Japanese Cruiser Yoshino

was a protected cruiser of the Imperial Japanese Navy. ''Yoshino'' is sometimes regarded as a sister ship to , although the two vessels are of different classes. The name ''Yoshino'' comes from the Yoshino mountains, located in the southern portion of Nara prefecture. She played an important role in the First Sino-Japanese War, but was sunk in the Russo-Japanese War after being rammed by Japanese armored cruiser in dense fog.

Background

''Yoshino'' was an improved design of the Argentine Navy cruiser ''Veinticinco de Mayo'' designed by Sir Philip Watts, and built by the Armstrong Whitworth shipyards in Elswick, in the United Kingdom. Watts was also responsible for the design of the cruiser and the s. When commissioned, ''Yoshino'' was the largest ship in the Imperial Japanese Navy, and was also the fastest cruiser in the world when she entered service.Evans, ''Kaigun'', p. 34.Elleman, ''Modern Chinese Warfare'', p. 102.

Design

''Yoshino'' was a typical Elswick cruiser design, with a steel housing, divided into waterproof compartments, a low forecastle, twin funnels, and two masts. The prow was reinforced for ramming. The power plant was a triple expansion reciprocating steam engine with four cylindrical boilers, driving two screws.Chesneau, '' Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905'', pp. 226–227.

The main armament of ''Yoshino'' consisted of four separate Elswick QF 6 inch /40 naval guns behind gun shields, which were placed as bow and stern guns and in sponsons near the bridge. Secondary armament consisted of eight Elswick QF 4.7 inch Gun Mk I–IV quick-firing guns mounted on the sides of the hull and 22 QF 3 pounder Hotchkiss guns.

Service record

''Yoshino'' was laid down in February 1892, launched on 20 December 1892 and completed on 30 September 1893.
Soon after being placed into service, ''Yoshino'' was assigned to patrol duties off of the coast of Korea due to increasing tension between the Empire of Japan and the Empire of China.

First Sino-Japanese War

On 25 July 1894, ''Yoshino'', and , met two Chinese ships off the Korean coast in the Yellow Sea. The Beiyang Fleet cruiser and gunboat had sortied from Asan to meet another Chinese gunboat, '' Caojiang'' and the leased transport ''Kowshing'' transporting 1,100 troops and supplies as reinforcements to the Chinese garrison in Korea. Although not at war, the Japanese and Chinese squadrons exchanged gunfire in what was later called the Battle of Pungdo, with ''Guangyi'' driven onto rocks and destroyed, ''Caojiang'' captured, and ''Jiyuan'' taking considerable damage before retreating. ''Yoshino'' despite its vaunted superior speed, was unable to catch ''Jiyuan'' before it disappeared into a fog bank. The transport ''Kowshing'' was sunk by ''Naniwa'' during the battle.Paine, ''The Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895: Perception, Power, and Primacy'' pages 133–134

After the formal declaration of hostilities, ''Yoshino'' continued to participate in the First Sino-Japanese War, including the Battle of the Yellow Sea on 17 September 1894. ''Yoshino'' served as flagship for Japanese Admiral Tsuboi Kōzō in a flying squadron which included , and . During the battle, ''Yoshino'' assisted in sinking the Beiyang Fleet cruisers and and severely damaging .

Later, ''Yoshino'' was among the Japanese fleet units that took part in the invasion of Taiwan, and bombarded Cihou Fort, part of the coastal defences of Kaohsiung on 13 October 1895. Future admiral Yashiro Rokurō served on ''Yoshino'' during this campaign as a lieutenant.

Russo-Japanese War

With the start of the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, ''Yoshino'' participated in the naval Battle of Port Arthur. However, soon after the start of the war, ''Yoshino'' collided with the Japanese armored cruiser in dense fog. ''Kasuga''s ram hit ''Yoshino''s port side, and penetrated to the engine room; ''Yoshino'' turned turtle and sank in the Yellow Sea at () on 15 May 1904 with the loss of 319 lives. Only 19 of the crew managed to survive.Howarth, ''The Fighting Ships of the Rising Sun''

As a result of this accident, the Imperial Japanese Navy removed the rams from the bows of all its warships.Jentsura, ''Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy'';

Notes

References

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Yoshino
Cruisers of the Imperial Japanese Navy
Ships built on the River Tyne
Ships built by Armstrong Whitworth
1892 ships
Naval ships of Japan
Russo-Japanese War cruisers of Japan
First Sino-Japanese War cruisers of Japan
Shipwrecks in the Yellow Sea
Maritime incidents in 1904
Ships sunk in collisions
Shipwrecks of the Russo-Japanese War