Japanese cruiser Suma

The . The name "Suma" comes from a geographic location near Kobe, in Hyōgo Prefecture.

Background

"Suma" was designed and built at Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, as part of the Imperial Japanese Navy program 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.

ervice Life

Completed too late for service in the First Sino-Japanese War, the first overseas deployment of "Suma" was to Manila in the Philippines during the Philippine-American War, where it helped safeguard the interests and citizens of Japan during the uprising.

From June-July 1900, Admiral Shimamura Hayao commanded "Suma" and Japanese marines during the Japanese occupation of Tianjin during the Boxer Rebellion.

During the Russo-Japanese War "Suma" played an active role, primarily in the blockade of Port Arthur, and in patrol of the sea lanes between Taiwan and China from its base at Makung in the Pescadores Islands. It was in the Japanese 3rd Fleet during the Battle of Tsushima, and later participated in the operation to seize Sakhalin from Russia.

In World War I, "Suma" was initially relocated to Manila, and assigned to patrol the sea lanes from Borneo to the Malacca Straits. It was later based in Singapore, and re-assigned to provide coastal defense to Australia and New Zealand, as part of Japan’s contribution to the Allied war effort under the Anglo-Japanese Alliance.

After the war, "Suma" was re-designated as a 2nd-class Coastal defence ship from 1 September 1921. "Suma" was removed from the active list on 4 April 1923. Deemed obsolete, it was broken up for scrap in 1928.

Gallery

References

* Evans, David. "Kaigun: Strategy, Tactics, and Technology in the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1887-1941". US Naval Institute Press (1979). ISBN 0870211927
* Howarth, Stephen. "The Fighting Ships of the Rising Sun: The Drama of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1895-1945". Atheneum; (1983) ISBN 0689114028
* Jane, Fred T. "The Imperial Japanese Navy". Thacker, Spink & Co (1904) ASIN: B00085LCZ4
* Jentsura, Hansgeorg. "Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869-1945". Naval Institute Press (1976). ISBN 087021893X
* Schencking, J. Charles. "Making Waves: Politics, Propaganda, And The Emergence Of The Imperial Japanese Navy, 1868-1922". Stanford University Press (2005). ISBN 0804749779