NAVYPEDIA

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Tsukuba 1907

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
筑波 [Tsukuba]			Kure K K	14.1.1905	26.12.1905	14.1.1907	internal explosion 14.1.1917
生駒 [Ikoma]			Kure K K	15.3.1905	9.4.1906	24.3.1908	TS 1919, for disposal 1923

Technical data

Displacement normal, t	13750
Displacement full, t	15400
Length, m	134.1 pp 137.1 oa
Breadth, m	22.8
Draught, m	8.00
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 VTE, 20 Miyabara boilers
Power, h. p.	20500
Max speed, kts	20.5
Fuel, t	Tsukuba: coal 2000 Ikoma: coal 1911 + oil 160
Endurance, nm(kts)	9000(10)
Armour, mm	belt: 178 - 102, upper belt: 127, barbettes: 178, turrets: 178, casemates: 127, deck: 76, CT: 203 - 152
Armament	2 x 2 - 305/45 Armstrong J, 12 x 1 - 152/45 Armstrong GG, 12 x 1 - 120/40 Armstrong BB, 4 x 1 - 76/40 Armstrong N, 2 x 1 - 6.5/115, 3 - 450 TT (1 bow, 2 beam)
Complement	879

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

First capital ships built in Japan and first-ever cruisers armed with 12`` guns in twin turrets. They were ordered in June, 1904 as replacement of lost battleships Hatsuse and Yashima and laid down even before end of the Russian-Japanese war. Building of the ships has been interfaced to industrial problems because of what lead-ship Tsukuba possessed numerous defects. Commission of Ikoma was delayed by shortage of main artillery: ship has gone out on sea trails in November, 1907, but completely has been armed and completed only by February, 1911. On measuring mile Tsukuba has shown 20.5kts at 20736hp, Ikoma made 21.9kts at 22670hp.

Ship protection

Krupp steel. Main belt, extended to 1.2m under wl, was 178mm between barbettes and 102mm at ship ends. The upper belt between barbettes was 127mm, casemates had also 127mm protection. Barbettes and turrets had 178mm armour. There were main CT with 203mm sides and aft CT with 152mm sides. Protected deck was 51mm amidships and 76mm at ship ends.

Modernizations

1919, Ikoma: - 2 x 1 - 152/45, 4 x 1 - 120/40; + 2 x 1 - 76/40 3-shiki

Naval service

Tsukuba was lost at Yokosuka as a result of magazines explosion; crew losses have made 305 persons the killed. Ikoma since 1919 served as gunnery training ship. Soon after Washington conference, in 1922, she was disarmed and sold for BU 13.11.1924.