Japanese cruiser Nisshin

Nisshin

Company type	Armored cruiser
Industry	Naval shipbuilding
Predecessor	San Rocco / Mariano Moreno (previous names)
Founded	1903
Headquarters	Sestri Ponente , Italy
Products	Warship (armored cruiser)

{{Infobox ship characteristics

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Header caption=

Ship class= Giuseppe Garibaldi-class armored cruiser

Ship displacement= 7,700 t (7,578 long tons)

Ship length=111.73 m (366 ft 7 in) (Length overall)

Ship beam=18.71 m (61 ft 5 in)

Ship draft=7.35 m (24 ft 1 in)

Ship depth=12.1 m (39 ft 8 in)

Ship power=*8 Scotch marine boilers 13,500 ihp (10,100 kW)

Ship propulsion=*2 Shafts; 2 triple-expansion steam engines

Ship speed=20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)

Ship range=5,500 nautical miles (10,200 km; 6,300 mi) at

Ship complement=600 personnel

Ship armament=*2 × twin 20.3 cm/45 Type 41 naval gun (8-inch) turrets 14 × single QF QF 6-inch naval gun mounts 10 × single QF QF 12-pounder 18 cwt naval gun (3-inch) guns 6 × single QF 3-pounder Hotchkiss (1.5-inch) guns 4 × torpedo tubes

Ship armor=*Belt armor: 70 - to 150 mm Deck: 20 - to 40 mm Barbette: 100 - to 150 mm Conning tower:

, occasionally spelled Nissin, was an armored cruiser of the Imperial Japanese Navy belonging to the Kasuga class, constructed during the early 1900s by Gio. Ansaldo & C. in Sestri Ponente, Italy. This vessel was part of the class known in Italy as the cruisers. Initially commissioned by the Regia Marina as San Rocco in 1901, she was sold a year later to the Argentine Navy, which renamed her Mariano Moreno amid the naval rivalry with Chile. However, easing tensions with Chile and fiscal constraints compelled Argentina to sell the ship prior to delivery. Amid escalating hostilities between Japan and Russia, the cruiser was offered to both nations before ultimately being acquired by Japan.

Throughout the Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905), Nisshin engaged in significant battles including the Battle of the Yellow Sea, sustaining damage during the decisive Battle of Tsushima. She also played an active role in shelling fortifications at Lüshunkou District, commonly known as Port Arthur. During World War I, her involvement was relatively limited, primarily escorting Allied convoys and searching for German commerce raiders across the Indian Ocean and Australasia regions. In 1918, she was deployed to the Mediterranean theater and later escorted German submarines surrendered to Japan from Britain after hostilities ceased. Converted into a training vessel in 1927, Nisshin was ultimately sunk as a target in 1936, subsequently salvaged, and once more utilized for target practice in early 1942.

Background

Nisshin was the final vessel constructed among the 10 cruisers of the Giuseppe Garibaldi class. The initial ship of this class was completed in 1895, and over time, the design experienced several enhancements that contributed to its notable success in foreign markets. The Royal Italian Navy placed orders for the last two ships on 23 December 1901, but these were subsequently sold in 1902 to the Argentine Navy. This sale was a reaction to Chile commissioning two second-class battleships from a British shipyard. Although conflict between Argentina and Chile seemed imminent, tensions eased before Nisshin was finished. Financial difficulties combined with diplomatic pressure from Britain compelled Argentina to relinquish both Mariano Moreno and its sister ship, Bernardino Rivadavia. Attempts by Argentina to sell these cruisers to Russia did not succeed due to disagreements over pricing. Ultimately, Japan acquired the ships at a premium cost of ¥14,937,390 (£1,530,000 for both), prompted by escalating tensions with Russia. Anticipating war, Japan postponed its surprise assault on Port Arthur that initiated the Russo-Japanese War until after these cruisers had departed Singapore, ensuring they would not be delayed or detained by neutral powers.

Design and description

Right elevation and deck layout of the Kasuga-class cruisers as featured in Brassey's Naval Annual 1906. Unlike Kasuga, Nisshin was equipped with a second twin 8-inch turret replacing the forward 10-inch turret.

The Nisshin measured an overall length of 111.73 meters (366 ft 7 in), with a beam spanning 18.71 meters (61 ft 5 in) and a molded depth of 12.1 meters (39 ft 8 in). Her draft reached 7.35 meters (24 ft 1 in) when fully loaded. At normal load conditions, she displaced approximately 7,700 metric tons (7,600 long tons). Propulsion was provided by two vertical triple-expansion steam engines, each connected to its own shaft and powered by steam generated from eight coal-burning Scotch marine boilers. Designed to deliver up to 13,500 indicated horsepower (10,100 kW), Nisshin marginally surpassed expectations during sea trials on 6 November 1903, achieving a speed of 20.15 knots (37.32 km/h; 23.19 mph) while producing 14,896 indicated horsepower (11,108 kW). The cruiser could cover about 5,500 nautical miles (10,200 km; 6,300 mi) at an economical speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). Her crew complement consisted of 560 officers and enlisted personnel.

