Japanese cruiser Chiyoda
Encyclopedia
was an armoured cruiser of the early Imperial Japanese Navy
.
. However, unwilling to use a French shipyard after the Unebi disaster, the Japanese Navy placed its order in 1889 to John Brown & Company
of Great Britain
. Construction was supervised by Arai Yukan and by Ijuin Goro
and on 11 April 1891, the Chiyoda arrived safely at Yokosuka
. On 5 September 1892, command of the Chiyoda was assigned to Captain (later Fleet Admiral) Prince Arisugawa Takehito.
, the Chiyoda was assigned to patrol duties off of the coasts of Korea
, China
, Russia
, and occasional patrols to Hokkaidō
. It was also present at the crucial Battle of the Yellow Sea (1894)
.
The Chiyoda was among the Japanese fleet units that took part in the invasion of Taiwan
in 1895, and saw action on 3 June 1895 at the bombardment of the Chinese coastal forts at Keelung
.
After the war, the Chiyoda went into dry dock
at Kure
shipyards, where the boilers on its triple expansion steam engines were replaced with more modern Belleville boilers. On completion of the retrofit in 1898, the Chiyoda was re-designated a 3rd class armored cruiser.
During the Russo-Japanese War
(1904–1905), the Chiyoda had a prominent role in the opening Battle of Chemulpo Bay
, and subsequently fought at the Battle of the Yellow Sea
and the Battle off Ulsan
. On 12 January 1905, the Chiyoda was captained by Captain (later Fleet Admiral) Prince Higashifushimi Yorihito
.
On 28 August 1912, the Chiyoda was re-designated as a “2nd-Class Coastal Defense Vessel”. During World War I
, the Chiyoda was part of the Japanese fleet sent to capture the German port of Tsingtao
in Shandong, China
.
On 14 April 1921, the Chiyoda was downgraded to a torpedo depot ship, and was used for various odd tasks, including a diving tender and as a school ship for naval cadets.
The Chiyoda was officially decommissioned on 28 February 1927, and sunk as a target on 5 August 1927 at the Bungo Straits by the heavy cruiser
Furutaka
under review of Emperor Hirohito.
After its dismantling, the bridge of the Chiyoda was preserved at the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy
at Etajima, Hiroshima
as the reviewing stand over the parade grounds.
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...
.
Background
The Chiyoda was ordered by the Meiji government as a replacement for the ill-fated , and paid for with insurance money received from the French governmentFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. However, unwilling to use a French shipyard after the Unebi disaster, the Japanese Navy placed its order in 1889 to John Brown & Company
John Brown & Company
John Brown and Company of Clydebank was a pre-eminent Scottish marine engineering and shipbuilding firm, responsible for building many notable and world-famous ships, such as the , the , the , the , the , and the...
of Great Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Construction was supervised by Arai Yukan and by Ijuin Goro
Ijuin Goro
-External links:...
and on 11 April 1891, the Chiyoda arrived safely 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...
. On 5 September 1892, command of the Chiyoda was assigned to Captain (later Fleet Admiral) Prince Arisugawa Takehito.
Service record
With the outbreak of the First Sino-Japanese WarFirst Sino-Japanese War
The First Sino-Japanese War was fought between Qing Dynasty China and Meiji Japan, primarily over control of Korea...
, the Chiyoda was assigned to patrol duties off of the coasts of Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, and occasional patrols to Hokkaidō
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
. It was also present at the crucial Battle of the Yellow Sea (1894)
Battle of Yalu River (1894)
The Battle of the Yalu River , also called simply 'The Battle of Yalu' took place on September 17, 1894. It involved the Japanese and the Chinese navies, and was the largest naval engagement of the First Sino-Japanese War...
.
The Chiyoda was among the Japanese fleet units that took part in the invasion of Taiwan
Japanese invasion of Taiwan (1895)
The Japanese invasion of Taiwan was a conflict between the Empire of Japan and the armed forces of the short-lived Republic of Formosa following the Qing Dynasty's cession of Taiwan to Japan in April 1895 at the end of the First Sino-Japanese War...
in 1895, and saw action on 3 June 1895 at the bombardment of the Chinese coastal forts at Keelung
Battle of Keelung
The Battle of Keelung was the first important battle of the Japanese invasion of Taiwan . The battle was a Japanese victory.- Background :...
