Commissioned into the Imperial Japanese Navy on the 28th of February 1911, Kurama was an Ibuki-class armoured cruiser. On 28 August 1912, the Ibukis were reclassified as battlecruisers.
Kurama attended the Coronation Fleet Review for King George V at Spithead on 25 June 1911. During the First World War, she protected British shipping in the South Pacific. She also supported the landings to occupy German-held Caroline Islands and Mariana Islands. In the 1920s, she was assigned to the northern fleet, covering the landings of Japanese troops in Russia during the Siberian Intervention in support of White Russian forces.
Kurama was scrapped on 20 September 1923 in accordance with the Washington Treaty.
Japanese battlecruiser Kurama on trials. Still considered an armoured cruiser at this time.Japanese battlecruiser KuramaJapanese battlecruiser KuramaJapanese battlecruiser KuramaJapanese battlecruiser Kurama at King George’s Coronation
Commissioned on 11 November 1907, Ibuki was originally classified as an armoured cruiser. On 28 August 1912, the Ibuki and her sister ship Kurama were re-classified as battlecruisers.
During the First World War, Ibuki along with the Australian light cruiser HMAS Sydney, Ibuki escorted a convoy consisting of 20,000 Australian and New Zealand soldiers and 7,500 horses, across the Indian Ocean. During the passage, HMAS Sydney left the convoy to engage the German light cruiser Emden at the Battle of Cocos. Although the more powerful vessel, Ibuki was ordered to stay with the convoy as she was their only protection.
Post-war Ibuki was sold for scrap on 20 September 1923 in accordance with the Washington Treaty.
Displacement
14,871 t (14,636 long tons) (standard); 15,845 t (15,595 long tons) (max)
Coal: 610 t (600 long tons) (normal); 2,000 t (2,000 long tons) (maximum) Fuel Oil: roughly 250 t (250 long tons)
Complement
844
Armament
2 × twin 12-inch 41st Year Type guns 4 × twin 8-inch (200 mm) 41st Year Type guns 14 × single 4.7-inch (120 mm) 41st Year Type guns 4 × 8 cm (3.1 in) guns 3 × 45 cm (17.7 in) torpedo tubes
Armor
Belt: Amidships: 10–18 cm (4–7 in) Ends: 10 cm (4 in) Barbettes: 18 cm (7 in) Turrets: Main: 18 cm (7 in) Secondary: 12.5 cm (5 in) Conning Tower: Forward: 20 cm (7.9 in) Aft: 15 cm (6 in) Deck: Main: 5.2 cm (2 in) Lower Deck Redoubt: 12.7 cm (5 in)
Perla was the lead ship of her class of submarines built for the Italian Regina Marina. On June 6, 1942, Perla launched two torpedoes at the British corvette HMS Hyacinth. Both missed and Hyacinth counter attacked with depth charges. Suffering serious damage, Captain Ventura ordered her to surface and be scuttled. Damage to the Kingston Valves caused by the attack meant that she flooded very slowly. This provided time for the British to board and prevent her sinking.
Repaired and commissioned into the British Royal Navy she was renamed HMS P712.
While in British service she was used to evaluate the level of development of Italian submarines.
In 1943, she was transferred to the Hellenic Navy and renamed Matrozos. She served until 1947 when she was sold and scrapped.
Perla in with its original pre-war color schemePerlaPerlaPerla arriving in BordeauxPerlaThe captured Perla, at anchor in Beirut harbour, Syria 17 July 1942An armed sentry guarding Perla 17 July 1942
