Tsukuba-class heavy armored cruisers: MTK. And then came the jack... Skills and Modules

Armored cruisers

Ibuki-class armored cruisers - 2 units.

"Ibuki" Kure 5.1906/21.11.1907/1.11.1909-excl. 1923

"Kurama" Yoko 23/8/1905/21/10/1907/28/2/1911 - excl. 1923

14 636/15 595 t, 137.2x23x8 m. 2000 tons of coal + 218 tons of oil (Kurama PM - 2, 28 PCs, 22,500 hp = 20.5 knots 1868 tons of coal + 200 tons of oil). Armor: belt 178 - 102 mm, towers and barbettes GK 178 - 127 mm, towers SK 152 mm, deck 76 mm, wheelhouse 203 mm. Ek. 844 people 4 -305 mm/45, 8 - 203 mm/45, 14-120 mm/40, 4-76 mm/40, 3 TA 457 mm.

Cruisers with very powerful weapons, but relatively low speed. Often they are classified as battleships with light armor protection - in some way they can be considered "relatives" of the Russian battleships of the "Peresvet" type.

The project of the ships was developed on the basis of the Tsukuba armored cruiser. Initially, the Ibuki and Kurama were supposed to be of the same type, but for the first in the spring of 1906 Curtiss steam turbines were ordered, and the project had to be thoroughly reworked. The Ibuki was officially laid down on May 22, 1907, but its construction began earlier. "Ibuki" became the first Japanese turbine ship, but this did not make it faster: in tests, "Kurama" developed a speed of 21.5 knots. with a power of 23,081 hp, and Ibuki - 21.16 knots. at 28,977 hp Outwardly, both ships differed in masts: on the Kurama they were three-legged, and on the Ibuki they were ordinary.

At the beginning of the First World War, the Ibuki participated in the search for the Spee squadron, and then escorted troop transports en route from Australia to Suez. Both ships were disarmed after the Washington Conference and scrapped in 1924-1925.

Tsukuba-class armored cruisers - 2 units.

"Tsukuba" Kure 14.1.1905 / 26.12.1905 / 14.1.1907 - died 14.1.1917

"Ikoma" Kure 15.3.1905/9.4.1906/24.3.1908 - excl. 1922

13 750/15 400 tons, 137.1x23x8 m. PM - 2, 20 PCs, 20 500 hp = 20.5 knots 2000 tons (“Ikoma” 191 1 ton of coal + 160 tons of oil). Armor: belt 178-102 mm, upper belt and casemates 127 mm, towers and barbettes 178 mm, deck 76 mm, wheelhouse 203 mm. Ek. 879 people 4 - 305 mm/45, 12 - 152 mm/45, 12 -120 mm/40, 4-76 mm/40, 2 - 40 mm auto, 3 TA 457 mm.

The first "capital" Japanese-built ships and the world's first cruisers armed with 12-inch main guns in twin turrets. Ordered in June 1904 as a replacement for the fallen battleships Hatsuse and Yashima, laid down before the end of the Russo-Japanese War. The construction of the ships was fraught with production problems, which is why the lead Tsukuba had numerous defects. The commissioning of the Ikoma was delayed by a shortage of heavy artillery: the ship went to sea ​​trials in November 1907, but was fully armed and completed only by February 1911. On the measured mile, "Tsukuba" showed a speed of 20.5 knots. with a power of 20,736 hp, Ikoma - 21.9 knots. at 22,670 hp

"Tsukuba" died in Yokosuka as a result of the explosion of artillery cellars; crew losses amounted to 305 people killed. "Ikoma" was rearmed in 1918-1919 (4 - 305 mm / 45, 10-152 mm / 45, 8-120 mm / 40, 6 -76 mm / 40) and later served as a training and artillery ship. Shortly after the Washington Conference, she was disarmed and sold for scrap on 11/13/1924.

Armored cruisers of the "Kasuga" type - 2 units.

"Kasuga" Anya 10.3.1902 / 22.10.1902 / 7.1.1904 - died 18.7.1945

"Nissin" Anya 5.1902 / 9.2.1903 / 7.1.1904 - excl. 1935

7700/8500 t, 111.73x18.7x7.4m. PM - 2, 12 PCs, 13 500 hp = 20 knots. 600/1190 t coal Armor: belt 150 - 75 mm, upper belt of the tower and casemates 150 mm, barbettes 150 - 100 mm, deck 37 - 25 mm, wheelhouse 150 mm. Ek. 595 - 610 people 1 - 254 mm / 45 (only on Kasuga), 2-203 mm / 45 (on Nissin 4 - 203 mm / 45), 14 - 152 mm / 40, 10 - 76 mm / 40, 4 - 4/ mm, 2 pull., 4 TA 457 mm.

