DISGUISED BATTLESHIPS

 

So armored cruisers proved that under certain conditions can compete with battleships in open combat. However, until now experts in the history of naval fleets argue whether Japan is preferable to have instead a smaller number of these battleships. However, the decision taken in 1896, the actual ancestor of the modern Japanese Navy Yamamoto Combee, discussion could not be a decision that determined the establishment of a fully balanced squadrons. I must say that now seeming so far-sighted program is actually based on simple, sometimes even primitive views of the then Japanese naval leaders. Yamamoto believed that by analogy with the land army, where the action of the main Dila — infantry — support the scouts, artillery, cavalry, and sappers, the Navy also needs to be “pioneers”, “riders”, “gun” and “train”. The role of the “heavy cavalry” that can hit the enemy from the flank or chase the defeated enemy, meant just an armored cruiser. So this class quite unexpectedly became one of the priorities in the Japanese Navy.

 

It all started very modestly. The first armored cruiser of Japan does not look like a powerful fighting machine the line of battle moreover, his appearance in General is random. In 1887, somewhere between Singapore and Japan went missing distilled from French cruiser “Ancient”. A tragedy for the people (the ship disappeared with all hands) brightened up some kind of public benefit. The Japanese prudently insure your purchase for the full value, and money in the old honest times had paid to the last yen. They immediately ordered the replacement of “Ancient”. Instead of several podmazova its reputation of France as a supplier this time chose one of the British companies, “George. Brown.” On the “newbie” named “Chiyoda”, managed to introduce many important innovations. First of all, ten 120-mm astronomski rapid-fire guns; and six of them could fire on Board, providing an unprecedented cruisers of the early 90-ies of the barrage. It is worth noting that the “Chiyoda” could be more original, but much less useful. The fact that the Japanese admirals wanted to arm his two 320-mm guns-monsters (like “landscape”, “mausim”), it is Clear that problems when firing the weapon, the trunk of which would have hung over the side far beyond 10 meters (comparable with the full width of the hull!), would become insurmountable. Fortunately for the Emperor of Japan and his subjects, the mind at this time prevailed.

 

Another “highlight” of the project was the armor belt, unexpected on such a small ship. (The insurance money was only enough for the 2400-ton cruiser.) British designers managed almost the impossible: to protect the waterline pretty decent armor made from chromium steel for 61 meters. The cover Board was supplemented by armor deck with bevels thickness of 25 mm. In combination with a good separation of compartments was doing all this “Tiede” a unique ship — the smallest armored cruiser in the world. So unique that the experts of many countries, just in case, took it to the “conventionally armored”, just not believing that this baby may be solid to protect.

 

Of course, “miracles do not happen”, and the project was not without casualties. The main was the speed, though 19 knots seem to look pretty well for a year bookmark (1888), to facilitate mechanical installation “Tiede” set locomotive boilers, fragile and unreliable. The result — frequent breakdowns and problems for mechanics. While in 1898 they were replaced by became at that time almost classical Belleville boilers, the cruiser in the service rarely reached rated speed moreover, in the famous battle at Chemulpo he couldn’t keep up with even the Russian gunboats “Korean”, giving a total of 12 nodes.

 

Nevertheless, the “Chiyoda” participated in all major wars starting with the Sino-Japanese and ending with the First world. The first of its skorostrel played an important role in the battle at the mouth of the Yalu river. During the Russo-Japanese war in July 1904, the cruiser was blown up by Russian mine in the Gulf of Tahe, but it managed to be towed into port and repaired just in time for the Tsushima battle.

 

Very interesting and original in itself, a mini-armored cruiser, however, in 1896 did not suited as a prototype for the anticipated “heavy cavalry” as Minister of the Navy Yamamoto Combee. The Japanese are not just carefully look around the whole horizon shipbuilding, discovering in the end a source of inspiration at the other end of the world — in Chile, they presented the prototype of the modern armored cruisers — the famous “Esmeralda”.

 

 

Armored cruiser “Asama”, 1899

 

By the time the Chilean Navy, firmly linked his fate with sir Armstrong and his Elswick plant, made another progressive breakthrough. In 1894 launched at the shipyard in Alsviki went first armored cruiser of a new type, get all the same sacred name. The new “Esmeralda” was a 7000-ton ship with very sharp contours, allowing you to achieve maximum speed it is Clear that in almost 140-metre length (just slightly smaller than the British Champions “Powerful” and “Terrible”, which had twice the displacement) completely protect the hull armor was not possible. Moreover, the thickness of the side belts accepted claim — 6 inch geroevskoe steel. As a result, the belt was narrow, only 2.1 m. Backed by 25 mm armour deck, he, nevertheless, protect the machinery, boilers and cellars from 6-and 8-inch shells of the time. The “Esmeralda” was carrying guns of the same caliber, exposed throughout its long side a solid battery of ten guns, which could for a quarter of an hour pretty “iskopirati” any cruiser in the world.

