Japanese battleship Ise
Ise, late 1920s
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History | |
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Empire of Japan | |
Name | Ise |
Namesake | Ise Province |
Ordered | 11 April 1913 |
Builder | Kawasaki, Kobe |
Laid down | 10 May 1915 |
Launched | 12 November 1916 |
Completed | 15 December 1917 |
Stricken | 20 November 1945 |
Fate | Sunk by air attack, 28 July 1945, and subsequently scrapped |
General characteristics (as built) | |
Class and type | Ise-class battleship |
Displacement | |
Length | 208.18 m (683 ft) (o.a.) |
Beam | 28.65 m (94 ft) |
Draught | 8.93 m (29 ft 4 in) |
Installed power |
|
Propulsion | 4 × shafts; 2 × steam turbine sets |
Speed | 23 knots (43 km/h; 26 mph) |
Range | 9,680 nmi (17,930 km; 11,140 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) |
Complement | 1,360 |
Armament |
|
Armour | |
General characteristics (after first reconstruction) | |
Displacement | 42,001 long tons (42,675 t) (full load) |
Length | 215.8 m (708 ft) |
Beam | 31.75 m (104 ft 2 in) |
Draught | 9.45 m (31 ft) |
Installed power |
|
Propulsion | 4 × steam turbine sets |
Speed | 24.5 knots (45.4 km/h; 28.2 mph) |
Range | 7,870 nmi (14,580 km; 9,060 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) |
Complement | 1,376 |
Armament |
|
Armour | Decks: 152 mm (6 in) |
Aircraft carried | 3 |
Aviation facilities | 1 catapult |
General characteristics (as hybrid carrier, 1945) | |
Displacement | 39,805 long tons (40,444 t) (full load) |
Length | 219.62 m (720 ft 6 in) |
Beam | 31.71 m (104 ft) |
Draught | 9.03 m (29 ft 8 in) |
Range | 9,500 nmi (17,600 km; 10,900 mi) at 16 knots |
Complement | 1,463 |
Sensors and processing systems |
|
Armament |
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Aircraft carried | 22–24 |
Aviation facilities | 2 catapults |
Ise (
Despite the expensive reconstruction, the ship was considered obsolete by the eve of the
Design and description
The Ise class was designed as an improved version of the preceding
During the ships' modernisation in the 1930s, their forward
Propulsion
The Ise-class ships had two sets of direct-drive
During their 1930s modernisation, the boilers on each ship were replaced by eight new Kampon oil-fired boilers.[2] The turbines were replaced by four geared Kampon turbines with a designed output of 80,000 shp (60,000 kW) intended to increase their speed to 24.5 knots (45.4 km/h; 28.2 mph). On her trials, Ise reached a top speed of 25.3 knots (46.9 km/h; 29.1 mph) from 81,050 shp (60,440 kW).[1] The fuel storage of the ships was increased, which gave them a range of 7,870 nautical miles (14,580 km; 9,060 mi) at a speed of 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph), despite the additional weight.[2]
Armament
The twelve
In 1931–1933 the AA guns were replaced with eight 12.7-centimetre (5 in) Type 89 dual-purpose guns, placed beside the forward superstructure in four twin-gun mounts.[11] Two twin-gun mounts for licence-built Vickers two-pounder (4-centimetre (1.6 in)) light AA guns were also added, while the pair of 14 cm guns on the upper deck were removed.[12]
During the mid-1930s reconstruction, the torpedo tubes were removed and the Vickers two-pounders were replaced by 20 licence-built
Protection
The Ise-class ships'
Fire control and sensors
While the details of the ship's fire-control instruments are not fully available, Ise was fitted with a
Aircraft
Ise was briefly fitted with an aircraft flying-off platform for a Mitsubishi 1MF3 fighter on Turret No. 2 in 1927. It was replaced by a platform on Turret No. 5 for a Yokosuka E1Y reconnaissance floatplane in 1928–1929. A catapult and a collapsible crane were fitted on the stern during the mid-1930s modernisation, and the ship was equipped to operate three floatplanes, although no hangar was provided. The initial Nakajima E4N2 biplanes were replaced by Nakajima E8N2 biplanes in 1938.[12]
Construction and career
Ise,
On 12 April 1922, while at
Between 20 November 1931 and 10 February 1932, Ise had her anti-aircraft armament entirely replaced, her forward superstructure was further enlarged so that it became a
Beginning on 1 August 1935, Ise was
Start of the Pacific War
To provide distant support for the
Ise and the rest of the 2nd Battleship Division set sail on 28 May with the Aleutian Support Group at the same time most of the Imperial Fleet began an attack on
Conversion to a hybrid carrier
The loss of four Japanese aircraft carriers during the Battle of Midway in June severely limited the ability of the IJN to conduct operations and alternatives were sought. Plans for full conversions of battleships into aircraft carriers were rejected on the grounds of expense and, more critically, time, so the IJN settled on removing the rear pair of turrets from the Ise-class ships and replacing them with a flight deck equipped with two rotating catapults.[22] Ise began her conversion on 23 February 1943 and Takeda was relieved by Captain Hase Shinzaburo on 25 April.[12] The ship's No. 5 and No. 6 turrets were replaced by a hangar surmounted by a flight deck. This was not long enough to permit the launch of aircraft or their recovery. Two catapults were installed and the existing crane was moved to the flight deck. The deck was fitted with an extensive system of rails to link each catapult, the storage positions on the deck and the T-shaped aircraft lift that moved aircraft between the flight deck and the hangar. It had a capacity of nine aircraft, the remainder being stowed on deck and one on each catapult for a total of 22–24. The ship's air group was intended to consist of a dozen each Yokosuka D4Y Suisei dive bombers (Allied reporting name "Judy"), modified for catapult launching, and Aichi E16A reconnaissance aircraft (Allied reporting name "Paul"). The former had to land either on a conventional carrier or on land bases, whereas the E16A could be hoisted back aboard using a crane, after landing on the water near the ship.[23]