The last of a series of Italian armored cruisers of the Garibaldi class. Laid down for the Argentinean fleet under the names "Mitra" and "Roca", bought by Japan 12/29/1903. They actively participated in the Russo-Japanese War, and they acted mainly in the same line with the battleships of Admiral Togo, since their actual speed did not exceed 18 knots. Steam boilers were replaced on both ships in 1914.

In 1917-1918, the Nissin operated in the Mediterranean. In 1927 she was reclassified as a training ship, in 1935 she became a floating target and in next year was sunk. "Kasuga" 13/1/1918 sat on the rocks in the Bank Strait (Indonesia) and was removed only six months later. Since 1925, the cruiser served as a training ship, and in July 1942 it was disarmed and turned into a blockship. Sunk by American aircraft, raised and scrapped in 1948.

Armored cruiser "Yakumo" - 1 unit.

"Yakumo" Vulk 3.1898 / 18.7.1899 / 20.6.1900 - scrapped. 1946

9735/10 300 t, 132.3x19.6x7.25 m. PM - 2, 24pcs, 15 500 hp = 20 knots 600/1200 t coal Armor: belt 178 mm, upper belt 127 mm, turrets 150 mm, barbettes 150 - 100 mm, casemates 150 - 50 mm, deck 63 mm, wheelhouse 350 mm. Ek. 698 people 4 - 203 mm/40, 12-152 mm/40, 16-76 mm/40, 4-47 mm, 4 TA 457 mm.

Built in Germany according to the program of 1896 as a development of Asama-class cruisers. Actively participated in the war with Russia in 1904-1905. In 1921 she was reclassified as a 1st class coastal defense ship, but later served as a training ship. Repeatedly modernized and re-equipped. In July 1942, she was “reinstated in rank” and again became a class 1 cruiser, but she did not participate in hostilities. Sold for scrap in June 1946.

Armored cruiser "Azuma" - 1 unit.

"Azuma" SNz 3.1898 / 24.6.1899 / 28.7.1900 - scrapped. 1946

9278/9953 t, 137.9x18x7.21 m. PM - 2, 24 PCs, 17,000 hp=20 knots 600/1200 t coal Armor: belt 178 mm, upper belt 127 mm, towers, barbettes and casemates 150 mm, deck 63 - 50 mm, wheelhouse 350 mm. Ek. 726 people 4-203mm/40, 12-152mm/40, 16-76mm/40, 4-47mm, 4 TA 457mm.

Built in France according to the program of 1896. Similar to Asama-class cruisers, but with a shorter armor belt. Actively participated in the Russo-Japanese War. From 1914 she was used as a training ship. In 1941 it was turned into a blockship, heavily damaged by American aircraft on 18/7/1945. Sold for scrap in 1946.

Izumo-class armored cruisers - 2 units.

"Izumo" Arm 5.1898 / 19.9.1899 / 25.9.1900 - died 28.7.1945

"Iwate" Arm 5.1898 / 29.3.1900 / 18.3.1901 - died 24.7.1945

9750/10 300 t, 132.3x20.94x7.4 m. 600/1400 t coal Armor: belt 178 mm, upper belt 127 mm, towers, barbettes and casemates 152 mm, deck 63 - 51 mm, wheelhouse 356 mm. Ek. 672 people 4-203 mm/40, 14-152 mm/40, 12-76 mm/40, 4-47 mm, 2 pulls, 4 TA 457 mm.

Built in England according to the program of 1896; were an improved version of the Asama cruiser. On trials, Izumo developed a speed of 22.04 knots. with a power of 15,739 hp, Iwate - 21.74 knots. at 16,078 hp Actively participated in the Russo-Japanese War. In 1921 they were reclassified as 1st class coastal defense ships. "Izumo" in 1932 - 1942 was the flagship of the Japanese so-called Chinese fleet; then briefly reclassified as a 1st class cruiser and in 1943 as a training ship. "Iwate" actually served as a training ship since 1923, although in 1942 she was also formally enlisted in the 1st class cruisers. Both were sunk in July 1945 at Kure by American aircraft, raised and scrapped in 1947.

