Japanese cruiser Tsukuba
Encyclopedia
was the lead ship
of the two-ship Tsukuba-class
of armoured cruisers in the Imperial Japanese Navy
. Tsukuba was named after Mount Tsukuba
located in Ibaraki prefecture
north of Tokyo
. On 1912-08-28, Kurama and its sister ship
Ikoma
were re-classified as battlecruiser
s by the Japanese navy.
, construction progressed at a rapid pace, and contemporary American military observers were surprised (and concerned) that Japan had learned to build such large and powerful warships so quickly, and in such a short time. However, with rapid advances in naval technology and with increasing budget constraints on the Imperial Japanese Navy in the period immediately after the end of the Russo-Japanese War, the project was scaled back, and in the end, only Tsukuba and Ikoma were built.
in 1907, and with Admiral Goro Ijuin on board, Tsukuba was sent on a voyage to the United States
to attend the Jamestown Exposition
of 1907, the tricentennial celebrations marking the founding of the Jamestown Colony
. It then traveled on to Portsmouth
, England
and returned to Japan via the Indian Ocean
, thus circumnavigating the globe.
After its return to Japan, Tsukuba was assigned to the escort fleet during the visit of the United States Navy
’s Great White Fleet
through Japanese waters on its around-the-world voyage in October 1908.
Tsukuba participated in numerous missions in World War I
in the South Pacific
and Indian Ocean
as part of Japan's contribution to the Allied war effort under the Anglo-Japanese Alliance
, protecting the sea lane
s from German raiders. Tsukuba was also at the Battle of Tsingtao
.
On 1915-12-04, Tsukuba was in an Imperial Navy Fleet Review off of Yokohama
, attended by Emperor Taishō
in which 124 ships participated; a similar Navy Fleet Review was held again off Yokohama on 1916-10-25.
On 1917-01-14, Tsukuba exploded while in port at Yokosuka
, and sank with a loss of 305 men. The cause was later attributed to a fire in its ammunition magazine
.
Afterwards, the hulk was raised, as used as a target for naval aviation
training. It was formally removed from the navy list on 1917-09-01 and broken up in 1918.
Lead ship
The lead ship or class leader is the first of a series or class of ships all constructed according to the same general design. The term is applicable military ships and larger civilian craft.-Overview:...
of the two-ship Tsukuba-class
Tsukuba class cruiser
-External links:*...
of armoured cruisers in the Imperial Japanese Navy
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
. Tsukuba was named after Mount Tsukuba
Mount Tsukuba
Mount Tsukuba is an mountain located near Tsukuba, Japan. It is one of the most famous mountains in Japan, particularly well-known for its double peaks, Nyotai-san and Nantai-san . Many people climb the so-called "purple mountain" every year for the panoramic view of the Kantō plain from the...
located in Ibaraki prefecture
Ibaraki Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan, located in the Kantō region on the main island of Honshu. The capital is Mito.-History:Ibaraki Prefecture was previously known as Hitachi Province...
north of Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. On 1912-08-28, Kurama and its sister ship
Sister ship
A sister ship is a ship of the same class as, or of virtually identical design to, another ship. Such vessels share a near-identical hull and superstructure layout, similar displacement, and roughly comparable features and equipment...
Ikoma
Japanese cruiser Ikoma
was the second vessel of the two-ship Tsukuba-class of heavy cruisers in the Imperial Japanese Navy. Ikoma was named after Mount Ikoma located on the border of Osaka and Nara prefecture...
were re-classified as battlecruiser
Battlecruiser
Battlecruisers were large capital ships built in the first half of the 20th century. They were developed in the first decade of the century as the successor to the armoured cruiser, but their evolution was more closely linked to that of the dreadnought battleship...
s by the Japanese navy.
Background
Tsukuba class was intended to be a replacement of Fuji and Yashima battleships. As construction began before the end of the Russo-Japanese WarRusso-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War was "the first great war of the 20th century." It grew out of rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire over Manchuria and Korea...
