Japanese battleship Ise

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Ise, late 1920s
History
Empire of Japan
NameIse
NamesakeIse Province
Ordered11 April 1913
BuilderKawasaki, Kobe
Laid down10 May 1915
Launched12 November 1916
Completed15 December 1917
Stricken20 November 1945
FateSunk by air attack, 28 July 1945, and subsequently scrapped
General characteristics (as built)
Class and typeIse-class battleship
Displacement
Length208.18 m (683 ft) (o.a.)
Beam28.65 m (94 ft)
Draught8.93 m (29 ft 4 in)
Installed power
Propulsion4 × shafts; 2 × steam turbine sets
Speed23 knots (43 km/h; 26 mph)
Range9,680 nmi (17,930 km; 11,140 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Complement1,360
Armament
Armour
General characteristics (after first reconstruction)
Displacement42,001 long tons (42,675 t) (full load)
Length215.8 m (708 ft)
Beam31.75 m (104 ft 2 in)
Draught9.45 m (31 ft)
Installed power
Propulsion4 × steam turbine sets
Speed24.5 knots (45.4 km/h; 28.2 mph)
Range7,870 nmi (14,580 km; 9,060 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Complement1,376
Armament
  • 6 × twin 35.6 cm (14 in) guns
  • 16 × single 14 cm (5.5 in) guns
  • 4 × twin
    DP guns
  • 10 × twin
    2.5 cm (1 in)
    AA guns
ArmourDecks: 152 mm (6 in)
Aircraft carried3
Aviation facilities1 catapult
General characteristics (as hybrid carrier, 1945)
Displacement39,805 long tons (40,444 t) (full load)
Length219.62 m (720 ft 6 in)
Beam31.71 m (104 ft)
Draught9.03 m (29 ft 8 in)
Range9,500 nmi (17,600 km; 10,900 mi) at 16 knots
Complement1,463
Sensors and
processing systems
Armament
  • 4 × twin 35.6 cm guns
  • 8 × twin 12.7 cm DP guns
  • 31 × triple, 11 × single 2.5 cm AA guns
  • 6 × 30-round 12.7 cm AA rocket launchers
Aircraft carried22–24
Aviation facilities2 catapults

Ise (

Siberian Intervention in the Russian Civil War. In 1923, she assisted survivors of the Great Kantō earthquake. The ship was partially modernised in two stages in 1928–1929 and 1931–1932, during which her forward superstructure was rebuilt in the pagoda mast style. Ise was reconstructed in 1934–1937, with improvements to her armour and her propulsion machinery. Afterwards she played a minor role in the Second Sino-Japanese War
.

Despite the expensive reconstruction, the ship was considered obsolete by the eve of the

petrol and other strategic materials to Japan. The ship was then reduced to reserve until American airstrikes in July sank her. After the war Ise was scrapped
in 1946–1947.

Design and description

American ship-recognition drawing of the Ise-class battleships before their conversion

The Ise class was designed as an improved version of the preceding

deep load.[1] They displaced 29,980 long tons (30,460 t) at standard load and 36,500 long tons (37,100 t) at deep load, roughly 650 long tons (660 t) more than the earlier ships. Their crew consisted of 1,360 officers and ratings.[2]

During the ships' modernisation in the 1930s, their forward

torpedo bulges to improve their underwater protection and to compensate for the weight of the extra armour. These changes increased their overall length to 215.8 metres (708 ft),[3] their beam to 31.75 metres (104 ft 2 in) and their draught to 9.45 metres (31 ft). Their displacement increased by over 5,000 long tons (5,100 t) to 42,001 long tons (42,675 t) at deep load.[4] The crew now numbered 1,376 officers and enlisted men.[2]

Propulsion

The Ise-class ships had two sets of direct-drive

kW) and give the ships a speed of 23 knots (43 km/h; 26 mph). Ise reached 23.6 knots (43.7 km/h; 27.2 mph) from 56,498 shp (42,131 kW) during her sea trials.[5] Each of the boilers consumed a mixture of coal and oil, and the ships carried enough of both to give them a range of 9,680 nautical miles (17,930 km; 11,140 mi) at a speed of 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph).[2]