Asama-class armored cruisers - 2 units.

"Asama" Arm 11.1896 / 22.3.1898 / 18.3.1899 - scrapped. 1947

"Tokiva" Arm 1.1898 / 6.7.1898 / 18.5.1899 - died 8.8.1945

9700/10 500 t, 134.7x20.45x7.43 m. 600/1400 t coal Armor: belt 178 mm, upper belt 127 mm, towers, barbets and casemates 152 mm, deck 76 - 51 mm, wheelhouse 356 mm. Ek. 676 people 4-203mm/40, 14-152mm/40, 12-76mm/40, 4-47mm, 4 TA 457mm.

At the time of its appearance - the best armored cruisers in the world, the founders of a whole series of similar ships of the Japanese program of 1896. Designed in England by F. Watts. Actively participated in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905.

Asama until 1915 (Tokiwa until 1910) carried 12 cylindrical steam boilers, which were replaced with 16 Japanese Miyabara systems during repairs. During the First World War, Asama was twice (12/3/1914 and 1/31/1915) seriously damaged due to navigational accidents; from June 1915 to March 1917 was under repair. In 1921, both cruisers were reclassified as 1st class coastal defense ships; "Tokiva" from 1.4.1922 was listed mine layer. In the future, they were repeatedly modernized and re-equipped. Lived up to World War II. Tokiwa was sunk by American aircraft at Maizuru, raised and scrapped in 1947.

Armored cruiser "Aso" - 1 unit.

"Aso" FSH 12.1898 / 30.5.1900 / 4.1903 - excl. 1930

7800 t, 137.03x17.5x6.7 m. 750/1200 t coal Armor: belt 200 - 100 mm, upper belt and casemate 60 mm, deck 50 - 30 mm, wheelhouse 160 mm. Ek. 791 people 2- 152mm/50, 8- 152mm/45, 16-76mm/40, 2 pull.

Former Russian "Bayan", captured 2/1/1905 in Port Arthur. Rebuilt and commissioned in 1908. In 1913, it was re-armed: the turrets with 203-mm guns were dismantled and replaced with Armstrong deck-mounted 152-mm gun mounts with a barrel length of 50 calibers. In 1920, it was converted into a minelayer capable of receiving 420 mines. Excluded from the combat strength of the fleet on 1/4/1930, turned into a floating target and sunk during exercises on 8/8/1932.

The Ibuki type was originally ordered during the Russo-Japanese War on 31 January 1905 as the Tsukuba type. But before construction began, they were redesigned for 8-inch (203 mm) guns in four twin-gun turrets instead of twelve 6-inch (152 mm) guns. This required a larger hull to accommodate the turrets and more power to allow for slightly more speed than the Tsukuba class.

They were intended to fight in line with battleships, as the two Kasuga-class armored cruisers did in the battles of the Yellow Sea and Tsushima during the Russo-Japanese War. The advent of the Dreadnought, armed with ten 12-inch (305 mm) guns and a speed of 22 knots, rendered these ships obsolete before they entered service. In 1912 they were reclassified as battlecruisers.

The ships had an overall length of 147.8 m, a length between perpendiculars of 137.2 m, a beam of 23.0 m and a draft at a normal displacement of 8.0 m. They had a normal displacement of 14,636 long tons (14,871 t), a total displacement of 15,595 long tons (15,845 t), about 900 long tons (910 t) more than the Tsukuba. The crew consisted of 845 officers and sailors.

Armament

The ships had four 305-mm/45 guns in two-gun turrets in the bow and stern. The guns had an elevation angle of 23°, a declination angle of −3°. This made it possible to fire an armor-piercing projectile at 22,000 m. The guns fired several types of projectiles of the same weight of 386 kg.

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Story

In the mid-1930s, with the specter of a Sino-Japanese war and its associated confrontation with the United States already on the horizon, a group of the Japanese military proposed revisiting the traditional approach to building Japanese cruisers. They pointed out that cruisers with 203-mm guns, no matter how good they were, were still no more than parity with similar enemy cruisers. The gap between the tactical niches of battleships and heavy cruisers was so great that both of these classes of ships could not interact effectively.

