Japanese cruiser Takasago

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Ship type=Protected cruiser

Ship displacement=4,160 long tons (4,227 t)

Ship length=118.2 m (387 ft 10 in) (waterline)

Ship beam=14.78 m (48 ft 6 in)

Ship draft=5.18 m (17.0 ft)

Ship propulsion=12 boilers powering 2-shaft VTE engines; 15,500 hp (11,600 kW); coal capacity 1,000 tons

Ship speed=23.5 knots (27.0 mph; 43.5 km/h)

Ship range=

Ship complement= 425 personnel

Ship armament=*2 × 20.3 cm/45 Type 41 naval gun 10 × 12 cm (4.7 in)/40 Type 41 naval guns 12 × QF 12 pounder 12 cwt naval guns 6 × QF 3-pounder Hotchkiss guns 5 × 457 millimetres (18.0 in) torpedo tubes

Ship armor=*Deck: 114 millimetres (4.5 in) (sloped), 63 millimetres (2.5 in) (flat) Gun shields: 203 millimetres (8.0 in) (front), 62 millimetres (2.4 in) (side) Conning tower: 114 millimetres (4.5 in)

|} 'Takasago' (高砂, meaning "High Sand", an old Japanese term for Formosa) was a protected cruiser serving in the Imperial Japanese Navy, constructed by the Armstrong Whitworth shipyard located in Elswick, Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom. The vessel’s name originates from a place within Hyōgo Prefecture, close to Kobe.

Background

'Takasago' as illustrated in Brassey's Naval Annual 1902

'Takasago's' primary armament: 8-inch guns

The design of Takasago represented an advancement over the cruiser Veinticinco de Mayo, built for the Argentine Navy, both conceived by naval architect Sir Philip Watts. Watts was also responsible for designing the cruiser Izumi and the class of ships including the Naniwa-class cruiser vessels. The Chacabuco of the Chilean Navy was a sister ship to Takasago. Additionally, the Japanese cruiser Yoshino is sometimes considered akin to a sister ship due to comparable design features, armament, and velocity, though they belonged to distinct classes.

Construction commenced with the keel being laid in April 1896 under Elswick hull number 660, developed as a private project by Armstrong Whitworth. The vessel was purchased by Japan in July of that year. Launching took place on 18 May 1897, and completion was achieved by early April 1898.

Design

Takasago featured a conventional Elswick cruiser blueprint, characterized by a steel hull segmented into 109 watertight compartments, a low-profile forecastle, dual smokestacks, and two masts. The vessel incorporated Harvey armor, designed to withstand hits from armor-piercing shells up to 8 inches in caliber. Its prow was specially fortified to enable ramming maneuvers. The propulsion system consisted of a triple-expansion reciprocating steam engine powered by four cylindrical boilers, which drove two propellers. In this respect, the design closely mirrored that of Yoshino, although Takasago carried a heavier armament load.

The principal weaponry of Takasago comprised two separate 20.3 cm/45 Type 41 naval guns housed behind gun shields, positioned at the bow and stern. The secondary battery included ten Elswick-manufactured QF 6 inch /40 naval gun quick-firing guns installed within casemates and sponsons near the bridge area. Additional armaments featured twelve QF 12-pounder 12 cwt naval guns, six QF 3-pounder Hotchkiss guns, and five 457 mm (18 in) torpedo tubes.

Service record

Takasago’s initial overseas mission occurred in 1900 when she supported Japanese naval landing forces occupying the northern Chinese port of Tianjin during the Boxer Rebellion, contributing to Japan’s role within the Eight-Nation Alliance.

On 7 April 1902, Takasago and Asama embarked on a voyage covering approximately 24,718 nautical miles (45,778 km; 28,445 mi) en route to the United Kingdom. This journey was undertaken as part of Japan’s official delegation attending the coronation ceremonies of King Edward VII and commemorating the Anglo-Japanese Alliance. Following participation in a naval review at Spithead on 16 August 1902 (postponed from its original dates of 24 to 27 June), both cruisers called at numerous European and Asian ports including Singapore, Colombo, Suez, Malta, and Lisbon outbound; as well as Antwerp, Cork, and Cardiff during their stay; before returning via stops at Gibraltar, Naples, Aden, Colombo, Singapore, Bangkok, and Hong Kong. They safely arrived back in Japan on 28 November 1902.

