Launched in 1914 and commissioned in 1915, Fuso was the lead ship of her class of dreadnought battleships built for the Imperial Japanese Navy. Fuso played no part in World War One, instead patrolling the coast off China. She underwent extensive rebuilds from 1930–1935 and 1937–1941 with improvements to her armor and propulsion machinery and a rebuilt superstructure in the pagoda mast style.
Due to her age, Fuso was used primarily in auxiliary roles early in the Second World War. At the Battle of Leyte Gulf, Fusō was part of Vice-Admiral Shōji Nishimura’s Southern Force. On the morning of 24 October1944, Fuso was attacked by aircraft from the USS Enterprise and hit by two bombs. The first destroyed her aircraft catapult and floatplanes, while a second hit near Turret No. 2 and penetrated the decks, killing everyone in No. 1 secondary battery; the ship began to list 2 degrees to starboard.
During the subsequent night action of the Battle of Surigao Strait, Fuso was hit by one or two torpedoes and sank with 1,620 casualties.
Japanese battleship Fusō being launchedJapanese battleship Fusō in 1928.Fusō undergoing renovation and reconstruction in drydock in Kure 1928Imperial Japanese Navy battleship Fusō in 1929Japanese battleship Fusō in 1931Japanese Battleship Fusō during maneuvers with Nagato in 1934.Japanese Battleship Fusō sometime between 1934 and 1935 after modernizationFusō during maneuvers off Abaraiyawan, Japan, early-mid 1935Japanese battleship Fusō after 1930s modernisationImperial Japanese Navy battleship Fusō undergoing post-reconstruction trialsImperial Japanese Navy battleship Fusō undergoing post-reconstruction trials.Japanese Battleship Fusō sometime between 1935 and 1939Yamashiro in Tokyo Bay, Japan, after 1935. Behind her are the battleships Fuso and Haruna (most distant)Japanese battleship Fusō port side of midships section before her 1930-1935 refit.Fusō conducting flooding and drainage tests at Kure, Japan, April 1941.Pagoda tower of the Japanese battleship FusōMain armament of the Japanese battleship FusōImperial Japanese Navy battleship FusōJapanese battleship FusōFusō with Mutsu and Nagato in the backgroundFusō from YamashiroFusō Mogami under attack during the Battle of Leyte Gulf October 1944
The lead-ship of her class, Unryu was launched on 25 September 1943 and commissioned on 6 August 1944. For her maiden sea voyage, she was loaded with thirty Yokosuka MXY7 Ōhka kamikaze rocket planes for transport to Manila in the Philippines. Four days after departing Kure, Hiroshima she was sunk by USS Redfish (SS-395) on 17 December 1944. Only 145 men survived to be rescued, with 1,238 officers, crewmen and passengers losing their lives.
Japanese Aircraft Carrier UnryūJapanese Aircraft Carrier Unryū sinking as seen from the Submarine USS Redfish (SS-395)
Launched on 18 July 1929, HMS Exeter was the second and last York-class heavy cruiser built for the Royal Navy. Commissioned on 22 July 1931, she spent the interwar period in the Atlantic, North America and West Indies Station.
With the outbreak of World War Two, Exeter was sent to the South Atlantic to hunt for German commerce raiders. On the 13th of December, she spotted the German heavy Cruiser Graf Spee and along with the light cruisers HMS Ajax and Achilles fought the Battle of the River Plate. This resulted in severe damage to Exeter, but Graf Spee was forced to find shelter in Montevideo. Subsequent British misdirection, led the captain of the Graf Spee to believe that an overwhelmingly powerful force waited for him if he left port. He therefore scuttled his ship rather than faced certain defeat. In reality only one additional heavy cruiser, HMS Cumberland had arrived.
Exeter was out of action for over a year undergoing repairs following which she scorted convoys for most of 1941. When Japan declared war in December 1941, HMS Exeter was sent to the Far East where she escorted convoys to and from Singapore. When the Japanese prepared to invade the Dutch East Indies, Exeter attempted to intercept the invasion force on 25 February 1942 along with a combined American, Dutch and Australian force. Intercepted by a Japanese cruiser force, Exeter was crippled and forced to withdraw to Surabaya during the First Battle of the Java Sea.
After temporary repairs, Exeter left harbour on 28 February attempting to make for Colombo. Along with her escort of two destroyers, she was sunk during the Second Battle of the Java Sea on 1 March when intercepted by a force of four heavy cruisers and four destroyers.
HMS Exeter anchored off Plymouth, England, during her trials in May 1931.HMS Exeter in drydock.HMS Exeter in a floating drydock.HMS Exeter at DevonportHMS Exeter seen in the mid 1930’s.HMS Exeter in the Panama Canal.HMS Exeter in Lima, Peru.HMS Exeter in Montevideo, Uruguay in 1934HMS Exeter northbound in the Panama Canal.HMS Exeter in the 1930s.HMS Exeter seen in the late 1930’s.HMS Exeter at Montevideo Uruguay in 1934.HMS Exeter off Coco Solo, Panama Canal Zone, circa in 1939.Aerial view of HMS Exeter Panama Canal Zone circa 1939HMS Exeter after refit Mar 1941HMS Exeter seen in the early 1940’s.HMS Exeter at the Gladstone Dock, Liverpool, England.HMS Exeter at the Gladstone Dock, Liverpool, England.HMS Exeter training her 8 inch guns to starboardHMS Exeter at anchor in Balboa harbour, Panama, on 24 April 1934HMS ExeterHMS ExeterHMS ExeterHMS ExeterHMS Exeter at the Royal Naval Dockyard, on Ireland Island, Sandys Parish, in Bermuda
Battle of the River Plate
December 1939 Damage done to HMS Exeter during the Battle of the River Plate.HMS Exeter arriving at Plymouth on 15 February 1940 after the Battle of the River PlateHMS Exeter arriving at Plymouth on 15 February 1940 after the Battle of the River PlateHMS Exeter funnel detail, with shrapnel holes from the Battle of the River Plate
Battle of the Java Sea
HMS Exeter at Sumatra Dutch East Indies early 1942HMS Exeter during the First Battle of the Java SeaHMS Exeter under air attack on 15 February 1942HMS Exeter firing on Japanese aircraft, Java Sea 15 Feb 1942Photo taken by a Japanese plane showing HMS Exeter under attack in the Java Sea in 1942HMS Exeter sinking south of Borneo Dutch East Indies 1 Mar 1942HMS Exeter sinking after two Japanese torpedoes hit her starboard sideHMS Exeter sinking after the Battle of the Java Sea, 1 March 1942
Detailed Photographs
HMS Exeter amidships detail including aircraft catapultsHMS Exeter amidships detailHMS Exeter amidships detailHMS Exeter funnel detail, with shrapnel holes from the Battle of the River Plate
Armament
HMS Exeter’s main 8″ armamentHMS Exeter’s 4″ anti-aircraft gunHMS Exeter’s 5 quad anti-aircraft machine gun mount.
Aircraft
Supermarine Walrus
HMS Exeter’s Supermarine Walrus amphibian aircraftSupermarine Walrus flying boats aboard HMS Exeter in the 1930sSupermarine Walrus being hoisted on HMS ExeterHMS Exeter during the First Battle of the Java Sea
Fairey IIIF
HMS Exeter amidships detail including aircraft catapults