To solve this problem, the engineers proposed to create a special class of "leaders" of heavy cruisers, armed with heavier artillery of 250-280 mm caliber. Such "super-heavy" cruisers could effectively disable enemy "Washington" cruisers and cover the operations of the cruising avant-garde in the event of a collision with battleships.

On December 29, 1934, Japan announced the denunciation of all previously concluded agreements on the limitation of naval weapons. Formally, nothing else held back the Japanese fleet from building those ships that seemed optimal to him. However, the Japanese Empire continued the construction of the "Washington" type cruisers, only slightly increasing their displacement.

There were several reasons for this. Firstly, the Japanese type of heavy cruisers was quite balanced and efficient, and (according to the Japanese) optimally fit into the concept. Secondly, the Japanese economy could not afford the construction of a large number of too large ships. Finally, thirdly, the Japanese admirals preferred not to "provoke" the situation, fearing that the construction of cruisers with heavier artillery could provoke a withdrawal from the Washington Agreement between Great Britain and the United States.

The situation changed in the late 1930s, with the entry into service of the German fleet of three "pocket battleships" of the "Deutschland" type. Armed with 280 mm guns, these ships represented a significant improvement over the heavy cruisers. The innovative concept of these new ships caught the attention of sailors around the world - and Japan was no exception.

In 1936, the Japanese naval command proposed the development of a special class of "heavy armored cruisers" capable of acting as leaders for squadrons of heavy cruisers of the standard type. The military explained this by the fact that the "balance" of the cruising forces had already been violated by the German ships, and the actions of Japan would no longer have a decisive influence on the situation. In addition, the admirals considered it possible to misinform the United States, convincing them that the Japanese followed the German path of building small battleships, and thus hide the construction of the giant Yamato super battleships.

The arguments turned out to be convincing, however, an unexpected problem was the lack of suitable “intermediate” caliber guns in the Japanese arsenal for installation on “super heavy” cruisers. The fleet managed to get out of this situation in the following way: as the main artillery for the new class of cruisers, it was supposed to use the old 305-mm turrets removed from the Kavachi and Settu dreadnoughts when they were decommissioned. In addition, in the development of the project it was supposed to focus on a modified type of heavy cruiser "Mogami", redesigned for 305-mm artillery.

Armament

The armament of heavy armored cruisers was based on six 305-mm 45-caliber guns of the 41st year of Meiji. Two three-gun towers were located at the extremities. These guns were originally intended to arm the side turrets of the Kawachi and Settu dreadnoughts: after the ships were scrapped in 1922, the guns were retained and later converted for use on Tsukuba-class cruisers.

These heavy naval guns fired 386 kg shells from initial speed up to 870 meters per second. The elevation angle of the guns was increased to 32 degrees, which made it possible to fire at a range of up to 28,000 meters. By redesigning the bolt design, the rate of fire was increased to 2.5 rounds per minute. Ammunition was on the order of 100 shells per gun: unlike other Japanese heavy ships, cruiser guns were equipped with a large supply of high-explosive shells (mainly because a significant number of high-explosives were already in the arsenal).

The auxiliary armament of the cruisers consisted of two three-gun turrets with 155-mm 60-caliber guns of the 3rd year of the Showa era. Removed from the Mogami-class cruisers during their modernization, the turrets were installed linearly elevated, and fired on top of the 305 mm / 50 turrets. The main task of the 155-mm guns was to defend against enemy destroyers: also, according to the admirals, these installations could provide “massed” fire in the event of close combat with enemy heavy cruisers.

The anti-aircraft armament of the ships consisted of twelve 127-mm 40-caliber universal guns, located side by side on sponsons in twin mounts. Close air defense was initially provided by four built-in 25 mm anti-aircraft guns and four 13.2 mm machine guns: in the future, the number of anti-aircraft guns constantly increased.

The additional armament of the Tsukuba-class cruisers was identical to the Mogami type and consisted of four triple-tube 61-cm torpedo tubes installed in the hull niches. The devices were equipped with a fast reload system, and were equipped with ammunition from 24 torpedoes. In addition, two K-guns for firing depth charges were installed on the side of the ships.

