1046
JAPAN
It is, of course, obvious that if the Japauese Fleet can be maintained on the very modern basis of an age of 8 years there will also be a large reserve of ships a little older, such as are maintained in the active lists of other Powers. Of the pre-Dreadnoughts in the list 5 are practically obsolete.
The Kawasaki shipbuilding yard at Kobe and the Mitsubishi establish- ment at Nagasaki are receiving new plant, and there are lesser building yards at Maizuru, Uraga, Sasebo and Osaka, as well as the armour and armament factory at Kure. Japan has thus made herself independent of Europe for the building and arming and equipment of her warships. Experience has been gained of the finest English shipbuilding work, and now every class of vessel is built in Japan. The Navy is highly scientific and modern in every respect. The officers are energetic and capable, and the men are of the best class.
A statement of the Japanese fleet similar to that given for other navies is : —
Dreadnoughts
Pre-Dreadnoughts
Armoured Cruisers .
Light Cruisers
Torpedo Gunboats, Scouts, etc
Destroyers
Torpedo Boats .
Submarines
Completed at end of
1919
1920
1921
9
9
11
13
13
18
12
ia
12
12
13
13
5
4
4
92
100
106
26
36
30
39
43
4
The following table includes all the battleships built and building, armoured cruisers and principal protected cruisers. Ships shown in Italic type are not expected to be completed in 1921.
Laid down
1909
Settsu
1911
Kongo* .
1911
KlrUhlma*
1911
Haruna*
1911
Ili-Wi ■ .
1912
I'll so
1918
Yamashii"
1914
Ise .
1914
Hyuga .
>
Main Armament
Dreadnoughts Tons finches! inches 20,800 j 12 11 12 12in.; 10 6iu.
L
-30,000
10 B 14 in. ; 10 6 in.
12 ; 12 14in. ; 20 din.
5 25,000
64,000
Q
Knots 20
40,000
21-5
Battle-cru'iers.