The main artillery armament included four 8-inch Type 41 guns arranged in twin turrets located at the fore and aft sections of the superstructure. For secondary firepower, ten quick-firing 6-inch Type 41 guns were positioned in casemates amidships on the main deck, while an additional four were installed on the upper deck. To counter torpedo boat threats, she carried ten quick-firing 3-inch Type 41 guns alongside six quick-firing 3-pounder Hotchkiss guns. Offensive capabilities were further enhanced by four submerged torpedo tubes measuring 18 inches in diameter, with two tubes situated on each side.

Protection-wise, her waterline armor belt reached a maximum thickness of 150 millimeters (5.9 in) amidships, tapering down to 70 millimeters (2.8 in) near the bow and stern. This belt extended between the main gun barbettes along the full length of the ship’s side up to the upper deck level. Transverse bulkheads measuring 120 millimetres (4.7 in) closed off the ends of this central armored citadel. Critical areas such as the forward barbette, conning tower, and gun turrets were shielded by armor plates up to 150 millimeters thick; however, the aft barbette had slightly lighter protection at 100 millimeters (3.9 in). Deck armor thickness varied between 20 and 40 millimeters, while six-inch guns mounted on the upper deck benefited from additional gun shields for enhanced defense.

Construction and career

The ship's keel was laid on 29 March 1902, initially bearing the provisional name San Roca. She was launched on 9 February 1903 and subsequently renamed Mariano Moreno by Argentine authorities. The vessel was sold to Japan on 30 December 1903 and received the new name Nisshin on 1 January 1904. Alongside her sister ship, renamed Kasuga, Nisshin was officially handed over to Japan and commissioned on 7 January. Both ships set sail from Genoa on 9 January under British captains, crewed by British sailors and Italian stokers. Five days later, at Port Said, Egypt, they encountered the Russian protected cruiser Aurora and proceeded to Suez on the 16th, escorted by the British armored cruiser King Alfred. Their journey continued until arriving in Singapore on 2 February, where their progress was briefly impeded by a strike involving laborers.

Russo-Japanese War

A postcard of Nisshin, early 1904

Nisshin and Kasuga arrived at Yokosuka on 16 February, coinciding with Japan's surprise offensive against Port Arthur. The ships began training with Japanese crews shortly thereafter. On 11 April, both cruisers were assigned to support the battleships of the 1st Division within the 1st Fleet, commanded by Admiral Tōgō Heihachirō. To hinder Russian naval movements within Port Arthur, Tōgō ordered a minefield to be installed at the harbor entrance on 12 April, deploying Kasuga and Nisshin as visible displays of force. This tactic successfully lured part of the Russian Pacific Squadron out, including Rear Admiral Stepan Makarov's flagship, the battleship Petropavlovsk. Upon sighting five Japanese battleships along with Kasuga and Nisshin, Makarov retreated toward Port Arthur but inadvertently entered the freshly laid minefield. The flagship sank rapidly following a magazine explosion, resulting in the loss of Makarov and 676 crew members. Additionally, the battleship Pobeda sustained mine damage. Encouraged by this outcome, Tōgō resumed long-distance bombardments utilizing the extensive range of Nisshin and Kasuga's artillery to shell Port Arthur from Pigeon Bay on the southwest side of the Liaodong Peninsula at approximately 9.5 kilometers (5.9 mi) on 15 April. Despite this advantage, Russian forces retaliated; notably, the battleship Peresvet struck Nisshin that same day. By early May, the sisters engaged targets at ranges up to 18 kilometers (11 mi), though with limited success.

Following the loss of the battleships Yashima and Hatsuse to Russian mines on 15 May, Tōgō incorporated Nisshin and Kasuga into his battle line alongside his remaining four battleships. This formation first faced action on 23 June when the Pacific Squadron attempted to sortie toward Vladivostok. However, their commander Rear Admiral Wilgelm Vitgeft ordered a retreat upon encountering Tōgō's fleet—including both cruisers—just before dusk, avoiding engagement against a numerically superior force during nighttime. On 27 July, long-range fire from Nisshin and Kasuga compelled a Russian contingent of one battleship accompanied by several cruisers and gunboats to withdraw back to port after they had ventured out to provide artillery support for ground troops.

During the Battle of the Yellow Sea on 10 August, these cruisers played a secondary role positioned near the rear of Japan’s battle line. When Tōgō temporarily reversed course during combat, Nisshin advanced to lead but sustained three hits resulting in fourteen fatalities and twenty-five injuries among her crew. Afterward, both cruisers returned to Pigeon Bay to continue bombarding Russian defensive positions.