Protection

The protection of heavy armored cruisers was focused on resisting the fire of 8-inch guns of American and British heavy cruisers. Basically, she developed solutions previously implemented on Mogami-class cruisers. The basis of the vertical protection was a solid, inclined armor belt, which in the lower part turned into an anti-torpedo bulkhead. The length of the belt (total) was about 82 meters, height - 6.5 meters. The upper edge of the belt was recruited from NVNC armor plates, with a thickness of 145 to 170 millimeters. The lower edge (which served as an anti-torpedo bulkhead) was assembled from slabs 30-65 mm thick. Such a system, it was believed, provided protection for the engine room from armor-piercing shells of a 203-mm 55-caliber American gun at distances up to 11,500 meters.

At the extremities, the belt passed into V-shaped traverses, connecting with the barbettes of the main battery towers. The thickness of the traverses was 140 millimeters. In the lower part, they connected with the lower deck of the cruisers.

The horizontal protection consisted of 35 mm thick CNC steel armor plates located at middeck level above the engine room. The sides had bevels, the thickness of which reached 65 millimeters. Above the cellars, the armor was located at the level of the lower deck and had a thickness of 55 millimeters.

The main battery turrets, unlike other Japanese heavy cruisers, had quite adequate protection. The front plates of the turrets were 190 millimeters thick: the thickness of the side plates was reduced to 138 mm NVNC steel. Under the bases of the towers there were barbettes 125 mm thick, going to the armored deck.

The medium-caliber turrets, borrowed from the base model of the Mogami-class cruisers, retained the traditionally weak protection. Their walls consisted of 25 mm CNC steel plates, the barbettes were protected by anti-fragmentation 30 mm plates. Adequate protection - 100 mm of wall armor and 50 mm of roof armor - was received by an armored cabin. The chimneys and steering gears were protected by 100mm reinforced NVNC plates.

Power point

The EU of heavy armored cruisers differed significantly from previous Japanese projects (as well as from subsequent ones). The Tsukuba-class cruisers were the first and last large Japanese ships with a combined diesel-steam turbine power plant. The decision, taken under German influence (more precisely, under the impression of the range of the Deutschland type), was supposed to - according to calculations - provide the new ships with a very high autonomy, while maintaining a high speed.

The power plant consisted of four forced Kanpon-type turbine units, each developing 38,000 hp. Unlike previous projects, the ships did not carry cruising turbines. Their niche was occupied by four large diesel-electric units, each developing 14,000 hp. Max speed as a result, the course of the ships did not exceed 33 knots, but on the other hand, the range of a 14-knot cruising course with a fuel supply of 2,200 tons reached 12,000 miles, i.e. was a third more than that of the Mogami cruisers.

The disadvantages of the combined power plant included its significant size and low reliability: during the service life of the Tsukuba, the diesels on it were replaced four times (!) At the same time, only once due to damage. In addition, the MO of the cruisers was almost 28% higher than that of the Mogami-class cruisers.

Aviation armament

Heavy armored cruisers of the Tsukuba type carried advanced aviation weapons, more advanced than conventional heavy cruisers. In the stern of the ships, under the upper deck, there was an aircraft hangar: two gunpowder catapults Kure N.2 Type 9, mounted side by side on sponsons, were used to launch aircraft.

Normally, cruisers of the Tsukuba type could carry up to eight seaplanes with folding wings: four were located in the hangar, two on catapults, and two more on the platforms next to the aft mast. In practice, the number of aircraft carried was usually no more than seven: four of them were two-seat Watanabe E9B reconnaissance aircraft, two were three-seat Aichi E10A reconnaissance aircraft, and one was an E7K Kawanishi.

In 1942, the composition of the aviation group was changed, and now it consisted of three Mitsubishi F1M, one Aichi E10A and three Nakajima A6M2-N float fighters. The latter were intended to intercept enemy patrol aircraft (which, as expected, would be of particular danger to the raiders). In 1944, the reconnaissance floatplanes were replaced by three "Aichi" E13Ns.

Equipment

The ships were equipped with a rangefinder system identical to the Mogami type, with one exception - the guidance of the main caliber installations was carried out using a Type 14 rangefinder, with an 8-meter base. For aiming the main gun, directors type 94 and type 95 were used. The auxiliary and universal caliber were aimed, respectively, using Type 92 and Type 91 rangefinders mounted on the side. The ships had a large number of observation posts equipped with stationary binoculars and 110-cm searchlights.

