Bayonets & Brushes

Bayonets & Brushes

The Japanese Combined Fleet 1904-1905

Japan started the Russo Japanese war as a definite underdog. Expected by all western nations and attached observers to be soundly whooped by the numerically superior Imperial Russian forces amply backed up by an economy that could replace the losses of an aggressive war, Japan by comparison had almost bankrupted itself in order to provide its navy with 6 Battleships and 6 Armoured Cruisers. Rear Admiral Togo Heihachiro knew that the way he fought the war had to be in such a way as to conserve his naval assets.

Japans European ally, Great Britain routinely called Japan in the press of the day Gallant Little Japan!

Japan had such a paucity of resources that they were still forced to use the armoured cruisers that had fought (and won) the Sino-Japanese naval war of 1895, albeit in the Fifth reserve naval division.

What the Japanese under the Emperor Meiji lacked in resources they more than made up for in professionalism, aggressive modus operandi and the state of repair that the naval vessels were kept in.

In the final analysis it was these elements that dealt such a crushing blow to the European superpower; Imperial Russia!

The Japanese First Squadron

First Division:

OBB Mikasa, OBB Asahi, OBB Fuji, OBB Yashima, OBB Shikishima, OBB Hatsuse

OBB Asahi

OBB Fuji

OBB Mikasa

OBB Shikishima

OBB Tatsuta

Third Division:

OCR Chitose, OCR Takasago, OCR Kasagi, OCR Yoshino

OCR Chitose

OCR Kasagi

OCR Takasago

OCR Yoshino

1st Destroyer Division:

ODD Shirakumo, ODD Asashiwo, ODD Kasumi, Akatsuki

2nd Destroyer Division:

ODD Ikazuchi, ODD Oboro, ODD Inadzuma, ODD Akebono

3rd Destroyer Division:

ODD Usugumo, ODD Shinonome, ODD Sazanami

14th Torpedo-Boat Division

TB Chiyoda, TB Hayabusa, TB Manadzuru, TB Kasasagi

1st Torpedo-Boat Division

TB67, TB68,TB69, TB70

The Japanese Second Squadron

Second Division

CR Idzumo, CR Adzuma, CR Asama, CR Yakumo, CR Tokiwa, CR Iwate, CS Chihaya

CR Adzuma

CR Asama

CS Chihaya

CR Idzumo

CR Yakumo

Fourth Division

OCR Naniwa, OCR Akashi, OCR Takachiho, OCR Niitaka

OCR Akashi

OCR Naniwa

OCR Tsushima

4th Destroyer Division

ODD Hayatori, ODD Asagiri, ODD Harusame, ODD Murasame

5th Destroyer Division

ODD Murakumo, ODD Shiranui, ODD Yugiri, ODD Kagero

9th Torpedo-Boat Division

TB Aotaka, TB Hato, TB Kari, TB Tsubame

20th Torpedo-Boat Division

TB62, TB63, TB64, TB65

The Japanese Third Squadron

Fifth Division

OBB Chin Yen, OCR Ikutsushima, OCR Hashidate, OCR Matsushima

OBB Chin Yen

OCR Hashidate

OCR Matsushima

Sixth Division

OCR Idzumi (ex Chilean OCR Esmerelda), OCR Suma, OCR Akitsushima, OCR CR Chiyoda

OCR Akitsushima

CR Chiyoda

OCR Idzuma (Ex Chilean OCR Esmerelda)

Seventh Division

OBB Fuso, SC Kaimon,  OCR Saiyen (ex Chinese OCR Chi Yuan)

OBB Fuso

SC Kaimon

OCR Saiyen (Ex Chinese OCR Chi Yuan)

Gunboat Division

OBB Heiyen (Ex Chinese OBB Ping Yuen), OCR Tsukushi, PG Banjo, PG Chokai, PG Atago, PG Maya, PG Uji

Another Gunboat Division Shot

PG Banjo

OBB Heiyen (Ex Chinese OBB Ping Yuen)

PG Maya

CS Miyako

OCR Tsukushi

PG Uji

10th Torpedo-Boat Division

11th Torpedo-Boat Division

16th Torpedo-Boat Division

The 1905 Additions to the Combined Fleet

All of the line of battle vessels that were added to the fleet

OCR Niitaka

CR Nisshin & CR Kasuga

OCR Otawa

CS Yaeyama

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *