or greater speeds. Japan commissioned two designs for modern light cruisers in 1910: A 4,000-ton commerce protection -and raiding- cruiser, designed for extended voyages, and a larger, more powerfully-armed fleet cruiser. The former, the Suma-class, was intended to eventually replace the Takachiho-class cruisers. Relatively lightly armed, and slower than some of their contemporaries, they were optimized for extended steaming and not intended for fleet use. Six ships were laid down in early 1911: Suma, Kasagi, Niitaka, Tsushima, Otowa, and Yahagi. The Yoshino-class would replace the Izumi-class in the fleet scout and support role. They would mount their weaponry in an unusual arrangement: two 6" guns side-by-side on the foredeck, 2 on wing turrets, and 3 centerline turrets aft. This would give them the heaviest possible bow-on firepower, as well as a five-gun broadside. three were ordered initially: Yoshino, Akashi, and Takasago, with a further three in December 1912: Chikuma, Hirado, and Tenryu. At this time, Japan also began an ambitious submarine building program, reaching 65 boats in service by 1918, the most in the world. A dozen Hatsuyuki-class destroyers were ordered in 1912 as well: Hatsuyuki, Murakumo, Shirayuki, Uranami, Yugiri, Ushio, Usugumo, Inazuma, Akatsuki, Ikazuchi, Hibiki, and Hatsuharu. A dozen more would be ordered in March of 1913: Ariake, Hatsushimo, Wakaba, Nenohi, Yugure, Samidare, Harusame, Kawakaze, Murasame, Shigure, Umikaze, Shiratsuyu. Japan's first foray into naval aviation came at the same time, with several airship bases constructed throughout the empire. Additionally, with the new light cruisers slated to replace them in front-line service, the existing protected cruiser fleet began refitting to serve as minelayers. In March of 1913, the international community began pushing for a moratorium on dreadnought construction. Japan, having no capital ships under construction, participated in the talks. The eventual treay banned all battleship construction over 20,000 tons displacement, and limited new warships to a maximum caliber of 12" guns. The treaty was intended to last until 1921. As a result, Germany scrapped 4 battleships then under construction; Great Britain, 7; France 3; Russia 7; the USA 6; and Italy 6. Having no battleships under construction, the treaty was something of a strategic coup for Japan, as it had paused battleship construction to focus on the cruiser, destroyer, and submarine fleets. When Japan was ready to resume dreadnought construction, they were faced with the challenge of building a useful ship within the somewhat onerous design limitations. Japanese designers realized that they needed battlecruisers more than battleships; with a large number of 15"-gunned pre-treaty battlecruisers in existence, the ship had to be fast enough to disengage against a superior force. Their design became the Ikoma-class; while relatively unprotected, Ikoma and sister Hiei maintained a decent main battery of 9 12" guns in three triple turrets, and most importantly, achieved a design speed of 27 knots, all while ostensibly within the displacement limits. Additionally, they would be the first modern battlecruisers ever built completely in Japan. 1914 would have long-lasting repercussions for Japan. British politics had taken an anti-Japanese shift; the newly-elected prime minister was vocal in his belief that Japanese naval expansion was a threat to Britain's empire and European superiority, and that, given Japan's penchant for surprise attacks against western powers, could never be trusted. British espionage had also driven a wedge between the allies. In February, Great Britain revoked the alliance - by the end of the year, war with Great Britain was becoming a question of when, not if. In mid-1914, Germany commissioned its first armoured cruiser in nearly a decade: Hansa, a 17,000-ton, 29-knot cruiser with a uniform main battery of 8 8" guns. The treaty limit on battlecruiser size would make a battlecruiser that could catch such a ship impractical. This created a niche for such a vessel; it could destroy any light cruiser, and run from any battlecruiser. In order to explore the concept, Japan laid down two such vessels of its own design, Nisshin and Furutaka, in December 1914. In January 1915, work began on the Otomari Maru, Japan's first vessel dedicated to naval aviation. She would be able to operate with a fleet, launching and recovering five Kawanishi Keiun floatplanes. Japan's latest light cruiser design, Tone, was finalized in mid-1915. A single ship was laid down that August, but, a demand for more cruisers from the naval secretary in February 1917 led to ten more ships being ordered: Tama, Kuma, Tatsuta, Kitakami, Kiso, Isuzu, Nagara, Natori, Abukuma and Yura. Long delayed, only Tone and Tama would be completed, with the other incomplete ships being scrapped in mid-1919 after work had been suspended for an entire year. In November 1915, Great Britain annexed the island of Hainan. This greatly increased tensions that Japan's diplomats had been trying for months to attenuate; even after Japan assisted in rooting out rebels, the British seemed intent on fabricating a conflict with Japan. Hatsuse and her sister, Kongo, would be Japan's last treaty battlecruisers. They applied weight savings in machinery towards a modest increase in protection, but in most respects were quite similar to the Ikoma-class. Nisshin would be commissioned in March 1917 - Japan's first heavy cruiser. Fleet seaplane carrier Wakamiya was also laid down in mid-1917, the first dedicated seaplane carrier capable of operating with a battlecruiser fleet and providing reconaissance and modest strike capability. Unfortunately, this coincided with tensions between Japan and Great Britain reaching their highest level yet - war between the former allies now seemed imminent.
