Yokosuka is the oldest Imperial dockyard in Japan, and was a going
concern in the sixties. It is at present expanding considerably as a
building yard. There are large engine shops for machinery construction.
There are three dry docks opening into the outer basin, their
dimensions being—
No. 1 (stone).
Feet.
Length 392
Width 82
Depth 22½
No. 2 (stone).
Length 502⅓
Width 94½
Depth 28⅓
No. 3 (stone).
Length 308
Width 45¼
Depth 17¼
No. 2 is able to take any ship in the Japanese Navy; but the others are
not available for any of the large battleships or armoured cruisers.
There are two slips. On these, amongst others, the following ships have
been built: Hashidate, Akitsushima, Suma, Akashi, Takao, and Yaeyama.
The dockyard lies at the foot of a picturesquely wooded hill, in the
Bay of Tokio, and is well defended by sea forts. To the landward the
defence is, however, poor, and Yokosuka could be taken by an army that
could secure a foothold on the southern coast, supposing it able to
defeat the defenders.
[Illustration]