During the conversion, all the 14 cm guns were removed and the ship's anti-aircraft suite was heavily reinforced. The eight 12.7 cm Type 89 guns were supplemented with four additional twin mounts and the existing 2.5 cm Type 96 AA twin-gun mounts were replaced by 19 triple-gun mounts for a total of 57 weapons.[24]
These changes increased the ship's overall length to 219.62 metres (720 ft 6 in) and the removal of the heavy gun turrets and their barbettes reduced her displacement to 39,805 long tons (40,444 t) at deep load, despite the addition of more fuel oil storage. The extra fuel increased Ise's range to 9,500 nautical miles (17,600 km; 10,900 mi). The weight reductions decreased her draught to 9.03 metres (29 ft 8 in). The crew now numbered 1,463 officers and enlisted men.[4]
The rebuild was officially completed on 8 October 1943 and Ise made a sortie to
On 25 February 1944, Battleship Division 2 was assigned to the direct control of the
On 23 June, the sisters conducted their first catapult training, each with four D4Ys and six E16As aboard; subsequent sessions were conducted on 21 July and 31 August.[25] A pair of Type 13 early-warning radars and an E27 radar detector were installed from 22 to 26 July. From 28 September to 10 October, six racks of 30-tube 12.7 cm anti-aircraft rocket launchers were added.[12] Training of the D4Y and E16A aircrew was slowed by technical problems and was generally conducted from land bases. By 1 October the 634th had on strength 17 D4Ys, of which 6 were serviceable, and 18 E16As, of which 16 were operable.[26]
Battle off Cape Engaño and afterwards
After the Americans began attacking Japanese installations in the Bonin Islands on 10 October 1944, the aircraft of the Fourth Carrier Division were ordered to prepare for combat by the commander of the Combined Fleet, Admiral
The ships of the Fourth Carrier Division were assigned to the Main Body of the
On the morning of 25 October, Ise was positioned astern of the carriers Zuikaku and Zuihō to protect them with her anti-aircraft guns. Her radar picked up American aircraft at a range of 125 nautical miles (232 km; 144 mi) at 07:39. The first attack began at 08:20, with the old battleship engaging enemy aircraft with San Shiki anti-aircraft shells from her main guns with unknown effect. She was not heavily attacked, but two bombs fell nearby. The second wave of aircraft attacked at 10:05 and the ship's gunners claimed to have shot down five of the ten dive bombers. Ise was near missed eight times, although one small bomb struck No. 2 turret. The third wave was detected by her radar at 12:28, but it did not attack the battleship, sinking the damaged Zuikaku and Zuihō instead. Ise rescued 98 survivors from Zuihō before the next attack began around 17:26. She was the primary focus of this wave and was attacked by about 85 dive bombers and at least 11 torpedo bombers.[12] Saved by heavy anti-aircraft fire and expert manoeuvring,[29] the battleship dodged all the torpedoes, and was struck by only one bomb, near the port catapult. Roughly 34 near misses damaged her hull plating near the waterline and started a small leak that contaminated a small oil tank and caused minor damage to the port boiler rooms. Splinters from the near misses and the single hit killed 5 crewmen and wounded 71.[12]
The American submarine
Between 29 October and 8 November, the catapults were removed to improve the firing arcs of No. 3 and No. 4 turrets. Ise and Hyūga departed on 11 November, loaded with troops and munitions for Manila, capital of the Philippines, but news was received of heavy American air attacks on Manila and they were diverted to the Spratly Islands. They arrived on 14 November and their cargo was unloaded so it could be transferred to the Philippines. The 4th Carrier Division was transferred to the 2nd Fleet the following day. Reinforced by the battleship Haruna and three cruisers, the sisters proceeded on to Lingga Island, near Singapore, on 20 November. They arrived two days later and remained there until 12 December when they departed for Cam Ranh Bay, French Indochina, where they were on standby for an attack on an American supply convoy bound for the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. The attack was cancelled on the 30th and the ships sailed for Singapore where they arrived on 1 January 1945 before continuing on to Lingga. That same day the Fourth Carrier Division was transferred to the Southwest Area Fleet.[12]
Final role
On 6 February, the division sailed for Singapore to participate in
The division sailed from Singapore on 10 February and was spotted by the British submarine
The 4th Carrier Division was disbanded on 1 March and Ise was reduced to first-class reserve. From this time until the
Notes
- ^ Jentschura, Jung & Mickel also credit the ships with a dozen 8 cm 3rd Year Type guns,[2] but these were actually shorter and lighter 8 cm Type 41 saluting guns that could be used by the ships' boats and landing parties ashore.[8]
- ^ These guns were licence-built British quick-firing (QF) QF 12-pounder guns. While the Japanese designated them as 8 cm, their actual calibre was 76.2 mm.[9]
- ^ Sources contradict each other regarding the armour scheme of these ships. Lengerer, the most recent researcher using Japanese sources, has been followed rather than older sources.