, construction progressed at a rapid pace, and contemporary American military observers were surprised (and concerned) that Japan had learned to build such large and powerful warships so quickly, and in such a short time. However, with rapid advances in naval technology and with increasing budget constraints on the Imperial Japanese Navy in the period immediately after the end of the Russo-Japanese War, the project was scaled back, and in the end, only Tsukuba and Ikoma were built.
Service record
Shortly after commissioning at Kure Naval ArsenalKure Naval Arsenal
was one of four principal naval shipyards owned and operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy. -History:The Kure Naval District was established at Kure, Hiroshima in 1889, as the second of the naval districts responsible for the defense of the Japanese home islands along with the establishment of the...
in 1907, and with Admiral Goro Ijuin on board, Tsukuba was sent on a voyage to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to attend the Jamestown Exposition
Jamestown Exposition
The Jamestown Exposition was one of the many world's fairs and expositions that were popular in the United States in the early part of the 20th century...
of 1907, the tricentennial celebrations marking the founding of the Jamestown Colony
Jamestown, Virginia
Jamestown was a settlement in the Colony of Virginia. Established by the Virginia Company of London as "James Fort" on May 14, 1607 , it was the first permanent English settlement in what is now the United States, following several earlier failed attempts, including the Lost Colony of Roanoke...
. It then traveled on to Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and returned to Japan via the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
, thus circumnavigating the globe.
After its return to Japan, Tsukuba was assigned to the escort fleet during the visit of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
’s Great White Fleet
Great White Fleet
The Great White Fleet was the popular nickname for the United States Navy battle fleet that completed a circumnavigation of the globe from 16 December 1907 to 22 February 1909 by order of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt. It consisted of 16 battleships divided into two squadrons, along with...
through Japanese waters on its around-the-world voyage in October 1908.
Tsukuba participated in numerous missions in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
in the South Pacific
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
and Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
as part of Japan's contribution to the Allied war effort under the Anglo-Japanese Alliance
Anglo-Japanese Alliance
The first was signed in London at what is now the Lansdowne Club, on January 30, 1902, by Lord Lansdowne and Hayashi Tadasu . A diplomatic milestone for its ending of Britain's splendid isolation, the alliance was renewed and extended in scope twice, in 1905 and 1911, before its demise in 1921...
, protecting the sea lane
Sea lane
A sea lane or shipping lane is a regularly used route for ocean-going and Great Lakes vessels. In the time of sailing ships they were not only determined by the distribution of land masses but also the prevailing winds, whose discovery was crucial for the success of long voyages...
s from German raiders. Tsukuba was also at the Battle of Tsingtao
Battle of Tsingtao
The Siege of Tsingtao was the attack on the German-controlled port of Tsingtao in China during World War I by Imperial Japan and the United Kingdom....
.
On 1915-12-04, Tsukuba was in an Imperial Navy Fleet Review off of Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
, attended by Emperor Taishō
Emperor Taishō
The was the 123rd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession, reigning from 30 July 1912, until his death in 1926.The Emperor’s personal name was . According to Japanese customs, the emperor has no name during his reign and is only called the Emperor...
in which 124 ships participated; a similar Navy Fleet Review was held again off Yokohama on 1916-10-25.
On 1917-01-14, Tsukuba exploded while in port at Yokosuka
Yokosuka, Kanagawa
is a city located in Kanagawa, Japan. As of 2010, the city had an estimated population of 419,067 and a population density of 4,160 people per km². It covered an area of 100.62 km²...
, and sank with a loss of 305 men. The cause was later attributed to a fire in its ammunition magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
.
Afterwards, the hulk was raised, as used as a target for naval aviation
Naval aviation
Naval aviation is the application of manned military air power by navies, including ships that embark fixed-wing aircraft or helicopters. In contrast, maritime aviation is the operation of aircraft in a maritime role under the command of non-naval forces such as the former RAF Coastal Command or a...
training. It was formally removed from the navy list on 1917-09-01 and broken up in 1918.