Japanese ironclad Fusō facts for kids
Fusō as completed
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 Japan |
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| Name | Fusō (Japanese: 扶桑) |
| Namesake | Classical name for Japan |
| Ordered | 24 September 1875 |
| Builder | Samuda Brothers, Cubitt Town, London |
| Laid down | 24 September 1875? |
| Launched | 17 April 1877 |
| Completed | January 1878 |
| Reclassified | Coast defense ship, December 1905 |
| Stricken | 1 April 1908 |
| Fate | Sold for scrap, 1909 |
| General characteristics (as built) | |
| Type | Central-battery ironclad |
| Displacement | 3,717 long tons (3,777 t) |
| Length | 220 ft (67.1 m) |
| Beam | 48 ft (14.6 m) |
| Draft | 18 ft 5 in (5.6 m) |
| Installed power | |
| Propulsion | 2 shafts, 2 trunk steam engines |
| Sail plan | Barque rigged |
| Speed | 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph) |
| Range | 4,500 nmi (8,300 km; 5,200 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) |
| Complement | 295 |
| Armament |
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| Armor |
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Fusō (扶桑) was a special type of warship called a central-battery ironclad. She was built for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) in the 1870s. Japan couldn't build such big ships yet, so Fusō was constructed in the United Kingdom.
She fought in the First Sino-Japanese War (1894–95). During the Battle of the Yalu River in 1894, she was damaged. She also took part in the Battle of Weihaiwei in early 1895. In 1897, Fusō sank after colliding with two other Japanese ships during a storm. She was raised and repaired the next year.
Fusō had a small role in the Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905). After this war, she was changed into a coast defense ship. She was removed from the Navy list in 1908 and sold for scrap in 1909.
Contents
Building a Warship: Fusōs Story
Tensions grew between Japan and China in 1874. This happened after Japan sent a force to Taiwan to get revenge for some shipwrecked sailors who were killed. China thought about buying ironclad warships from Britain. Japan was also trying to buy a ship called Independencia from Brazil, which was being built in Britain.
Japan stopped trying to buy Independencia in October 1874. This was because the ship was badly damaged when it was launched. The events showed Japan that its navy needed to be stronger. So, Japan's Navy Minister asked for money to buy three warships from other countries. This was too expensive at first.
Later, a smaller amount of money was approved. No Japanese shipyard could build ships this big. So, the order went to Great Britain. In March 1875, the Navy Minister suggested buying one armored warship and two smaller armored ships. These ships would be designed by a famous British naval architect, Sir Edward James Reed. He used to be the main ship designer for the Royal Navy. Reed would also watch over the building of the ships.
The Japanese consul, Kagenori Ueno, signed the contracts for all three ships on September 24, 1875. This happened even though the cost was more than planned. The total cost for the three ships was about £433,850 (around ¥2,231,563). This did not include the weapons. The weapons were ordered from a German company called Krupp.
Fusōs Design and Features
Fusōs design was based on a smaller version of a British warship called HMS Iron Duke. This ship was well known to the Japanese.
Fusō was about 220 feet (67.1 m) long. She was 48 feet (14.6 m) wide. The ship weighed about 2,248 long tons (2,284 t). She had a crew of 26 officers and 269 sailors.
How Fusō Moved
Fusō had two steam engines. These engines powered two propellers, each about 15-foot-6-inch (4.7 m) wide. Eight large boilers made steam for the engines. The engines were designed to make the ship go about 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph) (knots). During her tests in 1878, she reached a speed of 13.16 knots (24.37 km/h; 15.14 mph).
The ship could carry up to 350 long tons (360 t) of coal. This was enough to travel about 4,500 nautical miles (8,300 km; 5,200 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). Fusō also had three masts and sails, like a barque. This allowed her to use wind power. To make sailing easier, her funnel (smokestack) could be partly lowered.
From 1891, Fusō was updated at the Yokosuka Naval Arsenal. Her old masts were removed. Two new military masts were added, which had fighting tops (platforms for lookouts or small guns). Her funnel was made fixed, and she got four new boilers. These new boilers used forced draught to make more steam. This update also allowed her to carry more coal.