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

Anti-aircraft defence was provided by four 3rd Year Type 8-centimetre (3 in)[Note 2] anti-aircraft (AA) guns in single mounts. The ships were also fitted with six submerged 53.3-centimetre (21 in) torpedo tubes, three on each broadside.[10]

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

2.5-centimetre (1 in) Type 96 light AA guns in 10 twin-gun mounts.[12] This was the standard Japanese light AA gun during World War II, but it suffered from serious design shortcomings that heavily reduced its effectiveness. According to historian Mark Stille, the twin and triple mounts "lacked sufficient speed in train or elevation; the gun sights were unable to handle fast targets; the gun exhibited excessive vibration; the magazine was too small, and, finally, the gun produced excessive muzzle blast".[13] During the reconstruction the forward pair of 14-centimetre guns in the forecastle were removed and the maximum elevation of the remaining guns was increased to +30 degrees.[12]

Protection

The Ise-class ships'

high-tensile steel totaling 55 mm (2.2 in) thick and the lower armoured deck also consisted of two layers of high-tensile steel, but only 30 mm (1.2 in) thick in total.[14] The turrets were protected with an armour thickness of 254 mm (10 in) on the face and 76 mm on the roof.[15] The casemate armour was 149 mm (5.9 in) thick and that of the barbettes was 299 mm thick rather than the originally planned 305 mm.[16][Note 3]

Fire control and sensors

While the details of the ship's fire-control instruments are not fully available, Ise was fitted with a

Type 21 air-search radars were installed aboard the ship in mid-1942.[12]

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 underway, shortly after completion
Ise at anchor, before her 1935 reconstruction

Ise,

Bolshevik Red Army. Captain Yokoo Hisashi replaced Furukawa on 20 November and he was replaced by Captain Nagasawa Naotaro in his turn on 1 December 1921.[12]

On 12 April 1922, while at

second cousin, the future Lord Mountbatten of Burma. Captain Kanna Norikazu relieved Nagasawa on 1 December. The ship aided survivors of the Great Kantō earthquake in September 1923. From the early 1920s through the late 1930s, Ise mostly cruised off the coast of China. Little detailed information is available about her activities during the 1920s, although she helped sink the obsolete destroyer Yayoi during gunnery training on 10 August 1926. The ship was overhauled in 1928–1929, during which her forward superstructure was enlarged and her aviation facilities improved.[12]

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

Marquis Tōgō Heihachirō, victor of the 1905 Battle of Tsushima, on 15 June 1934.[12]

Ise after her 1935–1937 reconstruction

Beginning on 1 August 1935, Ise was

drydocked at Kure Naval Arsenal and underwent an extensive reconstruction and modernisation that lasted until 23 March 1937. On 9 April 1938, the ship began the first of her patrols off the southern Chinese coast during the Second Sino-Japanese War that lasted until early 1941. She was transferred to the 2nd Division of the 1st Fleet on 15 November 1940 and became its flagship on 15 November 1941. Captain Takeda Isamu assumed command of Ise on 25 September 1941.[12]

Start of the Pacific War

To provide distant support for the

Hashirajima to the Bonin Islands and returned six days later. Ise had a minor refit at the Kure Naval Arsenal in 19–25 February 1942. Together with the rest of the division, she pursued, but did not catch, the American carrier force that had launched the Doolittle Raid on 18 April. On 11 May Ise had an accident which flooded her No. 2 engine room. While under repair, the ship was fitted with one of the first experimental Type 21 early-warning radar sets in the IJN, but it was removed shortly afterwards.[12]

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

Operation AL; they were to accompany the fleet under Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, but were only to provide support to the Aleutian task force if needed.[21]

Conversion to a hybrid carrier

Ise after 1944 reconstruction

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]

Ise on her sea trials after reconstruction, 24 August 1943

The rebuild was officially completed on 8 October 1943 and Ise made a sortie to

working up 10 days later. Captain Nakase Noboru relieved Hase on 25 December.[12]

