Naval Construction in Japan Facts and Figures Regarding the Strength of the Japanese Navy Today and III 1927

JANUARY, 1922 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN 25 Naval Construction in Japan Facts and Figures Regarding the Strength of the Japanese Navy Today and III 1927

By Hector C. Bywater

HE strength of the Jap beyond the "eight-eight" T anese Navy, both at pres scheme, even though the ent and in the near future, Conference at Washington has become a -subject of deep should prove abortive in re interest to all who follow the gard to the restriction of trend of world affairs. Thirty armaments. years ago the sea power of Japan at the present mo Japan was a negligible quan ment is by no means so tity. Her navy was scarcely strong in capital ships as large enough to merit the ti seems to be popularly as tle, and the fleet that won sumed. Her dreadnought such a resounding victory at battle squadron comprises the Yalu River in 1894 was only seven ships-"Settsu," simply a cruiser squadron, "Fu-so," "Yamashiro," "Ise," though it contained all the "Hiuga," "Nagato," and effective ships then under the "Mutsu"-and it is doubtful flag of the Rising Sun. But whether the "Settsu," armed the success thus achieved by orily with 12-inch guns, can the young navy gave a great be considered a first-class impetus to expansion, and unit. The six remaining Battleship "Nagato," also "Mutsu." Displacement, 33,800 tons. Speed, 23 knots. Armament, when, ten years later, Japan ships are, however, equal in eight 16-in.; twenty 5.5-in.; eight torpedo tubes found herself on the verge of gun-power to any vessels war with Russia, she was able to muster a truly for led the world in respect of dimensions when she was afloat, and the "Nagato" and "Mutsu" remain for the midable fleet, including battleships, armored cruisers, completed in 1915, just as the later "Nagato," commis time being the strongest representatives of their type and other vessels of the most powerful type. With few sioned in December, 1920, remains the heaviest battle in any of the world's fleets. The only other all-big-gun exceptions, however, these new ships had been built ship-as distinct from battle cruisers-which has been ships are the four battle cruisers "Kongo" "Hi-yei," abroad, for Japan was not yet sufficiently versed in completed to date. By comparison with this rapid de "Haruna," and "Kirishima." Powerful though they be, naval architecture to undertake heavy construction on velopment of an industry that barely existed a genera these ships date from the pre-Jutland era, and are espe her own account. In reviewing the development of her tion ago the growth of German shipbuilding, which cially deficient in protection. They will lapse into fleet since the war with Russia the most interesting used to be considered very remarkable, was a slow and obsolescence as soon as the new type of battle cruiser fact to be noted is that prac now under design or con- tically all the ships which struction in the U nit e d post-date that period have States, Great Britain, and be e n built, armed, and Japan comes into service. It equipped by native industry. will be seen, therefore, that In some cases, it is true, cer the Japanese Navy of today tain structural parts, ma includes only eleven ships of chinery, guns, mountings, the dreadnought type, and and armor were purchased nearly half of these are, or abroad, but of late years the shortly will be, of problem import of naval material has atical fighting value. The been very limited; and real Significance of Japan's Japan, for all practical pur naval policy lies not in the poses, is now self-supporting size of her existing fleet, but in respect of naval shipbuild in the scope of her new pro ing and equipment. Her gram, which passed the Im progress to this position of perial Diet in July, 1920. independence was hastened This measure covered appro by the World War, for while priations for no fewer than that struggle continued she fourteen new capital ships, could obtain no supplies viz., six battleships and eight from Europe or the United battle cruisers, all of which States. She was therefore Battleship "Ise," also "Hiuga." Displacement, 31,260 tons. Speed, 23 knots. Armament, are to be completed in 1927. compelled to fall back upon Twelve 14-in.; twenty 5.5-in.; six torpedo tubes Four of the ships included her own resources, and these therein are now on the were so enlarged during the period of the war that Ad laborious process. There are now half a dozen ship stocks, leaving ten to be commenced· between now and miral Kato, the Minister of Marine, was able to an yards in Japan which could, if necessary, build war ]924 if the stipulated dates of completion are to be nounce last year that the whole of the naval construc ships of the largest dimensions. Given the necessary adhered to. 