Japanese cruiser Naniwa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 The cruiser Naniwa |
|
| Career |  |
|---|---|
| Built: | Armstrong Whitworth, Great Britain |
| Ordered: | 1883 fiscal year |
| Laid down | March 27 1884 |
| Launched: | March 18 1885 |
| Completed: | December 1 1885 |
| Fate: | Grounded August 5 1912 |
| General Characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 3,650 tons |
| Length: | 91.4 m |
| Beam: | 14 m |
| Draught: | 6.1 m |
| Propulsion: | 3-shaft reciprocating; 7,000 HP |
| Speed: | 18.5 knots |
| Fuel: | Coal 350 tons |
| Complement: | 325 |
| Armament: |
|
| Armor: |
|
The Naniwa (浪速) was the first protected cruiser built specifically for the Imperial Japanese Navy. It was built in the Armstrong Whitworth shipyard in Great Britain. The name Naniwa comes from an ancient province of Japan, now part of Osaka-fu.
The Japanese naval architect Sasō Sachū based its design on that of the earlier Esmeralda-class (i.e. the IJN Izumi), and the British [[Elswick class]] but with superior specifications. When completed, the Naniwa was considered the most advanced and most powerful cruiser in the world.
She had a sister ship, the Takachiho. The two together cost £546,980. Admiral Seki attended the launch, and the dinner in the County Hotel with William Armstrong, Prince Yamashine, Mr J. Hayi (naval constructor) Mr Miyabara (senior engineer). Lord Armstrong said that "the ship was destined to the service of a country which was likely never to come into collision with our own peace-loving country". A Major S.T. Bridgford received £4,000 commission on the sale of the two cruisers and was then appointed as the agent for Armstrong in Japan.
Prior to the start of First Sino-Japanese War, and under the command of Captain (later Admiral) Togo Heihachiro, the Naniwa sank the British transport ship Kowshing, which was working for the Imperial Chinese Navy ferrying hundreds of Chinese soldiers towards Korea. The sinking almost caused a diplomatic incident between Japan and Great Britain, but it was recognized by British jurists as being in conformity with International Law. The Naniwa later was in combat during the critical Battle of Yalu River (1894).
The Naniwa was re-designated a 2nd-class cruiser on 21 March 1898. During the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, it participated in the Battle of Chemulpo Bay, and was subsequently assigned to the Fourth Division of the Combined Fleet, where it served as the flagship for Rear Admiral Uryu Sotokichi.
After the war, the Naniwa was assigned to patrol of the northern sea lanes. On 26 July 1910, the Naniwa ran aground on the coast of Urup, in the Kurile Islands, and sank [46.30N, 150.10E].
[edit] References
- Marie Conte-Helm (1989). Japan and the North East of England. The Athlone Press. ISBN 0-485-11367-8.
[edit] External link
Imperial Japanese Navy  |
||||||||||||
| Major battles | List of ships | List of aircraft | List of weapons | Main admirals | ||||||||