During the war, the ships received radar equipment. Ibuki was equipped with a prototype Type 21 search radar in the fall of 1942. In 1943, during a scheduled overhaul, Tsukuba received a Type 21 radar for detecting surface and air targets, and an E-27 device for detecting the operation of enemy radars. In 1944, during a major overhaul and modernization, Tsukuba was equipped with a new Type 13 search radar, a modified Type 22 radar suitable for main battery fire control, and an experimental Type 23 radar for targeting anti-aircraft artillery.

Modernizations

Throughout their career, the ships have undergone several upgrades, mainly aimed at strengthening anti-aircraft artillery and anti-submarine defense. The number of built-in 25-mm anti-aircraft guns, initially equal to four, was increased to eight by the fall of 1942. In the summer of 1943, Ibuki was already equipped with twelve, and Tsukuba with ten 25-mm machine guns. By the end of 1944, the number of anti-aircraft guns on the Tsukuba was brought to 42 barrels. Since the autumn of 1943, both ships were also equipped with NURS anti-aircraft launchers (whose effectiveness, however, was near zero).

Among other changes, two of the four torpedo tubes were removed from the Ibuki in the summer of 1944, and the vacated space was used to mount four additional K-guns.

In the spring of 1944, a project was considered to rebuild the Tsukuba and Ibuki into light aircraft carriers. The main and auxiliary artillery were to be dismantled from the ships, and a hangar for 15 A7M “Reppu” fighters and 15 B7A “Ryusei” torpedo bombers was built over the main deck. Anti-aircraft weapons and power plant remained the same. The project was eventually not implemented, as calculations showed that the increased upper weight would require the installation of additional boules, due to which the speed of the ship would drop to 25 knots.

In the summer of 1944, the Japanese Navy was also considering another, more radical project for rebuilding the Tsukuba into an “anti-submarine battleship” - a specialized escort ship. According to the project, the main and auxiliary artillery were to be removed from the ship, and six four-barrel 300 mm Type 101 anti-submarine bombers were installed in their place. Anti-aircraft armament was reinforced by the installation of four twin 127-mm guns and fifty 23-mm machine guns. Finally, 48 (!!!) K-guns were supposed to be installed on the sides of the ship. The project was also not implemented.

In the spring of 1945, the Tsukuba was fitted with guides for the Okha Model 23 kamikaze projectiles. These pulsed-engine projectiles were intended to be used to destroy enemy ships in combat, but in practice kamikazes were never based on them.

Construction

“ Tsukuba ” - was ordered under the financial reserve program of 1934 and laid down on January 1, 1938 on the Mitsubishi slipway in Nagasaki, released after the launch of the heavy cruiser Tone. After a 28-month slipway period, the battleship was launched on March 14, 1940 and commissioned on August 8, 1941.

“ Ibuki ” - ordered under the main program of 1937, laid down on April 14, 1938 at the shipyard of the Navy in Kura. Launched on October 28, 1940: during launching, the ship's hull was deformed, as a result of which the completion was delayed. Officially, the Ibuki entered service on November 2, 1941, but in reality it was recognized as combat ready only by January 1942.

Service History

October 11, "Tsukuba" was assigned to the 23rd division of cruisers (at that time it consisted of one). In its composition, he took part in the Malay Campaign, acting as part of the 2nd fleet of Admiral Kondo. On December 2, 1941, the ship took part in a firefight with the British formation "Z" (the battleship "Prince of Wales", the battlecruisers "Hood" and "Repulse", the aircraft carrier "Ark Royal") in the South China Sea. The cruiser fired 120 shells, but apparently did not score any hits.

In February, the 23rd Cruiser Division, reinforced by this time with the Ibuki, supported the fighting in the Philippines. On February 27, during the battle in the Java Sea, both ships were sent to the battle area, as the Japanese feared that the Australian battlecruiser - HMAS "Australia" - might take part in the battle. However, the Japanese “pocket” battleships did not have a chance to take part in naval battles at that time. Their operations in the Philippines were limited to occasional fire support for troops (for which their old-style 305-mm guns, provided with a significant supply of high-explosive shells, proved to be extremely effective).

On April 14, the 23rd division moved to Jakarta, from where it subsequently conducted combat operations. On April 28, Tsukuba and Ibuki were attached to Admiral Izawari's task force formed for a raid against the west coast of Australia. During this operation, which was carried out from May 4 to May 18, heavy armored cruisers bombarded Geraldton (May 10) and covered the Japanese raid marines on Kalbari (May 12). At the same time, "Ibuki" was attacked by a light Australian reconnaissance aircraft "Fairchild 24", the pilot of which, having no weapons at all, tried to ram the Japanese ship. Both ships then returned to Jakarta.