Weapons and Protection
Fusō was armed with four large 24-centimeter (9.4 in) Krupp guns. She also had two smaller 17-centimeter (6.7 in) Krupp guns. The big 24 cm guns were placed at the corners of the armored part of the ship. They could turn to fire in many directions. The 17 cm guns were on the upper deck and could fire forwards, backwards, or to the sides. The ship also carried six 75-millimeter (3.0 in) guns. Some of these were meant to be used on land or on the ship's smaller boats.
The 24 cm guns could fire a 352.7 pounds (160 kg) shell. This shell could go through 15.5 inches (393 mm) of iron armor. The 17 cm guns fired a 132.3-pound (60 kg) shell. This shell could penetrate 10.3–11.4 inches (262–290 mm) of armor.
During the 1880s, Fusōs weapons were improved. In 1883, seven 25.4-millimeter (1.0 in) Nordenfelt machine guns were added. These were for defense against small, fast torpedo boats. Later, more machine guns were added. In 1885, Fusō became the first Japanese Navy ship to have torpedo tubes. She had two 356-millimeter (14.0 in) torpedo tubes, one on each side.
When the ship was refitted from 1891 to 1894, her anti-torpedo boat guns were updated. Some Nordenfelt guns were replaced with Hotchkiss guns. After the Sino-Japanese War, more changes were made. In 1896, a new 12-centimetre (4.7 in) quick-firing (QF) gun was added at the back. Another was added at the front. The two 17 cm guns were replaced with more 12 cm quick-firing guns. Many more 3-pounder Hotchkiss guns were also added. In 1900, the 12 cm guns were replaced by even larger 15-centimetre (5.9 in) quick-firing guns. The final change was in 1906. Her old 24 cm guns were replaced by two QF 15 cm guns, and two more 3-pounders were added.
Fusō was protected by a wrought-iron waterline armor belt. This belt was 9 inches (229 mm) thick in the middle and thinner at the ends. The sides of her main gun area were 9 inches (229 mm) thick. The walls inside this area were 8 inches (203 mm) thick.
Fusōs Life and Battles
Fusō was named after a classical name for Japan. She was built at the Samuda Brothers shipyard in Cubitt Town, London. She was launched on April 14, 1877. The ship was finished in January 1878.
Fusō sailed to Japan before March 22, 1878. She was commanded by a British captain and crew. This was because the Japanese Navy was not yet ready for such a long journey. She ran aground (got stuck) lightly while going through the Suez Canal. After temporary repairs, she arrived in Yokohama on June 11. A formal ceremony was held on July 10, attended by the Meiji Emperor. The ship was then opened for tours by important people and the public.
Fusō served in different parts of the Japanese Navy. In 1880, she carried the Navy Minister on a tour of Hokkaido. In 1881, she carried Emperor Meiji on a tour. She visited ports in Kyushu and Pusan, Korea in 1883. In 1884, Fusō visited Hong Kong and Shanghai, China. She hosted Empress Shōken for a ship launching ceremony in 1886. The ship made a long trip in the Western Pacific in 1888. She visited ports in Korea, Russia, and China in 1889. From November 1891 to July 1894, Fusō was greatly refitted and updated at Yokosuka Naval Arsenal.
During the Battle of the Yalu River on September 17, 1894, Fusō was at the back of the Japanese fleet. She was heavily attacked by Chinese ships. Even though she was hit many times, none of the shells went through her armor. Only five of her crew were killed and nine were wounded. During the battle, her crew fired many shells from her large guns and machine guns.
Fusō was also present during the Battle of Weihaiwei in early 1895. However, she did not see much fighting there. On October 29, 1897, Fusōs anchor chain broke during a strong storm. She collided with the protected cruiser Matsushima. Then she hit Matsushimas sister ship, Itsukushima. Fusō sank at 4:57 PM.
She was re-classed as a second-class battleship in March 1898. She was raised on July 7, 1898. Fusō was repaired at Kure Naval Arsenal and tested again in April 1900.
During the Russo-Japanese War, Fusō was the flagship (main ship) for Rear Admiral Sukeuji Hosoya. She was kept in reserve during the Battle of Tsushima. This was in case the battle moved towards her. In September 1904, her 15 cm guns were removed. They were used on land during the siege of Port Arthur. These guns were replaced with guns from another damaged ship in December.
Fusō was changed to a coast defense ship in December 1905. She was removed from the Navy list on April 1, 1908. She was then used as a "miscellaneous service craft" at Yokosuka Harbor. She was ordered to be sold on February 15, 1909. Fusō was sold by November 30, 1909, and later scrapped.