'rhe Japanese naval authorities are main tion then in hand would be built and equipped with funds and an adequate supply of material, Japan would taining impenetrable secrecy as to the characteristics none but Japanese labor and Japanese material. The therefore be in a position to reinforce her navy on a of all these vessels, but since they will be of consider literal accuracy of this statement is open to doubt, for far larger scale than she has done up to now. But the ably later design than any warship now constructing i:t has since been ascertained that orders for several present program is already straining her finances to in the United States or elsewhere, they may possibly thousand tons of armor and a few sets of submarine the utmost, and it is very improbable that she will go prove to be unique in size and gun-power. If no new engines were placed in Eng American construction is au land on. behalf of the Japan thorized in the interval, the ese Navy. On the other completion of the "eight hand, reports that certain eight" program will put capital ships and cruisers of Japan on an equality as re the "eight-eight" program gards post-Jutland ships. In would be built in England cruising vessels she will en have been authoritatively joy an absolute superiority. denied. Ten light cruisers of 25 The first large vessel to be knots and over have been constructed in Japan was the completed, four are building, "Tsukuba," an armored and twelve more have been cruiser of 13,750 tons. Begun authorized, giving a grand in January, 1905, she was total of twenty-six. Provi launched in the following sion has been made also for November and completed in an eventual establishment of December, 1906, having thus at least 100 destroyers and taken less than two years from 110 to 120 submarines. to build-a very notable The completion of this vast achievement. In Marc h , program will tax the Japan 1912, we find Japan laying ese shipbuilding, engineering, the keel of what was then and armament industries to the largest· and most power the utmost, and it yet re ful battleship ever designed. Battleship "Yamashiro;" also "Fuso." Displacement , 30.600 tons. Speed, 22.5 knots. mains to be seen whether This ship,- the "Fu-so," still Armament, Twelve 14-in.; sixteen 6-in.; six torpedo tubes they are competent to under-

take and complete so much than mining produce oxides work during the next six of nitrogen which have a years. deleterious effect on individ- Although no official figures uals breathing them for any have ever been published, it length of time. is well known that shipbuild- Two gases that result ing in Japan is very expen- ttttMj -1 from the firing of explosives sive. The battleships "Na- are, because of their physi- gato" and "Mutsu," of 33,SOO ological effects, important in tons, are said to have cost mine ventilation. They are $35,000,000 apiece. Taking carbon monoxide and oxides - - $40,000,000 as a very con- of nitrogen. Other gases pro- servative average for the duced at the same time, in- fourteen capital ships yet to _ cluding carbon dioxide, hy- be completed, the building of drogen, methane, and nitro- these vessels alone will in- Submarine "No. 26." Class of eight built 1917 to 1921. Displacement, surface, 800 tons; submerged, gen, are unimportant unless 1100 tons. Details not available; believed to be generally similar to our own 800-ton boats volve Japan in an expendi- in proportions sufficient to ture of $560,000,000; and to this must be added the cost which under-water craft operating in the Far East diminish appreciably the oxygen content of the mine of all the new light cruisers, destroyers, submarines, have to navigate. The experiment does not appear to air. Carbon monoxide and oxides of nitrogen usually " and auxiliaries. No wonder that the Japanese naval have been a conspicuous success, for according to recent occur together and are very harmful, even when inhaled budget, which already swallows up 35 per cent of the reports the native constructors have now adopted a de- in small quantities. About 0.01 or 0.02 per cent Is the total revenue, is expected to absorb as much as 40 per sign based upon that of the surrendered German U- maximum quantity of carbon monoxide allowable con cent a few years hence. boats. AmQng the submarines building in Japan are tinuously in mine air without affecting the workmen Warship construction in Japan has hitherto developed several very large boats, of 2000 tons or more, with an harmfully, although as much as 0.04 per cent is harm along fairly original lines: The latest battleships have extensive cruising range and equipped with mine-laying less for periods of time not exceeding one hour. Very an armament remarkably powerful in proportion to gear. In the published illustration of Submarine little data are available on the maximum quantity of their displacement. The "Ise" and "Hiuga," of 31,260 "No. 19," completed last year, above-water torpedo oxides of nitrogen that may be tolerated in mine air tons, each carry twelve 14-inch guns in two-gun turrets; tubes are shown mounted-one on each side of the without danger to the men working therein. The gen twenty 5.5-inch R.F. guns, and six submerged torpedo superstructure. In the later boats, of which "No. 26" eral conclusions are that 0.01 and 0.02 per cent of oxides tubes. The total weight of this armament is said to be (completed last January and pictured above) is typical, of nitrogen is dangerous and under no conditions should IS per cent more than that of the U.S.S. "New Mexico" all the tubes are submerged. 