Ise class battleship
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Originally intended as sister ships of the preceding Fusō class, the Ise-class battleships of the Imperial Japanese Navy were considered sufficiently different to warrant separate classification. Among the differences were a shorter foredeck, a more closely-grouped secondary armament (with the majority of the forward guns set further astern than in the Fusōs), a different arrangement of the primary turrets (though the cumbersome six-twin arrangement was retained) and more closely-spaced funnels and uptakes. Like most if not all battleships of their era, they retained the soon-to-be outmoded casemated secondary armament, the forward guns of which often proved useless in any kind of seaway, and like all Japanese warships of the period, these vessels still relied on mixed (i.e. coal and oil) firing for their boilers.
During World War I, like their cousins of the Fusō class, the Ises took part in no significant action, being largely surplus to the Imperial Japanese Navy's duties. They were also reconstructed in the 1930s, receiving improved powerplants, armor, fire control, and internal protection.
During World War II, to partially compensate for the loss of carrier strength at the Battle of Midway, both battleships were converted to Battlecarriers in 1943. Their aft turrets were replaced with a hangar surmounted by a flight deck, and anti-aircraft guns were added. Hyūga, for example, mounted a complement of 14 Yokosuka D4Y dive-bombers and 8 Aichi E16A seaplanes. However, the lack of planes and pilots meant that neither ship was involved in combat in her carrier role.
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[edit] Ships
There were two ships of the class:
Both ships were heavily damaged in the Battle off Cape Engaño on 1944-10-25. They returned to Kure naval dockyard in Japan and took no further part in operations. They were attacked by American planes in a series of raids and were sunk at their moorings in shallow water.
[edit] General characteristics (after reconstruction, 1934-37)
- Displacement: 35,800 tons (standard); 40,169 tons (laden)
- Length: 215.8 m
- Beam (at widest point): 31.75 m
- Draught: 9.15 m
- Crew: 1,370
[edit] Armament
- Main armament: 12 × 14 in (356 mm) rifled guns (6 × 2)
- Secondary armament: 16 × 5.5 in (140 mm) rifled guns (16 × 1) (casemated); 8 × 5 in (127 mm) DP (dual purpose) (4 × 2)
- Anti-aircraft: 20 × 25 mm cannon
[edit] Protection
- Main belt: 12 in (305 mm) maxinum thickness
- Decks: 3.75 in (95 mm) maximum thickness
- Main turrets: 12 in (305 mm) face, 10 in (254 mm) sides
- Barbettes: 8 in (203 mm) maxmimum thickness
- Casemates: 6 in (152 mm) maximum thickness
- Conning tower: 13.75 in (349 mm) maximum thickness
[edit] Propulsion
- Speed: 25.3 knots (47 km/h)
- Powerplant: Eight oil-fired Kampon boilers
- Output: 80,000 shaft horsepower (60 MW)
- Bunkerage: 5,113 tons fuel oil
[edit] Miscellaneous
- Aircraft: 3, with one catapult.
[edit] References
- M. J. Whiteley, Battleships of World War Two: an International Encyclopaedia, Orion, 2001.
