Japanese cruiser Yakumo

. Afterwards, it served as the flagship of the 3rd Fleet in the operation to capture Sakhalin from Russia.

In World War I, the "Yakumo" fought at the Battle of Tsingtao, and later participated in the pursuit of the German East Asia Squadron under German Admiral Graf Maximilian von Spee and the German raider SMS|Emden|1906|2.

On 1 September 1921, the "Yakumo" was re-designated as a Coastal Defense Vessel and used primarily for training duties in oceanic navigation and cadet officer training. In this capacity, it participated in over 14 long distance voyages to Europe, North America and South America and the South Pacific. In 1930, together with the "Izumo", it visited Tsingtao and Shanghai in China. In 1931, it made a long distance navigational training voyage, visiting Hong Kong, the Suez Canal, Naples, and Marseilles before returning to Sasebo. It was further downgraded to Coastal Defense ship on 30 May 1931. In 1936, while on a training voyage between Saipan and Truk, on its way to North America, the "Yakumo" suffered an accidental explosion in its front magazine, killing four sailors and flooding its front food locker. Repairs were made underway, and the "Yakumo" completed its mission, returning home after a cruise of convert|23272|nmi|km|0.

After the start of the Pacific War, although hopelessly obsolete, the "Yakumo" was re-armed on 1 July 1942, anti-aircraft guns were added, and it was reinstated to the active list, again as a 1st class cruiser. It remained within the Inland Sea throughout the war assigned to training duties, and was not used in any combat operations.

After the end of the Pacific War, the "Yakumo" was briefly used as a transport to return troops and civilians to the home islands from Japan's former overseas possessions, primarily from Taiwan and mainland China. On its final departure from China with Japanese evacuees, troops from the Chinese government stripped the "Yakumo" bare of all its furnishings, including the German-made wooden furniture in the captain's cabin. Sent to the breakers on 20 July 1946, the "Yakumo" was scrapped on 1 April 1947 at the Maizuru shipyard of Hitachi Shipbuilding & Engineering. The main anchor of the "Yakumo" is preserved at that location.

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