In appearance and armament they vary much. The Maya carries a couple of
6-in. Krupp’s, with two 3-pounder Q.F. and a couple of machine guns;
the Chiokai and Atago are armed with one 8-in. Krupp and one 4.7-in.
gun and two machine guns; the Akagi carries two special French guns of
about 4.7-in. calibre. These guns are the only ones of the kind in the
world, and singularly powerful pieces—Hebrieu guns. The objection to
them is that their lives are short. They proved too powerful for the
little Akagi, and shook her up badly on trial. They were afterwards
fired with reduced charges, except at Yalu, where they proved very
useful, owing to their power.
The Akagi has a raised forecastle, the other three have not. All used
to be schooner-rigged, but just before the war a fighting-top was
fitted to the Akagi’s foremast, and a crow’s-nest to her main. To
distinguish them, the Maya has a black band, the Chiokai a red one,
the Atago yellow. The Akagi’s band is black, but her forecastle and
fighting-top distinguish her. In addition, she has a rather elaborate
green scrollwork on the bow. She has also sponsons for her machine
guns. At Yalu this ship lost her mainmast, and the damage was left
unrepaired for a long time in deference to naval sentiment; it has,
however, been replaced lately.
Reference has already been made to the transfer of torpedo-boat
building from British to French firms. M. Bertin was at that time
naval adviser to the Japanese Government, consequently French design
for large ships secured a similar victory in the year 1887-8. With
such ships as she now had, Japan was beginning to be able to stand
alone, many English instructors were dispensed with; but she was yet
some distance from her present independence. French enterprise saw its
chance and took it; all the foreign-built ships of the new programme
came from France.
These were the Itsukushima, Matsushima, and Hashidate (this last put
together in Japan), the Unebi, Tschishima, and some smaller ships (laid
down in Japanese yards), Yayeyama, Oshima, and Takao.
The ships built in Japan during the Bertin _régime_, 1887 to 1890, are
distinctly French in design and appearance. The first to take the water
was the Takao, launched at Yokosuka in 1888. Particulars are:—
Displacement 1778 tons.
Material of hull Steel.
Length 229 ft.
Beam 34 ft.
Draught 14 ft.
Armament Four 6-in.
One 4.7-in. Q.F.
Two torpedo tubes.
Horse-power 2300.
Speed on trial 15 knots.
Sea speed (_circa_) 12 knots.
Screws Two.
Coal supply 300 tons.
Boilers Two cylindrical.
Engines (made at Yokosuka) Two sets horizontal compound.
Complement 220.
She is fitted with military and searchlight tops on both masts. The
four 6-in. guns are in sponsons in the waist, the 4.7-in. is carried
right aft. There is no protection of any sort to the machinery. She was
the first steel ship built in Japan.
[Illustration: TAKAO.]
About 1887 Japan definitely decided to draw all her Q.F. guns, 6-in. or
4.7-in., from Elswick, and all heavy guns from Canet. Krupp’s pieces
were discarded. This resolution was adhered to till 1902-03, so far as
Elswick was concerned, but Canet guns were given up some years ago.
Elswick guns were, in 1890, shipped to France for the Itsukushima and
her sister. At present (1904) new guns are on the Vickers model.
Following the Takao, Yokosuka launched the despatch vessel Yayeyama in
1899. She was designed by M. Bertin. Her dimensions, etc., are:—
Displacement 1605 tons.
Material of hull Steel.
Length 315 ft.
Beam 34½ ft.
Draught 15 ft.
Armament Three 4.7-in. Q.F.
Six machine guns.
Two torpedo tubes.
Horse-power (forced draught) 5630.
Speed on trial 20.7 knots.
Screws Two.
The engines were provided by Messrs. Hawthorn, Leslie & Co. of
England, and, instead of the horizontal compound previously fitted in
Japanese-built ships, are horizontal, direct-acting, triple expansion.
The boilers are of steel; there are six of these—cylindrical.
Over the engines and boilers a ½-in. steel deck is carried, affording,
in conjunction with the bunkers, some slight protection.
The Onohama Yard laid down a vessel in this year, the Oshima. She was
launched in 1890. Particulars:—
Displacement 640 tons.
Material of hull Steel.
Length 233 ft.
Beam 25½ ft.
Draught 15¾ ft.
Armament Four 4.7-in. Q.F.
Eight 3-pdr. Q.F.
Horse-power (forced draught) 1200.
Speed on trial 16 knots.
Screws One.
[Illustration: [_From a Japanese print._