Japanese steam warship Takao

was a steam warship belonging to the former navy of the Bakufu during the Boshin War of 1868-1869. She had been seized from the navy of the fief of Akita.

She was originally built in the Netherlands under the name "Aschwelotte", and then purchased by the Bakufu. She was armed with four smoothbore canons on the side, and a powerful Armstrong canon with explosive shells, installed on a rotating base. ["Une aventure au Japon", Eugene Collache, p51]

She participated to the Naval Battle of Miyako, when three Bakufu warships were dispatched for a surprise attack against Imperial forces. For the battle, Eugene Collache, a French navy officer, was put in command of the "Takao", on which were sailing 40 seamen and 30 samurais. The two other ships were the "Kaiten" and the "Banryū".

The ships encountered bad weather, in which the "Takao" suffered from engine trouble, and the "Banryu" was separated. The "Banryu" eventually returned to Hokkaido, without joining the battle. To create surprise, the Kaiten planned to enter Miyako harbour with an American flag. Unable to achieve more than 3 knots due to engine trouble, the Takao trailed behind, and the Kaiten first joined battle. The Kaiten approached the enemy ships and raised the Bakufu flag seconds before boarding the Kotetsu. The Kotetsu managed to repel the attack with a Gatling gun, with huge loss on the attacking side. The Kaiten, pursued by the Imperial fleet, steamed out of Miyako Bay just as the Takao was entering it. The Kaiten eventually escaped to Hokkaido, but the Takao was unable to leave the pursuers and wrecked herself voluntarily. The Takao was put on fire by the escaping rebels and exploded.

Collache was imprisoned by the Japanese, judged and condemned to death, but he was finally pardoned. At the end of the conflict, he was sent to Tokyo where he rejoined Jules Brunet, and later left for France.

Notes

References

* Eugène Collache "Une aventure au Japon", in "Le Tour du Monde" No77, 1874