Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/1098

 1046

JAPAN

It is, of course, obvious that if the Japauese Fleet can be maintained on the very modern basis of an age of 8 years there will also be a large reserve of ships a little older, such as are maintained in the active lists of other Powers. Of the pre-Dreadnoughts in the list 5 are practically obsolete.

The Kawasaki shipbuilding yard at Kobe and the Mitsubishi establish- ment at Nagasaki are receiving new plant, and there are lesser building yards at Maizuru, Uraga, Sasebo and Osaka, as well as the armour and armament factory at Kure. Japan has thus made herself independent of Europe for the building and arming and equipment of her warships. Experience has been gained of the finest English shipbuilding work, and now every class of vessel is built in Japan. The Navy is highly scientific and modern in every respect. The officers are energetic and capable, and the men are of the best class.

A statement of the Japanese fleet similar to that given for other navies is : —

Dreadnoughts

Pre-Dreadnoughts

Armoured Cruisers.

Light Cruisers

Torpedo Gunboats, Scouts, etc

Destroyers

Torpedo Boats.

Submarines

Completed at end of

1919

1920

1921

9

9

11

13

13

18

12

ia

12

12

13

13

5

4

4

92

100

106

26

36

30

39

43

4

The following table includes all the battleships built and building, armoured cruisers and principal protected cruisers. Ships shown in Italic type are not expected to be completed in 1921.

Laid down

1909

Settsu

1911

Kongo*.

1911

KlrUhlma*

1911

Haruna*

1911

Ili-Wi ■.

1912

I'll so

1918

Yamashii"

1914

Ise.

1914

Hyuga.

>

Main Armament

Dreadnoughts Tons finches! inches 20,800 j 12 11 12 12in.; 10 6iu.

L

-30,000

10 B 14 in. ; 10 6 in.

12 ; 12 14in. ; 20 din.

5 25,000

64,000

Q

Knots 20

40,000

21-5

Battle-cru'iers.