Suma class cruiser
Encyclopedia
The two were protected cruiser
s operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy
. They participated in numerous actions during the First Sino-Japanese War
.
s were designed and in Japan at the Yokosuka Arsenal, based on experience gained in the construction of the cruiser . The Imperial Japanese Navy was anxious to end its dependence on foreign powers for modern warships. While more lightly armed and armored than many of its contemporaries, its small size and relatively simple design facilitated its construction and its relatively high speed made it useful for many military operations. However, perhaps more importantly, the construction of these ships gave Japanese designers and shipbuilders valuable experience that would be used to construct larger and more powerful vessels in the future.
The second ship of the class, the Akashi differed from the Suma in that its torpedo launch tubes were moved from the bow to the rear of the ship, and the fighting top was eliminated, resulting in a sleeker, “more modern” design.
Propulsion was by two vertical triple steam reciprocating engines, 2-shafts, with 8 boilers, yielding a speed of 20 knots (39.2 km/h) and a range of 11000 nautical miles (20,372 km) at 10 knots (20 km/h) based on its capacity for 544 tons of coal
.
Two Suma class cruisers were built. Both were lost before the start of World War II
.
Ordered in 1891, launched 9 March 1895, and completed 12 December 1896, the Suma served in the Boxer Rebellion
and in the Russo-Japanese War
. It also served patrol duty during World War I
primarily in the southeast Asia area. It was removed from the active list on 4 April 1923, and scrapped in 1928.
Ordered in 1893, launched in 1897 and completed 30 March 1899, the Akashi served in the Boxer Rebellion
and in the Russo-Japanese War
. In World War I
, the Akashi served in the Battle of Tsingtao
, and subsequently patrolled the sea lanes in southeast Asia
and the Mediterranean Sea
. It was expended as a target for dive bomber
s south of Izu Ōshima
on 3 August 1930.
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...
s operated by 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...
. They participated in numerous actions 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...
.
Background
The Suma class cruiserCruiser
A cruiser is a type of warship. The term has been in use for several hundreds of years, and has had different meanings throughout this period...
s were designed and in Japan at the Yokosuka Arsenal, based on experience gained in the construction of the cruiser . The Imperial Japanese Navy was anxious to end its dependence on foreign powers for modern warships. While more lightly armed and armored than many of its contemporaries, its small size and relatively simple design facilitated its construction and its relatively high speed made it useful for many military operations. However, perhaps more importantly, the construction of these ships gave Japanese designers and shipbuilders valuable experience that would be used to construct larger and more powerful vessels in the future.
Design
The Suma class cruisers were smaller than the Akitsushima, and consequently had lighter weaponry (two 152 mm main cannons instead of four); however, design lessons learned with the Akitsushima (such as the need to locate the six side-mounted 120 mm guns lower to the center of gravity to improve stability were implemented.The second ship of the class, the Akashi differed from the Suma in that its torpedo launch tubes were moved from the bow to the rear of the ship, and the fighting top was eliminated, resulting in a sleeker, “more modern” design.
Propulsion was by two vertical triple steam reciprocating engines, 2-shafts, with 8 boilers, yielding a speed of 20 knots (39.2 km/h) and a range of 11000 nautical miles (20,372 km) at 10 knots (20 km/h) based on its capacity for 544 tons of coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
.
Ships in class
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Ordered in 1891, launched 9 March 1895, and completed 12 December 1896, the Suma served in 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...
and in 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...
. It also served patrol duty 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...
primarily in the southeast Asia area. It was removed from the active list on 4 April 1923, and scrapped in 1928.
Ordered in 1893, launched in 1897 and completed 30 March 1899, the Akashi served in 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...
and in 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...
. 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...
, the Akashi served 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....
, and subsequently patrolled the sea lanes in southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
and the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
. It was expended as a target for dive bomber
Dive bomber
A dive bomber is a bomber aircraft that dives directly at its targets in order to provide greater accuracy for the bomb it drops. Diving towards the target reduces the distance the bomb has to fall, which is the primary factor in determining the accuracy of the drop...
s south of Izu Ōshima
Izu Oshima
is a volcanic island in the Izu Islands and administered by the Tokyo Metropolitan government, Japan, lies about 100 km south of Tokyo, 22 km east of the Izu Peninsula and 36 km southwest of Bōsō Peninsula. serves as the local government of the island...
on 3 August 1930.