Japanese cruiser Kasagi
Encyclopedia
was the lead ship
in the protected cruiser
in the Imperial Japanese Navy
. It was the sister ship
to the . It should not be confused with the later uncompleted of the same name, or the Pacific War
-era transport Kasuga-maru. It is named after Mount Kasagi
, a holy mountain outside Kyoto
.
(who had also built the Russian cruiser ). Its specifications were very similar to that of the . It was the first major capital warship to be ordered by the Imperial Japanese Navy from an American shipbuilder.
, where its Armstrong
cannons were installed. It arrived at Yokosuka
on 16 May 1898.
Kasagi was commissioned too late to see service during the First Sino-Japanese War
; however, it was used during the Boxer Rebellion
to escort Japanese troops and supplies to mainland China. Future admiral
Yamashita Gentarō served as executive officer on Kasagi between 1899 and 1900.
During the Russo-Japanese War
, Kasagi was active from its base in Korea in the blockade of Port Arthur
. It was in the same squadron as the ill-fated battleship , and assisted in efforts to save the crew of that ship when it was mined
on 14 May 1904. Later, it fought at the Battle of the Yellow Sea
. At the crucial final Battle of Tsushima
, Kasagi was commanded by Yamaya Tanin
.
After the war, Kasagi was assigned training duties, and made a long distance navigational training voyage from 16 October 1910-6 March 1911 to Hawaii.
During World War I, Kasagi was assigned to the Japanese 1st Fleet, and participated in the Battle of Tsingtao
against the Kaiserliche Marine
(Imperial Germany Navy).
Kasagi ran aground in heavy weather in the Tsugaru Strait
between Honshū
and Hokkaidō
on 20 July 1916, suffering a major hull breach in the vicinity of its second smoke stack. It was formally written off on 5 November of the same year.
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:...
in the protected cruiser
Protected cruiser
The protected cruiser is a type of naval cruiser of the late 19th century, so known because its armoured deck offered protection for vital machine spaces from shrapnel caused by exploding shells above...
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...
. It was the 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...
to the . It should not be confused with the later uncompleted of the same name, or the Pacific War
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
-era transport Kasuga-maru. It is named after Mount Kasagi
Kasagi, Kyoto
is a town located in Sōraku District, Kyoto, Japan.As of 2008, the town has an estimated population of 1,754. The total area is 23.57 km².-External links:*...
, a holy mountain outside Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
.
Background
Kasagi was designed and built in Philadelphia, in the United States by William Cramp and SonsWilliam Cramp and Sons
thumb | upright | 1899 advertisement for William Cramp & Sons William Cramp & Sons Shipbuilding Company of Philadelphia was founded in 1825 by William Cramp, and was the preeminent U.S. iron shipbuilder in the 19th century. The American Ship & Commerce Corporation bought the yard in 1919 but closed...
(who had also built the Russian cruiser ). Its specifications were very similar to that of the . It was the first major capital warship to be ordered by the Imperial Japanese Navy from an American shipbuilder.
Service record
For its shakedown cruise, Kasagi was sailed from Philadelphia directly to Great BritainUnited 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...
, where its Armstrong
Armstrong
- Places :* Armstrong Creek , various placesArgentina* Armstrong, Santa FeAustralia* Armstrong, VictoriaCanada* Armstrong, British Columbia* Armstrong, Ontario* Armstrong, Thunder Bay District, OntarioUnited States...
cannons were installed. It arrived 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 16 May 1898.
Kasagi was commissioned too late to see service during the First Sino-Japanese War
First Sino-Japanese War
The First Sino-Japanese War was fought between Qing Dynasty China and Meiji Japan, primarily over control of Korea...
; however, it was used during the Boxer Rebellion
Boxer Rebellion
The Boxer Rebellion, also called the Boxer Uprising by some historians or the Righteous Harmony Society Movement in northern China, was a proto-nationalist movement by the "Righteous Harmony Society" , or "Righteous Fists of Harmony" or "Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists" , in China between...
to escort Japanese troops and supplies to mainland China. Future admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
Yamashita Gentarō served as executive officer on Kasagi between 1899 and 1900.
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...
, Kasagi was active from its base in Korea in the blockade of Port Arthur
Lüshunkou
Lüshunkou is a district in the municipality of Dalian, Liaoning province, China. Also called Lüshun City or Lüshun Port, it was formerly known as both Port Arthur and Ryojun....
. It was in the same squadron as the ill-fated battleship , and assisted in efforts to save the crew of that ship when it was mined
Naval mine
A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy surface ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of, or contact with, an enemy vessel...
on 14 May 1904. Later, it 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...
. At the crucial final Battle of Tsushima
Battle of Tsushima
The Battle of Tsushima , commonly known as the “Sea of Japan Naval Battle” in Japan and the “Battle of Tsushima Strait”, was the major naval battle fought between Russia and Japan during the Russo-Japanese War...
, Kasagi was commanded by Yamaya Tanin
Yamaya Tanin
- Notes :...
.
After the war, Kasagi was assigned training duties, and made a long distance navigational training voyage from 16 October 1910-6 March 1911 to Hawaii.
During World War I, Kasagi was assigned to the Japanese 1st Fleet, and participated in 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....
against the Kaiserliche Marine
Kaiserliche Marine
The Imperial German Navy was the German Navy created at the time of the formation of the German Empire. It existed between 1871 and 1919, growing out of the small Prussian Navy and Norddeutsche Bundesmarine, which primarily had the mission of coastal defense. Kaiser Wilhelm II greatly expanded...
(Imperial Germany Navy).
Kasagi ran aground in heavy weather in the Tsugaru Strait
Tsugaru Strait
is a channel between Honshu and Hokkaido in northern Japan connecting the Sea of Japan with the Pacific Ocean. It was named after the western part of Aomori Prefecture...
between Honshū
Honshu
is the largest island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait...
and 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...
on 20 July 1916, suffering a major hull breach in the vicinity of its second smoke stack. It was formally written off on 5 November of the same year.