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Post by desdinova on Jul 20, 2019 18:33:45 GMT -6
1918: The German CrisisWhile a few months earlier, Japan had been fully mobilized, expecting imminent war with Great Britain, a new government is elected, whose foreign policy is decidedly less jingoistic than the last. Overtures are made towards Japan to reduce the level of tension, averting a war that could have been disastrous for both sides. But just as Japan considers returning to peacetime readiness levels, a crisis suddenly emerged between Japan and the German Empire. Germany was in the grips of tremendous social upheaval; her economy had never fully recovered from the British blockade of eight years earlier. The crash of the German economy led to socialist and anarchist agitation, and now the Kaiser was seeking a distant foreign scapegoat for Germany's woes; an external enemy would give the German people something to hate other than their own form of government. His ire settled on Japan, which had dealt the German Empire a humiliating defeat and seized their colonial possessions in China. In October, Germany declared war. With the Anglo-Japanese Alliance now rescinded, Japan would have to stand on her own. Japanese Capital ShipsJapanese Light ForcesGerman Capital ShipsGerman Light ForcesGermany had a massive advantage in battleships, with 19, including 17 dreadnoughts, against 3 dreadnoughts and 9 predreadnoughts. Germany also had a one third advantage in battlecruisers. Japan enjoyed a larger number of armoured cruisers of proven capability, but other than the Nisshin and Hansa-classes, all were well past their point of obsolescence. Japan's only hope in the event of a German blockade was that they had generally faster battleships, and three ships mounting 14" guns capable of outranging anything in the German fleet. A fleet action, would therefore be determined by whether the Japanese could maintain the range at which the Germans would not be able to return fire effectively. Germany and Japan had equal numbers of light cruisers, although Japan would be able to field larger numbers in home waters. Germany would have a crucial advantage in destroyers; the most modern 900-ton Hatsuyuki-class destroyers were inadequate against the large number of fast 1500-ton, 5- and 4-inch armed destroyers Germany had introduced. Japan had greater numbers, but less overall destroyer tonnage. Neither side would have appreciable naval aviation assets, with both sides having only a single seaplane tender in service, and most action taking place well away from land bases. Japan had one advantage; over the last several years, they had built the largest submarine force in the world. With 65 submarines, Japan could strangle German supplies to their Pacific bases, and sink German merchants over a large area. Germany had a mere 13 operational submarines, but did have 20 corvettes, escort ships, and minelayers, with 14 more being built. With war declared, the Japanese submarine force began interdicting German trade, stationing submarine tenders and resupply points as close as possible to European waters. In the first month, 17 merchants were sunk by Japanese submarines and surface raiders. Action of 1/2/1919The first surface action of the conflict was a raid on a German supply convoy by a pair of Japanese destroyers. Encountering a superior force of larger German destroyers, the Japanese aborted the attack. Ariake and the destroyer S33 were damaged. 1/26/1919 - Battle of Foki PointAncient German protected cruiser Medusa, and modern, 1500-ton destroyer G12 attempt to attack a Japanese supply convoy in the waters of Southeast Asia. The Japanese, however, are anticipating an attack from German heavy units, and the convoy is escorted by battlecruisers Ikoma, Kurama, and Hiei. The battle is extremely brief. Medusa takes 11 heavy shells and explodes; G12 is sunk immediately afterward. Action of 4/14/1919Japanese destroyers, while on convoy escort duty, are attacked by a force of 4 new, 1500-ton German destroyers. In the ensuing battle, V25, S34, and V26 are sunk, as are the Japanese Yugure, Samidare, and Ariake, 900-ton Hatsuyuki class destroyers of almost half the enemy's displacement. To the credit of the Japanese defense, the convoy takes no losses. The German RevolutionRather than unite the German Empire against a foreign enemy, the Kaiser's war only empowered the domestic opposition to the imperial regime. Japanese surface raiders and submarines contributed to German unrest, by inflicting further damage to Germany's feeble economy. In May 1919, less than 8 months from the outbreak of hostilities, the German government is overthrown, the Kaiser executed, and a new republic declared in its place. In reparation for Germany's agression, Japan is ceded all of Germany's former Pacific colonies, as well as Tanganyika in Africa, giving Japan a port on the Indian Ocean. LossesGermany lost a protected cruiser from the last century, four modern destroyers, and one corvette sunk by a Japanese sub; Japan lost three destroyers in fleet actions, and the new cruiser Nisshin and destroyer Sazanami to mines. Impact of Submarines and Trade WarfareJapan's submarine force made a crucial contribution to the war effort, sinking 76 German-flagged merchants, with surface raiders sinking a further 23. The economic damage inflicted was a major factor in stoking the fires of revolution. German submarines and raiders sank only 9. 8 Japanese submarines were lost, and 5 German u-boats. Japanese submarines also had a tactical impact; several German battleships were torpedoed, although not sunk, the submarine threat restricted German movements and prevented the German battlefleet from operating in Asian waters. ConclusionThe German Empire was undone by the Japanese submarine and raider fleet, although the cracks were already showing before the war. the Japanese fleet, while having little hope of winning a decisive surface action, only had to prevent a blockade of the home islands or a German invasion of Formosa, which were never attempted. The trade war was the first successful application of the "Jeune Ecole" school of naval warfare.
