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Monday 25 September 2017

Japanese armoured cruiser Iwate 1898-1947

Asama

Izumo-class

Building ordered on 19 July 1898, Part of the Izumo-class armoured cruisers consisting of the Izuma and Iwate, preceded by the Asama-class and succeeded by the Yakumo. Designed by Sir Philip Watts. Laid down by Armstrong Whitworth&Co., Elswick, England on 11 November 1898, launched on 29 March 1900, completed on 18 March 1901, reclassified 1st class coastal defence ship on 1 September 1921, reclassified 1st class cruiser on 1 July 1942, reclassified training ship in 1943, sunk due to an American air attack at Kure on 25 July 1945, stricken on 30 November 1945 and broken up by Harima Dock Company between 1946-1947.

Displacement 9.243 (normal load)-10.234(full load) tons and as dimensions 121,92 (between perpendiculars)-132,28 (overall) x 20,94 x 7,21-7,25 metres or 400.0-434.0 x 68.8 x 23.8-23.0 feet. Machinery consisted of 2 vertical triple expansion steam engines and 24 Belleville boilers supplying via 2 shafts 14.500 ihp allowing a speed of 20,75 (design)-22,3 (trials) knots. With a speed of 10 knots and a maximum coal bunker capacity of 1.551 tons was the range 7.000 nautical miles. Crew numbered 672 men. The Krupp cemented armour consisted of a 8,8cm/3.5”-17,8cm/7.0” thick waterline belt, a 6,3cm/2.5” thick deck, 12,7cm/5.” bulkheads with the gun turrets, barbettes, casemate and conning tower protected by respectively 16cm/6.3”, 15,2cm/6.0”, 5,1cm/2.0”-15,2cm/6.0” and 35,6cm/14.0”. Original armament consisted of 2x2-20,3cm/8” /45 type 41 naval guns, 14x1-15,2cm/6” quick firing guns, 12x1-12pd/12cwt quick firing guns, 8x1-7,6cm/2.5pd Yamauchi quick firing guns and 4x1-45,7cm/18.0” submerged torpedo tubes (2xbroad side).