Japanese cruiser Iwate

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Background

"Iwate" was one six armored cruisers ordered to overseas shipyards after the First Sino-Japanese War as part of the "Six-Six Program" (six battleships-six cruisers) intended to the backbone of the Imperial Japanese Navy. It was built by Armstrong Whitworth in Great Britain.

ervice record

"Iwate" served an important role in the Russo-Japanese War, and was commanded by Admiral Shimamura Hayao as flagship of the IJN 2nd Fleet's Second Battle Division. It participated in the crucial Battle of Tsushima on 26 May 1905. After the war, it was briefly captained by Captain (later Admiral) Yamashita Gentaro.

In World War I, the "Iwate" was the 2nd Fleet, 4th Squadron flagship, dispatched at first to Tsingtao, and then later to the Indian Ocean, where it was assigned to convoy escort duty in the Indian Ocean between Singapore and the Suez Canal as part of Japan's contribution to the Allied war effort under the Anglo-Japanese alliance.

Afterwards, "Iwate" was assigned to the training fleet and was based out of Yokosuka, making numerous navigation training cruises to the Indian Ocean and to South America. It was re-designated a 1st class Coastal Defense Vessel on 1 September 1921. In November 1924, "Iwate" was part of the Japanese naval delegation sent to Brazil in honor of Brazil's 100th anniversary of independence ceremonies.

In 1925-1936, "Iwate" made numerous long voyages, circumnavigating the Pacific Ocean, and stopping at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on July 19-22, 1927.

"Iwate" was assigned to the 12th Squadron of the 3rd Support Fleet from 1 February 1940. With the start of the Pacific War, despite its antiquated age, the "Iwate" was retrofitted with anti-aircraft guns and re-classed back as a 1st class cruiser on 1 July 1942.

"Iwate" was sunk in an American air attack on Kure (coord|34|14|N|132|30|E), 26 July 1945, and later raised and scrapped in 1947.

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