Japanese destroyer Kagerō (1899) facts for kids
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 Empire of Japan |
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| Name | Kagerō |
| Namesake | 陽炎 ("Mirage") |
| Ordered | 1897 |
| Builder | John I. Thornycroft & Company, Chiswick, England |
| Yard number | Torpedo Boat Destroyer No. 9 |
| Laid down | 1 August 1898 |
| Launched | 23 August 1899 |
| Completed | 31 October 1899 |
| Commissioned | 31 October 1899 |
| Reclassified |
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| Decommissioned | 8 October 1924 |
| Stricken | 8 October 1924 |
| Fate | Hulked |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Murakumo-class destroyer |
| Displacement |
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| Length |
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| Beam | 19 ft 6 in (5.94 m) |
| Draught | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
| Depth | 13 ft 6 in (4.11 m) |
| Propulsion | Reciprocating engine, 3 boilers, 5,800 ihp (4,300 kW), 2 shafts |
| Speed | 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) |
| Complement | 50 |
| Armament |
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| Service record | |
| Operations: |
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The Kagerō (which means "Mirage" in Japanese) was a fast warship called a destroyer. It was one of six ships in the Murakumo-class destroyer class, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy in the late 1890s. Kagerō played a role in important events like the Boxer Rebellion in 1900, fought in major battles during the Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905), and served during World War I (1914–1918).
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Building and Launching Kagerō
Kagerō was ordered as Torpedo Boat Destroyer No. 9 in 1897. Its construction began on August 1, 1898, at the John I. Thornycroft & Company shipyard in Chiswick, England. The ship was officially launched on August 23, 1899, and was finished and ready for service on October 31, 1899.
Kagerō's Time at Sea
Early Years and the Boxer Rebellion
Kagerō made a long journey from England to Japan, arriving in Sasebo on March 14, 1899. In 1900, the ship took part in Japan's actions during the Boxer Rebellion in China. This was a conflict where several countries sent forces to China.
Battles in the Russo-Japanese War
When the Russo-Japanese War started in February 1904, Kagerō was part of the 5th Destroyer Division in the 2nd Fleet. During this war, the ship was involved in several big battles:
- The Battle of Port Arthur in February 1904.
- The Battle of the Yellow Sea in August 1904.
- The famous Battle of Tsushima in May 1905.
Battle of Tsushima: A Key Moment
During the Battle of Tsushima on May 27, 1905, Kagerō joined a torpedo attack against the Imperial Russian Navy squadron. Afterward, it went to Ulsan, Korea, with another destroyer, Sazanami, to get supplies and repairs.
The next morning, May 28, 1905, the two Japanese destroyers spotted smoke from two Russian destroyers, Bedovyi and Groznyi, in the Sea of Japan. The Japanese ships chased them. Groznyi tried to escape, but Bedovyi stopped and surrendered to Sazanami. On board Bedovyi, the Japanese found the wounded Russian fleet commander, Vice Admiral Zinovy Rozhestvensky, and took him as a prisoner. Kagerō also helped in the Japanese invasion of Sakhalin in July 1905.
Changing Roles and World War I
On August 28, 1912, the Japanese Navy changed how it classified destroyers. Ships were put into three groups based on their size. Kagerō, being smaller, became a "third-class destroyer."
After Japan entered World War I in August 1914, Kagerō helped with the Siege of Tsingtao in China. Later that year, it also took part in Japan's capture of Germany's colonial lands in the Caroline, Mariana, and Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean.
End of Service
On April 1, 1922, Kagerō was reclassified as a "utility vessel." This meant it was used as a tugboat and a transport ship. Finally, on October 8, 1924, the ship was officially taken out of service and turned into a hulk (a ship that is no longer used for sailing but might be used as a floating storage or base).