0.05 per cent be reached. Carbon monoxide can be de- (32,000 tons), whose twelve termined to an accuracy 14-inch guns are in triple about 0.02 per cent by the turrets, while her secondary usual Haldane analysis, but battery is very much lighter, an accurate method of de- and her torpedo equipment termining oxides of nitrogen limited to two tubes. More- at low concentrations has over, the "Ise" and "Hiuga" heretofore been impossible are 23-knot ships. On the without using a large quan- other hand, their armor pro- tit.y of gas for a sample. tection is light compared A method was desired by with that of American con- which very small quantities temporaries. The "Nagato" of oxides of nitrogen could and "Mutsu" superficially be determined from a min- resemble the U.S.S. "Mary- imum quantity of gas, for land" class, but they are samples of mine gases are 1200 tons larger and two taken most conveniently in knots faster. The "Kaga"" vacuum bottles of about 250 and "Tosa," laid down last c.c. capacity. The Iiitrom year, are battleships of method used by Gutbier and 39,000 tons, with a main Busch is difficult to perform armament of ten or twelve "and can not be used at such 16-inch guns. The battle low concentrations as are cruisers "Amagi" and "Aka- present in the usual mine- gi," begun this year and due air samJ;)les. To be of value Scout cruiser "Hirado;" also "Yahagi" and "Chikuma." Displacement, 4950 tons. Speed, 26 knots. to be launched in the coming in mine-gas analysis, a meth- Armament, Eight 6-in.; three torpedo tubes spring, displace about 43,000 od should be accurate to at tons, with a main battery of eight 16-inch guns, a 12- The Determination of Oxides of Nitrogen least 10 parts per million, or 0.001 per cent. After ex- inch armor belt, and a designed speed of 33 knots. HE Bureau of Mines, in the course of its work look- plosives have been fired, especially in ventilated work They will consequently be faster and more heavily Ting toward the minimizing of accidents in mining ing faces, the products of the explosion are, of course, armed than the "Hood." Two further battle cruisers, operations, has occasion to make analyses of gases in diluted with large quantities of air, and the amounts "Atago" and "Takao," which are to be laid down next determining the ventilation conditions and the hazards of oxides of nitrogen present will usually be lower than January or February, will represent an improved type, that may develop from exposure of the workers to gases 100 parts per million (0.01 per cent). To determine and may be the first ships in the world to carry a bat- liberated in mines. Not only is it important to identify these small quantities, a method was adapted from the tery of IS-inch guns. It is evident from the public such gases as form explosive mixtures and are at times usual procedure for the determination of the oxides speeches of her Minister of Marine that Japan does not liberated in large quantities, but in addition it is neces- of nitrogen in water analysis, applying the di-phenyl mean to be left behind in the race for speed and gunnery sary to determine what gases have harmful effects upon sulfonic acid method to give the total oxides of nitro supremacy. An experimental IS-inch gun of 45 calibers miners who are exposed to them while at work. In gen as nitrogen peroxide or as nitrates. By the use of was completed at the Muroran Iron Works last spring, metal mines where much blasting is done, the shots are the method evolved, 10 parts of oxides of nitrogf:n as the breech mechanism having been made at Kure. often prepared improperly, and some oxides of nitrogen nitrate could be detected in one million parts of the The data regarding this gun are not available. may be formed after firing. Moreover, other industries air oxides of nitrogen mixture with an accuracy of Japanese designers almost five or six parts per million. invariably aim at concentrat ing the maximum degree of New Argentine Float fighting power in each vessel, in Dock whether battleship, cruiser, g HE great variation in or destroyer. They are re T the height of the Parana ported to have worked out River at different seasons of some very novel plans for the year and the cost of the new light cruisers, in keeping the port dredged of which a sea speed of 331J.l the quantities of mud knots is to be combined with brought down caused the a battery of S-inch guns. Public Works Department to Their latest destroyers of favor floating docks for the the first class are also larger smaller river ports, such as and more heavily gunned Bella Vista, Corrientes. than foreign ships of con·e A cross-section plan of the sponding date. Very little is new floating dock at Bella known about the Japanese Vista may be of interest to submarines. Some years ago American construction com the foreign designs from panies, as it is typical of all which Japanese constructors those to be built on the Pa- had been working were dis rana River. The plan may carded, and plans prepared be consulted in the Latin of a submarine more adapted Destroyer "Momi;" class of eight, built 1919-20. Displacement, 850 tons. American Division. to the special conditions in Armament , three 4.7-in.; four 21-in. torpedo tubes