- Hawaiian Standard Time, so in Japan, the attack on Pearl Harborhappened on 8 December.
Footnotes
- ^ a b Lengerer March 2007, p. 9
- ^ a b c d e f Jentschura, Jung & Mickel, p. 26
- ^ Chesneau, p. 171
- ^ a b Lengerer 2009, pp. 50–51
- ^ Lengerer 2011, pp. 21–22
- ^ Lengerer 2011, pp. 24–26, 30
- ^ Lengerer 2011, pp. 33–34
- ^ Lengerer 2011, p. 35
- ^ Campbell, p. 198
- ^ Gardiner & Gray, p. 230
- ^ Lengerer March 2007, p. 12
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Hackett, Kingsepp & Ahlberg
- ^ Stille, p. 11
- ^ Lengerer 2006, pp. 28–30; Lengerer 2011, p. 36
- ^ Lengerer March 2007, p. 16
- ^ Lengerer 2006, pp. 28–30
- ^ Lengerer 2011, pp. 28, 30–31, 41
- ^ a b Silverstone, p. 331
- ^ Rohwer, pp. 168–169
- ^ Parshall & Tully, p. 454
- ^ Parshall & Tully, p. 46
- ^ Lengerer 2009, pp. 39–40
- ^ Lengerer 2009, pp. 45–49, 51–53
- ^ Lengerer 2009, p. 43
- ^ Lengerer September 2007, p. 22
- ^ Lengerer September 2007, p. 23
- ^ Lengerer 2009, p. 53
- ^ Polmar & Genda, pp. 420, 422, 428
- ^ Polmar & Genda, pp. 430
References
- Campbell, John (1985). Naval Weapons of World War II. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-459-4.
- Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
- Gardiner, Robert & Gray, Randal, eds. (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-907-3.
- Hackett, Bob; Kingsepp, Sander & Ahlberg, Lars (2016). "IJN Ise: Tabular Record of Movement". Combinedfleet.com. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- Jentschura, Hansgeorg; Jung, Dieter & Mickel, Peter (1977). Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869–1945. Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute. ISBN 0-87021-893-X.
- Lengerer, Hans (September 2006). Ahlberg, Lars (ed.). "Battleships Ise and Hyûga – Part I". Contributions to the History of Imperial Japanese Warships (Paper I): 4–30.(subscription required)(contact the editor at [email protected] for subscription information)
- Lengerer, Hans (March 2007). Ahlberg, Lars (ed.). "Battleships Ise and Hyûga – Part II". Contributions to the History of Imperial Japanese Warships (Paper II): 4–17.(subscription required)
- Lengerer, Hans (September 2007). Ahlberg, Lars (ed.). "Battleships Ise and Hyûga – Part III". Contributions to the History of Imperial Japanese Warships (Paper III): 4–24.(subscription required)
- Lengerer, Hans (2009). "Ise and Hyûga: The IJN's Hybrid Battleship-Carriers". In Jordan, John (ed.). Warship 2009. London: Conway. pp. 39–54. ISBN 978-1-84486-089-0.
- Lengerer, Hans (March 2011). Ahlberg, Lars (ed.). "The Japanese 14"-Gunned Battleships: An Abstract of the Fusō and Ise Classes – Part I". Contributions to the History of Imperial Japanese Warships (Paper X): 5–42.(subscription required)
- Parshall, Jonathan & Tully, Anthony (2007). Shattered Sword: The Untold Story of the Battle of Midway. Washington, DC: Potomac Books. ISBN 978-1-57488-924-6.
- ISBN 1-57488-663-0.
- ISBN 1-59114-119-2.
- Silverstone, Paul H. (1984). Directory of the World's Capital Ships. New York: Hippocrene Books. ISBN 0-88254-979-0.
- Stille, Mark (2008). Imperial Japanese Navy Battleships 1941–45. New Vanguard. Vol. 146. Botley, Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-280-6.
Further reading
- Layman, R. D. & McLaughlin, Stephen (1991). The Hybrid Warship: The Amalgamation of Big Guns and Aircraft. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-374-5.
- Whitley, M. J. (1998). Battleships of World War II. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-184-X.