World War One Archives - Page 6 of 8

Japanese Battleship Settsu

Settsu was a Kawachi-class battleship built for the Imperial Japanese Navy. Launched on 30 March 1911, she was completed on 1 July 1912. During the First World War, Settsu and her sister Kawachi bombarded German positions at Qingdao during the siege of Qingdao in 1914, but saw no other combat.

After World War One, Saeetsu was placed in reserve in 1919 and disarmed in 1922 in compliance with the Washington Naval Treaty. In 1924 she was converted to a target ship, a role she undertook until 1945.

At the start of the Second World War, Settsu was deployed to the Philippines, where she simulated the radio traffic of the six main fleet carriers, as well as two light carriers in order to deceive Allied intelligence as to their whereabouts.

Settsu was badly damaged by S Navy aircraft in July 1945. Subsequently refloated she was scrapped in 1946-47.

Japanese Battleship Kawachi

Kawachi was the lead ship of her class of battleships built for the Imperial Japanese Navy. Launched on 15 October 1910, she was commissioned on 31 March 1912. During the First World War, along with her sister ship Settsu, she bombarded German positions during the siege of Tsingtao. A magazine explosion on 12 July 1918 resulted in her sinking with the loss of over 600 crewmen.

Japanese Battleship Aki

Aki was the second of the two-ship class of Satsuma semi-dreadnoughts built for the Imperial Japanese Navy. Launched on 14 April 1907, she was commissioned on 11 March 1911. She saw no combat during the First World War and was disarmed in 1922 to comply with the Washington Treaty. In 1923 Aki was converted to a target ship and sunk in Tokyo Bay by battlecruiser Kongō and the battleship Hyūga on 2 September 1924.