At the decisive Battle of Tsushima on 26 May 1905, Nisshin served as flagship for Vice-Admiral Misu Sotarō, positioned sixth and last in line behind her sister ship Kasuga. Around 14:10 hours, she opened fire on the lead vessel in the Russian second column, Oslyabya, from approximately 7,000 yards (6,400 m) distance. At about 14:40, a Russian twelve-inch shell struck and severed her forward right eight-inch gun turret. During a fleet maneuver between 14:57 and 15:05 intended to block Russian northbound movement—placing Nisshin at the front again—she suffered another twelve-inch shell hit below her waterline armor belt flooding a coal bunker; a second twelve-inch shell hit above waterline but failed to penetrate. At approximately 15:06, when the Russian protected cruiser Zhemchug attempted a torpedo assault at close range (~3,300 yards (3,000 m)), it was repelled by concentrated fire from Nisshin, Kasuga, and armored cruiser Iwate. By 15:30 hours another course reversal returned Nisshin to last position in line; she endured an additional twelve-inch hit without critical damage shortly thereafter. At around 16:05 a nine-inch shell struck her forward turret causing splinter wounds to Vice-Admiral Misu in the conning tower. Later hits at approximately 17:20 severed her aft turret’s left eight-inch gun barrel while another twelve-inch shell at dusk disabled her forward left eight-inch gun barrel leaving just one operational gun. The following morning near the Liancourt Rocks, Japanese forces found remaining Russian vessels; Admiral Tōgō engaged them around 10:00 with overwhelming superiority opting for long-range fire which led to their surrender after Kasuga targeted the outdated Imperator Nikolai I at about .

The forward turret and superstructure following Tsushima

Throughout this battle, Nisshin discharged approximately 181 eight-inch shells while sustaining thirteen hits herself—the second highest after Tōgō’s flagship Mikasa, which received over forty strikes. Among these were six twelve-inch shells, one nine-inch shell, two six-inch shells plus four unidentified hits. During combat operations aboard was Ensign Isoroku Yamamoto, later Commander-in-Chief of Japan’s Combined Fleet during World War II; he suffered severe injuries including loss of two fingers on his left hand.

Following Tsushima, Nisshin joined the 3rd Fleet for operations involving Sakhalin’s invasion and occupation between July and August. On September 2nd, 1911 she escorted ex-Russian hospital ship Anegawa back to Vladivostok for repatriation. In November of 1912 a boiler explosion aboard resulted in twenty fatalities among crew members. Early in 1914 she underwent modernization where her boilers were replaced with twelve new Imperial Japanese Navy Kampon Type 1 water-tube boilers.

World War I and Later Developments

In mid-September 1914, the British Admiralty requested additional Japanese naval forces in the South Pacific to counter the German East Asia Squadron and other raiders disrupting commerce. Consequently, the cruiser was dispatched southward. On 12 October, Nisshin collided with an uncharted rock near Sandakan, necessitating repairs at Singapore. Once restored, she joined the Second South Seas Squadron, which was stationed at Truk. By February 1915, the vessel had visited the occupied territories of German Samoa and German New Guinea. From 13 December 1915 to 13 May 1916 and again between 12 September and 1 December 1916, Nisshin acted as flagship of Destroyer Squadron (Suiraisentai) 1, later serving as flagship of Suiraisentai 2 from 28 March to 13 April 1917. Following the March 1917 operation of the German commerce raider SMS Wolf in the Indian Ocean, the Admiralty urged Japan to bolster its naval presence both there and off Australian waters. Responding to this call, Nisshin was deployed southward to escort Allied merchant vessels between Colombo, Ceylon and Fremantle, Australia during April and May.

Nisshin anchored at Port Said, Egypt, on 27 October 1917

In 1918, Nisshin was assigned to the Mediterranean theater to strengthen the Second Special Mission Squadron's efforts in escorting Allied troop convoys across the sea. In November of that year, she became flagship for Rear Admiral Kōzō Satō, commander of the squadron. The majority of the squadron proceeded to Constantinople, arriving there on 6 December. Subsequently, the ship voyaged to Portland to escort surrendered German submarines allocated to Japan back to their homeland. The squadron reached Portland on 5 January 1919 and departed for Malta at March's end. After conducting refits on several submarines there, they arrived at Yokosuka on 18 June.

During a refit in 1924, two of her original three-inch/40 caliber guns were removed along with all QF 3-pounder Hotchkiss guns; instead, a single 8 cm/40 third Year Type anti-aircraft gun was installed. By 1927, Nisshin had transitioned into a training ship and depot vessel stationed at Yokosuka Naval District until she was officially removed from the naval register on 1 April 1935. Renamed Hai-Kan No. 6, she was later sunk as a target during live-fire drills at Kamegakubi Naval Proving Ground near Kure in the Inland Sea in 1936. Her remains were subsequently salvaged and on 18 January 1942 were towed by the battleship Mutsu to serve as a target for Yamato, which fired her new 18.1-inch guns off Kurahashi, Hiroshima. During this exercise, the hulk was sunk once more for its final disposition.

References

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