Japanese battleship Iwami

Japanese battleship "Iwami" (, these ships suffered from instability caused by a high centre of gravity, which was made worse by overloading.

The "Orel" was the only modern Russian battleship to survive the Battle of Tsushima. She was probably hit by five 12 inch, two 10 inch, nine 8 inch, and 28 6 inch shells, and possibly a number of smaller rounds. She suffered only moderate damage, including two 6 inch turrets disabled by 8 inch hits. Her armor was fairly effective: a 12 inch shell hit the 5 ¾ inch belt obliquely and was repulsed, and a main battery turret resisted a 10 inch shell.

She was substantially rebuilt after her capture by the Japanese, reducing her top weight and removing the smaller guns, and commissioned into the Imperial Japanese Navy as the battleship "Iwami", taking her name from an ancient Japanese province, of Iwami now part of Shimane prefecture. The name "Iwami" was chosen as this province was geographically the closest to the location of the Battle of Tsushima.

On 28 August 1912, the "Iwami" was re-classified as a 1st class Coastal Defense Vessel.

During World War I, the "Iwami" was active at the Battle of Tsingtao.

Under the terms of the Washington Naval Agreement, Japan agreed to scrap the "Iwami". She was decommissioned on 09 May 1923, and expended as a target, sunk by aircraft launched from Jogashima island (near Yokosuka) on 10 July 1924.

References

* Gibbons, Tony: "The Complete Encyclopedia of Battleships", Crescent Books, New York, 1983 ISBN 0-517-378108
* Burt, R.A.: "Japanese Battleships, 1897–1945"
* Preston, Antony: "World's Worst Warships", Conways Maritime Press 2002