Yamashiro

Yamashiro Yamashiro was a Japanese Ise-class battleship warship built for the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War I. The ship was named after a province on the main island of Honshu, and was completed in 1917.

History

Yamashiro was ordered under the 8-8 fleet program as part of a series of new capital ships intended to give the Imperial Japanese Navy a substantial advantage over its opponents. The design of Yamashiro and her sister ship, Ise, was influenced by the British Queen Elizabeth-class and the German König-class. The construction of Yamashiro began in 1915 at the Kure Naval Arsenal, with Kiyoshi Hasegawa overseeing the project. The ship was launched on 1916 and was completed in 1917. After her completion, Yamashiro served as the flagship of the Japanese Combined Fleet.

During the interwar period, Yamashiro underwent several refits, including the installation of new anti-aircraft guns and torpedo tubes. In 1930, the ship was modernized with a new bridge and improved fire control systems.

Design and description

Yamashiro was a large battleship, measuring in length, with a beam of and a draft of . The ship had a displacement of and was powered by Kampon steam turbines, which produced and gave the ship a top speed of .

The main armament of Yamashiro consisted of twelve 40 cm/45 Type 94 naval guns, which were mounted in six twin gun turrets. The ship also had twenty 14 cm/50 Type 11 naval guns and sixteen 40 mm/40 Type 96 anti-aircraft guns.

Service history

After her completion, Yamashiro served as the flagship of the Japanese Combined Fleet under Admiral Heihachiro Togo. During World War I, the ship patrolled the Tsushima Strait and participated in the siege of Tsingtao.

In the 1930s, Yamashiro was involved in the invasion of China, providing naval gunfire support for Japanese troops. During World War II, the ship participated in the invasion of the Dutch East Indies and the Battle of Midway.

On October 25, 1944, Yamashiro was sunk during the Battle of Surigao Strait by United States warships, including USS Louisville and USS Portland.

Wreck

The wreck of Yamashiro was discovered in 2019 at a depth of in the Surigao Strait. The wreck was found to be in a relatively good condition, with much of the ship's superstructure still intact.

The wreck of Yamashiro is considered a war grave and is treated with respect by diving expeditions. The Japanese government has also taken steps to protect the wreck and prevent looting. Category:Japanese battleships