Russo-Japanese War

At the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905), Takasago took part in bombarding the naval base at Port Arthur on the morning following a surprise attack by Japanese destroyers against the Russian fleet during the initial phase of the naval Battle of Port Arthur. Serving as flagship for Admiral Dewa Shigeto, she contributed to an assault that ignited fires across parts of the town and inflicted damage on several Russian vessels, notably the cruisers Novik, Diana, Askold, and the battleship Petropavlovsk.

During the subsequent blockade confining the Russian fleet within Port Arthur harbor, Takasago captured the merchant vessel Manchuria belonging to the Russian Far East Shipping Company. This ship was incorporated into Japanese service as a prize under the new name Kantō Maru.

On 10 March 1904, Takasago engaged in an offensive against the Russian cruiser Bayan. Later, on 15 May, she assisted in rescuing survivors from the battleships Yashima and Hatsuse, both victims of naval mines. Additionally, she participated in the Battle of the Yellow Sea on 10 August.

After undergoing repairs in Japan during October 1904, Takasago returned to operational duty. On the night of 13 December 1904, while providing cover for a destroyer squadron following a reconnaissance mission, she struck a naval mine approximately 37 nautical miles (69 km; 43 mi) south of Port Arthur. The explosion detonated her ammunition magazine, causing uncontrollable flooding. Due to severe weather conditions including blizzard and rough seas at night, lifeboats could not be launched effectively. The cruiser sank at coordinates 38°10′N 121°15′E, resulting in the loss of 273 officers and crew members. The accompanying cruiser Otowa rescued some 162 survivors. Notably, Takasago was the final major Japanese warship lost during this conflict. The mine responsible for her sinking was reportedly laid by future Russian Admiral Aleksandr Kolchak, then serving as a minesweeper captain with the Russian Pacific Squadron at Port Arthur; he received both the prestigious Order of St Anna and the Sword of St George for this action.

Gallery

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  Docked at Portsmouth
• 
  Located in Portsmouth
• 
  Stationed in Taiwan
• 
  Photograph from 1896

References

• Brooke, Peter (1999). Warships for Export: Armstrong Warships 1867-1927. Gravesend, UK: World Ship Society. ISBN 0-905617-89-4.
• Chesneau, Roger (1979). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-133-5.
• Connaughton, Richard (2003). Rising Sun and Tumbling Bear. Cassell. ISBN 0-304-36657-9.
• Evans, David C. & Peattie, Mark R. (1997). Kaigun: Strategy, Tactics, and Technology in the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1887-1941. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-192-7.
• Jentschura, Hansgeorg; Jung, Dieter & Mickel, Peter (1977). Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869–1945. Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute. ISBN 978-0-87021-893-4.
• Milanovich, Kathrin (2023). "Takasago, Kasagi and Chitose: The IJN's First 8in-Gun Protected Cruisers". In Jordan, John (ed.). Warship 2023. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. pp. 65–80. ISBN 978-1-4728-5713-2.
• Roberts, John (ed). (1983). 'Warships of the world from 1860 to 1905 - Volume 2: United States, Japan and Russia. Bernard & Graefe Verlag, Koblenz. ISBN 3-7637-5403-2.
• Schencking, J. Charles (2005). Making Waves: Politics, Propaganda, And The Emergence Of The Imperial Japanese Navy, 1868-1922. Stanford University Press. ISBN 0-8047-4977-9.
• Willmont, H. P. (2009). The Last Century of Sea Power: From Port Arthur to Chanak, 1894-1922. Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0-253-35214-9.
• Kusnezov, Nikita (2011). Reeds in the Wind. Createspace. ISBN 978-1-4565-5309-8.