NAVYPEDIA

Photo

  Nisshin 1917 Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.  

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
春日 [Kasuga] (ex-Rivadavia, ex-Mitra)		129	Ansaldo, Genoa, Italy	10.3.1902	22.10.1902	7.1.1904	hulk 1942
日進 [Nisshin] (ex-Mariano Moreno, ex-Roca)		130	Ansaldo, Genoa, Italy	5/1902	9.2.1903	7.1.1904	stricken 1935

Technical data

Displacement normal, t	Kasuga: 7628 Nisshin: 7698
Displacement full, t	8500
Length, m	104.9 pp 108.8 wl 111.7 oa
Breadth, m	18.9
Draught, m	7.32
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 VTE, 12 cylindrical boilers
Power, h. p.	13500
Max speed, kts	20
Fuel, t	Kasuga: coal 1565 Nisshin: coal 1316
Endurance, nm(kts)	5500(10)
Armour, mm	belt: 150 - 70, upper belt: 150, barbettes: 150 - 100, turrets: 150, casemates: 150, deck: 38 - 25, CT: 150
Armament	Kasuga: 1 x 1 - 254/40 Armstrong R, 1 x 2 - 203/45 Armstrong W, 14 x 1 - 152/40 Armstrong Z, 10 x 1 - 76/40 Armstrong N, 6 x 1 - 47/40 3pdr Hotchkiss Mk I, 2 x 1 - 7.7/87, 4 - 450 TT (beam) Nisshin: 2 x 2 - 203/45 Armstrong W, 14 x 1 - 152/40 Armstrong Z, 10 x 1 - 76/40 Armstrong N, 4 x 1 - 47/40 3pdr Hotchkiss Mk I, 2 x 1 - 7.7/87, 4 - 450 TT (beam)
Complement	600

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

Originally laid down for the Italian Navy, but bought by Argentina for the war against Chile after they were launched. The war had ended by the time they were completed and Argentina, having no further use for such large ships, sold them to Japan who wished to match the Russian Far East Fleer. The Kasuga, laid down as the Mitra, was renamed Rivadavia by Argentina, and the Nisshin, laid down as the Roca, was renamed Mariano Moreno by Argentina.

They were the final development of the Italian Giuseppe Garibaldi and were exceedingly powerful ships. Although the main bell was only 150mm thick compared to the 178mm belt on Japan's other armoured cruisers, it extended aver a greater proportion of the hull. The belt also extended for a greater depth at its maximum thickness, there being no upper belt of thinner armour. This single armour belt extended from the waterline to the upper deck, encasing ten of the 152mm guns in the midships battery.

Ship protection

Main 150mm belt (full ship length, 2.8m high) and upper belt (52x2.0m) expanded to upper deck connecting with 150mm casemate protection, main and upper belts were closed by 150mm bulkheads abreast barbettes. Main belt thickness was 75mm on short parts at ship ends. 25mm deck was connected with lower edge of main belt by 38mm slopes. It has turtleback form and 38-25mm thickness outside barbettes. CT had 150mm sides. All 10``, 8`` and 6`` guns had 150mm protection.

Modernizations circa

circa 1922, both: - 10 x 1 - 152/40, 6 x 1 - 76/40

1924, Kasuga: - 6 x 1 - 47/40; + 1 x 1 - 76/40 3-shiki

1924, Nisshin: - 4 x 1 - 47/40; + 1 x 1 - 76/40 3-shiki

Naval service

Both actively participated in the Russian-Japanese war, and acted mainly in one line with Togo battleships as their actual speed did not exceed 18kts.

In 1917-1918 Nisshin served on Mediterranean. In 1927 she was reclassified as TS, in 1935 she became floating target and next year has been sunk. Kasuga 13.1.1918 ran aground in Banka Straits (Indonesia) and salvaged only in June. Since 1925 she served as TS, and in July, 1942 she was disarmed and converted to a hulk. She was sunk by American aircraft, salvaged in 1948 and scrapped.

Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.