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Post by desdinova on Jul 21, 2019 11:44:38 GMT -6
A Long, Uneasy PeaceImmediately after the war, the Japanese Navy began another period of modernization. The obsolete Yashima-class pre-dreadnoughts were all scrapped, as were the Izumo-class cruisers Izumo and Azuma, Yakumo-class Yakumo and Iwate, and the armoured cruiser Asama. The battlefleet began rebuilding with modern fire control and increased elevation for the main guns. In January 1920, the large seaplane carrier Wakamiya was chosen to be stripped of armament and rebuilt as an experimental aircraft carrier; renamed Hosho, when recommissioned she would be the first aircraft carrier in the world. The Hatsuse-class commissioned in early 1920, and disappointingly, proved unable to reach their design speed. 3 Kitakami-class light cruisers were ordered in March 1920: Kitakami, Tatsuta, and Kiso. Three more would be ordered in December 1921 after the inital ships were delivered: Kuma, Kinu, and Takachiho. At the same time the Kitakami-class were ordered, the obsolete pre-dreadnoughts Fuso, Suwo and Katori, and the remaining Akikaze-class destroyers were decommissioned. The Hakaze-class destroyer was intended to serve as the new fleet destroyer, mounting a heavier gun and torpedo armament compared to the preceding Hatsuyuki class. Nevertheless, it was inferior to the larger destroyer types employed by Germany during the last war, and only six ships would be ordered: Hakaze, Minekaze, Namikaze, Shiokaze, Yakaze, Asakaze. Damage and losses inflicted by German mines led the Japanese to supplement their minesweeping forces: an order for Aniwa Maru-class minesweepers would grow to 16 ships. Two Hizen-class battleships were laid down in 1921: Hizen and Sagami. These would be Japan's first post-treaty 'superdreadnought' battleships, and as such would be much more powerfully armed and better protected than was possible under the previous treaty. They were also, unlike the preceding Hatsuse-class, fully oil fired. Additionally, while other great powers were still building distinct battleship and battlecruiser designs, the Hatsuses were true fast battleships. At the time of their design, this was to allow them to intercept the large numbers of rival battlecruisers in service, but this would also make them much more capable in the coming era of the aircraft carrier. Speaking of aircraft carriers, the Aso-class cruisers Aso and Kasuga were saved from the scrapyard in order to convert into light carriers. Although they would be slower than and carry less aircraft than Hosho, at the time, it was the fastest way for the Japanese to obtain a lead in carrier aviation. The 1920s would be a tense time in global history, with the economic depression and the ensuing rise of communism and fascism sweeping the globe. The Japanese corvette Dairen Maru was sunk in august 1921 on a training exercise by an unknown submarine; with no obvious culprit the Japanese ordered all unidentified submarines within their territorial waters attacked and sunk. With the Kitakami-class cruisers entering service, the long-obsolete Takachiho-class protected cruisers were all scrapped in December 1921. Tensions reached a critical point in late 1922 when the British attempted to annex Korea; Japan, which had long regarded Korea part of its own sphere of influence, led the international opposition to the move. The British backed down, but both countries were again driven close to open war. In May 1923, the Izumi-class protected cruisers were decommissioned. Matsushima, which had received seven battle stars for combat service, was selected for preservation as a museum ship. The Sawakaze-class destroyers, ordered 1923, were much faster and mounted the heaviest torpedo armament of any Japanese destroyer to date. A dozen would be built: Sawakaze, Shimakaze, Yukaze, Asanagi, Harukaze, Hatakaze, Ariake, Matsukaze, Kamikaze, Fumizuki, Sazanami, and Yunagi. An iteration of the Kitakami-class cruiser, the Naniwa-class of 1923, comprising Naniwa, Yaeyama, and Chishima, exceeded their design speed and were the first Japanese cruisers fitted with aircraft catapults. Japan laid down Two Mikasa-class battleships, Mikasa and Fuso, in 1923 and 1924, an iteration of the basic Hizen-class design with improved protection. Unfortunately, they would fail to reach their 28-knot design speed on trials, making them a knot slower than their predecessors. The elderly 21-knot dreadnoughts Fuji, Satsuma, and Iwami, do not survive the 1920s, and are scrapped as the more modern battlecruisers and fast battleships enter service. Tension remained high, and in May 1924, a communist coup overthrew the Russian Empire, instituting a new Soviet state. Italy and Great Britain formed a military alliance six months later, ostensibly to protect against communist expansion in Europe, but in reality, Great Britain was working to diplomatically isolate Japan, whose continued naval rearmament now posed a very real threat to their empire.
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Post by mycophobia on Jul 21, 2019 14:23:58 GMT -6
The imgur image for the forces on all sides does not seem to appear when I open the link, I don't know if its just something wrong on my ends. Also love the fact that latest ships are becoming more pagoda-y
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