On 25 February 1944, Battleship Division 2 was assigned to the direct control of the

Fourth Carrier Division on 1 May, commanded by Rear Admiral Chiaki Matsuda. That same day the 634th Naval Air Group was formed and assigned to the Fourth Carrier Division. On 24 May, a pair of Type 22 surface-search radars were installed aboard the ship. From 31 May to 7 June, Ise's light anti-aircraft armament was reinforced with 47 additional Type 96 AA guns in 12 triple and 11 single mounts, which brought her total to 104 guns. Two Type 2 IFF units were also installed.[12]

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

Ise in anti-aircraft combat
Ise fires her main guns during the Battle off Cape Engaño, a phase of the Battle of Leyte Gulf

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

Task Force 38 near Formosa with little effect and heavy losses.[27] The following day Nakase was promoted to rear admiral.[12]

The ships of the Fourth Carrier Division were assigned to the Main Body of the

William Halsey, Jr., commander of Task Force 38, decided that it was too late in the day to mount an effective strike. He did, however, turn all his ships north to position himself for a dawn attack on the Japanese carriers the next day.[28]

Ise (centre left) during the Battle off Cape Engaño

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

USS Sea Dog before their arrival at Kure on the 29th.[12]

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

rubber, tin, zinc, and mercury) and 1,150 surplus oil workers to be ferried back to Japan.[12]

Ise burning during the Kure air raid, 28 July 1945

The division sailed from Singapore on 10 February and was spotted by the British submarine

USS Rasher before they reached Zhoushan Island, near Shanghai that night. The convoy reached Kure on 20 February, having evaded or escaped pursuit by 23 Allied submarines along the way. Nakase was relieved by Captain Mutaguchi Kakuro five days later.[12]

The wreck of Ise, October 1945
Ise being scrapped, with the main guns already removed

The 4th Carrier Division was disbanded on 1 March and Ise was reduced to first-class reserve. From this time until the

list to starboard and sank in shallow water. Salvage efforts were abandoned that same day, although some AA guns were stripped from her wreck. The ship was struck from the Navy Directory on 20 November. The underwater portion of Ise's wreck was ignored until the following year and she was scrapped in place by the Kure Dockyard of the Harima Zōsen Corporation from 9 October 1946 to 4 July 1947.[12]

Notes

  1. ^ 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]
  2. ^ 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]
  3. ^ 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.
  4. Hawaiian Standard Time, so in Japan, the attack on Pearl Harbor
    happened on 8 December.

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b Lengerer March 2007, p. 9
  2. ^ a b c d e f Jentschura, Jung & Mickel, p. 26
  3. ^ Chesneau, p. 171
  4. ^ a b Lengerer 2009, pp. 50–51
  5. ^ Lengerer 2011, pp. 21–22
  6. ^ Lengerer 2011, pp. 24–26, 30
  7. ^ Lengerer 2011, pp. 33–34
  8. ^ Lengerer 2011, p. 35
  9. ^ Campbell, p. 198
  10. ^ Gardiner & Gray, p. 230
  11. ^ Lengerer March 2007, p. 12
  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
  13. ^ Stille, p. 11
  14. ^ Lengerer 2006, pp. 28–30; Lengerer 2011, p. 36
  15. ^ Lengerer March 2007, p. 16
  16. ^ Lengerer 2006, pp. 28–30
  17. ^ Lengerer 2011, pp. 28, 30–31, 41
  18. ^ a b Silverstone, p. 331
  19. ^ Rohwer, pp. 168–169
  20. ^ Parshall & Tully, p. 454
  21. ^ Parshall & Tully, p. 46
  22. ^ Lengerer 2009, pp. 39–40
  23. ^ Lengerer 2009, pp. 45–49, 51–53
  24. ^ Lengerer 2009, p. 43
  25. ^ Lengerer September 2007, p. 22
  26. ^ Lengerer September 2007, p. 23
  27. ^ Lengerer 2009, p. 53
  28. ^ Polmar & Genda, pp. 420, 422, 428
  29. ^ Polmar & Genda, pp. 430

References

Further reading

External links