Armoured Cruisers: Tsukuba Class

[Brian James]

Lead Ship Armoured Cruiser IJNS Tsukuba pictured at Kiel c1909....On August 28th 1912, Tsukuba was re-classified as a Battlecruiser.
Construction of the Tsukuba-Class Cruisers was ordered under the June 1904 Emergency Fleet Replenishment Budget of the Russo-Japanese War, spurred on by the unexpected loss of the Battleships Yashima and Hatsuse to naval mines in the early stages of the war.These were the first major capital ships to be designed and constructed entirely by Japan in a Japanese Shipyard, albeit with imported weaponry and numerous components. However, Tsukuba was designed and completed in a very short time at Kure Naval Arsenal, and suffered from numerous technical and design problems, including strength of its hull, stability and mechanical failures.
The Tsukuba-Class design had a conventional Armored Cruiser hull design, powered by two vertical triple-expansion steam engines, with twenty Miyabara boilers, yielding 20,500 shp,design speed of 20.5 knots;and a range of 5,000 nautical miles at 14 knots. During speed trials in Hiroshima Bay prior to commissioning, Tsukuba attained a top speed of 21.75 knots.
In terms of armament, the Tsukuba-Class was one of the most heavily armed Cruisers of its time, with four 12-inch 41st Year Type guns as the main battery, mounted in twin gun turrets to the fore and aft, along the centerline of the vessel.Secondary armament consisted of twelve 6-inch guns and twelve 4.7-inch 41st Year Type guns, and four QF 3-pounder Hotchkiss guns.
On January 14th 1917, Tsukuba exploded while in port at Yokosuka. Some 200 crewmen were killed immediately, and over 100 more were drowned as the Cruiser sank in shallow waters within twenty minutes, with a total loss of 305 men. The force of the explosion broke windows in Kamakura, more than twelve kilometers away. At the time of the disaster, more than 400 crewmen were on shore leave, which is why so many survived. The cause of the explosion was later attributed to a fire in her ammunition magazine, possibility through spontaneous combustion from deterioration of the Shimose powder in her shells.
The masts, bridge and smokestacks of the vessel remained above water, and afterwards, her hulk was raised, and used as a target for naval aviation training. It was formally removed from the navy list on September 1st 1917 and broken up for scrap in 1918.

[Brian James]

Lead ship,of the two-ship Class Tsukuba Class of Armoured Cruisers.She was laid down on January 14th 1905, launched December 26th 1905 and commissioned on January 14th 1907 at Kure Naval Arsenal.On December 4th 1915,on January 14th 1917,Tsukuba exploded while in port at Yokosuka. Some 200 crewmen were killed immediately, and over 100 more were drowned as the Cruiser sank in shallow waters within twenty minutes, with a total loss of 305 men. The force of the explosion broke windows in Kamakura, more than twelve kilometers away. At the time of the disaster, more than 400 crewmen were on shore leave, which is why so many survived. The cause of the explosion was later attributed to a fire in her ammunition magazine, possibility through spontaneous combustion from deterioration of the Shimose powder in her shells.
The masts, bridge and smokestacks of the vessel remained above water, and afterwards, her hulk was raised, and used as a target for naval aviation training. It was formally removed from the navy list on September 1st1917 and broken up for scrap in 1918.

[designeraccd]

The IKOMA, a slow "battle cruiser" per the IJN, but really a heavily armed (4-12") armored cruiser.......... DFO

[Brian James]

Tsukuba Class Armoured Cruiser Ikoma pictured c1910.

[designeraccd]

A not usually seen view of IKOMA, hard on her port bow........ Note the RN battle cruisers (?) behind her. DFO

[Brian James]

Ship's Company inspection aboard Tsukuba Class Armoured Cruiser Ikoma in 1909.

[Brian James]

Tsukuba Class Armoured Cruiser Ikoma pictured at Yokosuka Naval Arsenal on October 13th 1908.

[Brian James]

Lead Ship, Armoured Cruiser Tsukuba pictured on sea trials in Hiroshima Bay on December 24th 1906.