WW2 Japanese Battleships 12 battleships. Introduction: IJN Battleships, from British to Japanese design: IJN Satsuma, one of the last IJN pre-dreadnoughts. As the other ships of her class she was discarded in 1923. When Japan entered war in December 1941 on the side of the axis, its land forces, aviation and navy were already fighting … Read more
Japan, 1919-45. 34 Aircraft Carriers The third giant of carriers: In December 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) possessed the second largest carrier fleet worldwide, with 9 of these in service, IJN Hosho, Kaga, Akagi, Hiryu, Soryu, Ryujo, Shokaku, Zuikaku, and Zuiho. This represented 212 330 tonnes. It must be compared to the Royal Navy’s … Read more
Japan, 1919. Kuma, Tama, Kitakami, Oi, Kiso The five cruisers of the Kuma class were first planned in 1916, but entered into service after WW1, the last one in 1921. Enlarged versions of the Tenryu, they had three more main guns, were more powerful and faster, but only for an increased displacement of 1500 tons, … Read more
Nagato, Mutsu. The last IJN dreadnoughts: The Nagato and Mutsu (長門型戦艦, Nagato-gata senkan) were the first and at the same time of their kind. Built as dreadnoughts, the fourth Imperial Japanese Navy class, they were also the fastest, largest, and best armed, so far, and represented a new generation illustrated by the “6-6 plan”. They … Read more
IJN Yūbari (1923) Japanese light cruiser, 1923 An innovative light cruiser: Hiraga’s IJN Yūbari Yubari in 1923, Sasebo IJN Yūbari (夕張) was not only the very first IJN post-WW1 design, but it was an experimental light cruiser whose idea dated back from 1917 and started in 1922, and when she was completed in 1923 for … Read more
WW2 Japanese Submarines IJN – About 85 submarines. Introduction: Ideas but wasted opportunities Just like aircraft carriers later, Japan was not shy about new technologies back in the 1910s and already saw the development of submarines as an opportunity. During the interwar, Japanese engineers stepped away from the popular Holland design and learnt from their … Read more
Heavy Cruisers built 1922-26: IJN Furutaka, Kako The First Japanese “washington” cruisers: The two heavy cruisers of the Furutaka class were the first cruisers built at home for the Imperial Japanese Navy after the Washington Treaty. They were characterized by of a continuous deck with recesses in order to simplify construction, save weight and favour … Read more
Imperial Japanese Navy IJN Ise, Hyūga 1915-1945. From super-dreadnoughts to hybrid battleships: Ise and Hyūga were two fast dreadnoughts built by capitalizing from the experience gained with the two Fuso, the first battleships built and designed in Japan, although still with under strong influence of British engineering. They were launched in 1916 and 1917 and … Read more
Fuso class battleships (1915) Japan, 1915. Fuso, Yamashiro. The first Japanese-designed super-dreadnought: These powerful dreadnoughts were far-off derivatives of the HMS Dreadnought in 1906. Their plans had been designed in Japan for the first time, and thus didn’t have many changes made to their design based on combat experience as the nation had not participated … Read more
About 80 destroyers 1919-1945 Imperial Japanese Navy Destroyer’s complete overview Japanese destroyers acquired a fearsome reputation during WW2, contrary to WWI where they mostly completely forgotten, if not for their brief action in the Mediterranean, and deeds during the Port Arthur attack in 1905. This reputation is due to several factors, but cannot brush over … Read more