 

Moreover, the Union of Chileans with the firm Armstrong didn’t stop there. “Esmeralda” is still passed acceptance testing, when in the distant Allspice the laying of the following armoured cruiser “O’higgins”. “Beginner” very little resemblance to its predecessor both in appearance and in the “stuffing”. Shorter (despite larger displacement) and slender in appearance, “Higgins” cost 80-meter zone is the 100-meter, but its thickness in the middle part was up to 178 mm. higher quality has become material: Nickel gurievskaya steel provided an extra 15% resistance But the main innovation was a fully armored main artillery stationed in the towers and the dungeons.

 

That Chilean handsome (and “O’higgins” with his well-proportioned body and three high chimneys really looked very harmoniously and for nearly half a century of service pleased the eyes of generations of sailors and idle observers) was the starting point for the “cloaked ships” of the Navy of the Mikado. Armstrong suggested the Japanese this successful project, but they tried to squeeze out of British experts even more1 as a result of intensive negotiations with finicky customers, Mr watts created a surprisingly strong and efficient ship. On the “Azzam” 203-mm gun was located in pairs in the bow and stern towers, as in the armadillos, and 152 of graph paper, the number of which has risen to 14, — in armored casemates Which is very important, above the main belt there was upper. Let a thin (127 mm) and short, he added extra protection against high explosive shells falling above the waterline, but close to it More thick (51 mm) steel and bevels the armored deck. In the end, the shell that hit the side of the engine or boiler compartment, had to penetrate 230mm of armor, which really brought the ship to protect the battleship in addition, the belt protected all waterline, from bow to stern, although the extremities were much more modest (89 mm).

Curiously, for such a modern, powerful and well-composed vehicle, Armstrong and watts kept the conservative and heavy cylindrical boilers. Complete repetition of “Assam” was “Tokiwa”, founded in the same Allspice after only a month and a half, in the first days of 1897. On that famous power plant dried up. However, not exhausted the desire of the Japanese to get their armored cruisers and as soon as possible. According to the plans of Yamamoto, their number was equal to 6, the same as it was supposed to be part of the combined fleet battleships (Hence the construction program has received the designation “6-6”.) The British were in a hurry as he could, and by March, 1898, when the “Asama” went to water, two months to vacate the slipway laid next cruiser to Japan “Izumo”. The past year has brought many technological innovations. It became clear that water-tube boilers of the Belleville very well behave on the service in different fleets, and they finally made their way and sir Armstrong. To “Izumo” boilers resulted in a saving of not less than 300 ton of mass and provide more comfort during operation – so raising steam is now spent three times less time. Externally, the novelty is manifested in the emergence of a third pipe, connected with increase in the number of boilers (they became exactly twice that of the old agnetron — 24) and boiler rooms. At the same time had to thoroughly reshape all the interior in the middle of the ship No less important novelty was Krupp armor, which provided a 15% increase in stability. The designers also removed the bow torpedo tube, significantly ataglance nose “Assam” (and he had the thickest armor cover). But the thickness of the armored deck on the bevel increased half an inch, bringing the protection of its owner to the ships of the line.

 

Soon a second slipway, freed from “Tokiwa”, took the fourth cruiser “Iwate” And re-bookmark the following pairs would have to wait about half a year, and become operational, they could only in 1903 That did not suit the Marine headquarters, and the Japanese advance had taken appropriate action. One cruiser was ordered in Germany and France. To preserve tactical unity of the future “six”, as part of the job is the customers proposed British project, however, is not forbidding the use of continental Europeans their construction techniques and technical solutions. In the Wake of the French “Azuma” and the German “Yakumo,” looked is that cousins. Mother only reduced to 12 the number of six-inch and not too good seakeeping. The Frenchman was also the least speed of all, developing on the testing of about 20 knots; the service he has “slowed down” squad Kamimura. “Yakumo” was better separation of the compartments and of increased vitality – in contrast to other fellows, he had a higher watertight bulkheads without holes in them (albeit covered with a special door). In this way, Japan has acquired in a short time a detachment of homogeneous units, but were able to see the shipbuilding features and traditions of almost all the leading Maritime powers.

 

 

 

Japanese “linear” armored cruiser has been very good ships well-protected and very well armed — in General, advanced and on the principle and execution. But not without some “antiquated techniques”. So, the supply of ammunition, arranged in the English sample, looked pretty primitive. A significant part of shells was stored in the towers (8-inch) and the casemates (6-inch), which created the risk of severe explosions, even being able to put the ship down when hit enemy shell. The charges to the six-inch was applied literally in bags, clings to a primitive Elevator, “engine” which served the sailors. However, this “primitivism” were caused not only and not so much by the desire to save weight and space, simplicity and reliability — that’s what attracted and British designers, and Japanese consumers.