.
After the war, the Chiyoda went into dry dock
Dry dock
A drydock is a narrow basin or vessel that can be flooded to allow a load to be floated in, then drained to allow that load to come to rest on a dry platform...
at Kure
Kure, Hiroshima
is a city in Hiroshima prefecture, Japan.As of October 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 240,820 and a population density of 681 persons per km². The total area is 353.74 km².- History :...
shipyards, where the boilers on its triple expansion steam engines were replaced with more modern Belleville boilers. On completion of the retrofit in 1898, the Chiyoda was re-designated a 3rd class armored cruiser.
During the Russo-Japanese War
Russo-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...
(1904–1905), the Chiyoda had a prominent role in the opening Battle of Chemulpo Bay
Battle of Chemulpo Bay
The Battle of Chemulpo Bay was an early naval battle in the Russo-Japanese War , which took place on 9 February 1904, off the coast of present-day Incheon, Korea.-Background:...
, and subsequently fought at the Battle of the Yellow Sea
Battle of the Yellow Sea
The Battle of the Yellow Sea was a major naval engagement of the Russo-Japanese War, fought on 10 August 1904. In the Russian Navy, it was referred to as the Battle of 10 August. The battle foiled an attempt by the Russian fleet at Port Arthur to break out and form up with counterparts from...
and the Battle off Ulsan
Battle off Ulsan
The naval Battle off Ulsan , also known as the Battle of the Japanese Sea or Battle of the Korean Strait, took place on 14 August 1904 during the Russo-Japanese War, four days after the Battle of the Yellow Sea.-Background:The Vladivostok Cruiser Unit of the Russian fleet...
. On 12 January 1905, the Chiyoda was captained by Captain (later Fleet Admiral) Prince Higashifushimi Yorihito
Prince Higashifushimi Yorihito
was the second head of the Higashifushimi-no-miya, an ōke cadet branch of the Japanese imperial family.-Early life:Born on September 19, 1867, as seventeenth son of Prince Fushimi Kuniye, head of the Fushimi-no-miya, one of the shinnōke branches of the Imperial Family of Japan, which were...
.
On 28 August 1912, the Chiyoda was re-designated as a “2nd-Class Coastal Defense Vessel”. During 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...
, the Chiyoda was part of the Japanese fleet sent to capture the German port of Tsingtao
Qingdao
' also known in the West by its postal map spelling Tsingtao, is a major city with a population of over 8.715 million in eastern Shandong province, Eastern China. Its built up area, made of 7 urban districts plus Jimo city, is home to about 4,346,000 inhabitants in 2010.It borders Yantai to the...
in Shandong, China
Shandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
.
On 14 April 1921, the Chiyoda was downgraded to a torpedo depot ship, and was used for various odd tasks, including a diving tender and as a school ship for naval cadets.
The Chiyoda was officially decommissioned on 28 February 1927, and sunk as a target on 5 August 1927 at the Bungo Straits by the heavy cruiser
Heavy cruiser
The heavy cruiser was a type of cruiser, a naval warship designed for long range, high speed and an armament of naval guns roughly 203mm calibre . The heavy cruiser can be seen as a lineage of ship design from 1915 until 1945, although the term 'heavy cruiser' only came into formal use in 1930...
Furutaka
Japanese cruiser Furutaka
was the lead ship in the two-vessel Furutaka-class of heavy cruisers in the Imperial Japanese Navy. It was named after Mount Furutaka, located on Etajima, Hiroshima immediately behind the Imperial Japanese Navy Academy.-Design:...
under review of Emperor Hirohito.
After its dismantling, the bridge of the Chiyoda was preserved at the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy
Imperial Japanese Naval Academy
The was a school established to train officers for the Imperial Japanese Navy. It originally located in Nagasaki, moved to Yokohama in 1866, and was relocated to Tsukiji, Tokyo in 1869. It moved to Etajima, Hiroshima in 1888...
at Etajima, Hiroshima
Etajima, Hiroshima
is a city located on the island of Etajima in Hiroshima Bay in southwestern Hiroshima, Japan.The city was formed on November 1, 2004 from the merger of the town of Etajima from Aki District with three towns from Saeki District: Nōmi, Ōgaki, and Okimi.As of March 1, 2008 population data, the city...
as the reviewing stand over the parade grounds.