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Yamashiro Class Battleships
The Yamashiro class battleships of the Imperial Japanese Navy were originally planned as stretched battleship versions of the Kongo class battlecruisers mounting 6 twin turrets. The Yamashiros were a well ballanced design, fast and well armoured but with less gunpower than their American contempories, especially when compared to the New Mexico class with 10-16“ guns.
They entered service in 1918 and took part in no significant action, being largely surplus to the Imperial Japanese Navy's duties. They were also reconstructed in the early 1930s, receiving improved powerplants, armor, fire control, and internal protection.
During the Global War the ships participated in all major encounters of the Pacific, with the IJN Ise and IJN Tajima being sunk on the Battle of the Marshalls. The last two remaining ships were ceded to China as per the Treaty of San Francisco in the later part of 1938. On Chinese service the ships served well into the 1970's, finally being scrapped in 1978.
Ships
General Characteristics
Displacement: 30,600 tons Length: 675 feet Beam: 95 feet Draft: 28.3 feet Speed: 25 knots Armament: ten 14-inch(5×2), 14 six-inch, six 21-inch torpedo tubes.