 

While the engineers and the sailors have taken and mastered the new armored cruisers, naval theorists have searched them to good use. All six units became part of the 2nd combat brigade of the fleet. Together with the six battleships that were in the 1st squad, they had to reach the enemy column formation resembling the Latin letter L. the Horizontal and vertical sticks formed two units, and specifically did not specify who would carry out the coverage, battleships or cruisers is dependent on the specific situation. In fact, the “Asama Shrine” is really a steel battleship in the full sense of the word, However, which began in February 1904 the Russo-Japanese war check out these tactical build failed Unit cruisers, Vice-Admiral Kamimura had mostly to act separately on special assignment (e.g., “Asama” reinforced the detachment of rear Admiral Uriu blocked “Varyag” and “Korean” in Chemulpo). 6 Mar 1904 5 cruisers Kamimura (without the “Tokiwa”) boldly, but without much effect fired Vladivostok But their main task was the hunt for Russian cruisers stationed in this port. I must say, at first, it was conducted poorly. Our raiders managed to safely avoid a fight. However, during the attempted breakout of the 1st Pacific squadron from Port Arthur in early August, they had to come out to meet our ships, and Kamimura managed to cut them off from Vladivostok. Russian squad consisted of three cruisers against four Japanese (“Izumo”, “Azuma”, “Tokiwa” and “Iwate”). And older “Rurik” could not even leave because of the lack of speed. However, despite the significant outgunned, the Japanese managed to “catch”; “Russia” and “thunderbolt”, although significantly damaged, managed to escape after a 4.5-hour battle. Damage received and enemy. One of the shells “Rurik” struck the roof of a six-inch casemate guns on the “Iwate” and detonate “stored” in there shells. The explosion completely carried overboard armour plate, Board left a huge “niche”. 31 Japanese died on the spot (half of them gone), and another seven died of his wounds on the shore already in the hospital. In addition to this very successful during the war the getting our shell more or less damage was given and the rest of the cruisers.

 

After a rather dubious victory the Japanese admirals, there is some uncertainty about the military capabilities of their “fast battleships”. However, there was nowhere to retreat: after the death of Russian mines “Yashima” and “Hatsuse” in the Combined fleet remained only four of the battleship. And in the far East was 2nd Pacific squadron of Russia, composed of seven units of this class. And the 2nd combat squad Willy-nilly on the battlefield. I must say that Kamimura tried not to get too actively closer to the Russian column, and in the second part of the battle and is “lost” in the sea However, numerous rapid-fire artillery cruisers played a role: eight – and six-inch shells destroyed the add-affected people, caused numerous fires. Our ships responded, putting the cruiser Kamimura about 50 shells of large and medium caliber, and “Asama” the first of the Japanese ships had left the convoy nevertheless, “mini-battleships” to the end of the battle were in the ranks, and the next morning, “Iwate” and “Yakumo” sunk Russian coastal defense battleship “Admiral Ushakov”. As a result, the armored cruisers received their share of admiration and praise, and all the future shipbuilding program necessarily included the “fast branch” of linear forces.

 

Themselves “camouflaged battleships” of the first generation, albeit outdated in just a five-year period after the Russo-Japanese war, served long and well. In the First world war they were looking for in the vastness of the Pacific ocean, an elusive squadron of Admiral Spee, and after it made 55 (!) long voyages as training ships. In the early 1920-ies these battleships lost their 152-mm guns, located in the lower casemates, and the greater part 76-millimetrovogo (their ports were sealed with steel plates). Followed by more major upgrade. In 1922 — 1924 years “Tokiwa” transformed into a minelayer, capable of taking up to 300 min. “Izumo” managed quite actively to war in China: maintaining its troops in Shanghai, he was attacked by aircraft and torpedo boats of the enemy. And in a surprise attack on the allies on 8 December 1941, the ship heavy fire at point blank range and hurled to the bottom Kolodko their “parents”-the British “Petrel”. All six took part in the subsequent fighting of the Second world war, although mostly on the third cast. The most “advanced” was “Tokiwa”, on the deck which was installed 35 anti-aircraft guns of calibre of 25 — 76 mm. It got even such exotic, so that there is a unique 45-year-old armored cruiser radar and anti-submarine weapons, including depth charges. “Tokiwa” is actively put minefields until the end of the war. The Japanese are generally very carefully and with respect for his “Museum exhibits”. In mid-1942, “Izumo”, “Iwate” and “Yakumo” even back in the class of heavy cruisers, and two years later actually began their re-equipment, removing the 8 inch towers and installing anti-aircraft instead of 127-mm two-gun artillery systems At the end of the war five of the six cruisers sunk on small areas of their raids under American bombs, and only “Yakumo” was even after the surrender of Japan, carrying their soldiers home from the far Islands and from China. In the end, in 1946 — 1947, all of these in the past, formidable ships, and now venerable centenarians with disabilities has finished the race, raised only to be dismantled.