From July 1942, both heavy armored cruisers made periodic sorties to provide artillery support for the Japanese forces besieging Singapore. On the night of July 22, the Ibuki, which was shelling the British troops at Jurong, was unexpectedly covered by volleys of a 381-mm battery, which the Japanese considered completely disabled. Although the conditions for firing were unfavorable, the Japanese ship, considering herself safe, moved at a very low speed, and as a result, after a dozen and a half volleys, the British battery achieved a hit.

The explosion caused by a 879-kg semi-armor-piercing projectile that pierced the belt disabled four Ibuki boilers and caused severe flooding. The damaged cruiser was forced to throw itself on the shallows: British aircraft from the Openhouse airbase conducted several night raids, trying to finish off the stuck ship, but did not succeed in this. Having somehow patched up the holes, on August 2, the Japanese removed the Ibuki from the shallows and took it to Jakarta. From there, he was sent to the metropolis for repairs.

Left temporarily without a sistership, Tsukuba in the fall of 1942 was temporarily transferred to the 30th (composite) cruiser division, which included Kumano, Mogami and Suzuya. In November 1942, the ship took part in an unsuccessful attempt to disrupt the passage of the British-American convoy CS-2, the second major convoy sent to supply the besieged Singapore. On the night of November 15-16, south of Pulau Bunt, the 30th Composite Division engaged in battle with the British ships of the “outer guard”, covering the entrance to the Malacca Strait of a formation of destroyers and fast transports. A firefight at a long distance led to heavy damage to the British heavy cruisers Devonshire and Hawkins: however, the Japanese failed to capitalize on their success and, due to the appearance of the Australian battlecruiser Australia, were forced to retreat on the battlefield. On the way out, the Tsukuba was attacked and damaged by a British submarine off the coast of Sumatra, but managed to repair herself in Jakarta.

In February 1943, the repaired cruiser Ibuki returned from the mother country. Having reunited, the ships again made up the 23rd cruiser division, which, however, was “upgraded” to the 1st battlecruiser division on March 22. In the spring of 1943, both ships carried out training tasks.

In May 1943, both heavy armored cruisers launched a raid against allied shipping in the Indian Ocean (the so-called 2nd Indian Ocean Raid). Acting in conjunction with the 5th Cruiser Squadron and the 1st Operational Squadron submarines, the Japanese raiders advanced beyond the Maldives, and even sank several transports in the Arabian Sea, but then were forced to make an emergency retreat, as there was information that a large British formation threatened to cut them off from the base.

Having refueled at Sumatra, the Japanese formation took another exit, but at the entrance to the Bay of Bengal it was intercepted by the allied "Bengal fleet". On May 28, a clash occurred between the squadrons, during which the Ibuki and Tsukuba were heavily damaged by fire from the Australian battlecruiser HMAS Australia and the heavy cruisers HMAS Darvin, HMS Norfolk and the French Foch accompanying it.

With difficulty dragging themselves to Jakarta, the heavy armored cruisers were again put in for repairs, after which they were supposed to be transferred to the Solomon Islands to support the Japanese forces in the Bismarck Sea. However, on July 20, 1943, the cruiser Ibuki was torpedoed by a Dutch submarine in the Java Sea and forced to return for repairs. The transfer of the Tsukuba to Rabaul was eventually canceled as well.

In August 1943, "Tsukuba" undertook a second large-scale raid to the coast of Australia. During this operation, which lasted from August 11 to September 2, the Japanese formation, led by a heavy armored cruiser, reached the Great Australian Bight, but due to the significantly increased allied defense, the Japanese actions were much less effective than in 1942. The Empire of Japan could no longer afford to risk ships just for support and demonstration operations, so all operations were limited to the sinking of a few small coastal steamers in Australian waters and the occasional seaplane bombardment of the coast. Plans to reach Tasmania were not realized due to a severe shortage of fuel.

Returning to Jakarta on September 4th, the Tsukuba reunited with the Ibuki, which had returned from repairs. But shortly thereafter, the 1st Battlecruiser Division was again under fire: a night raid by Australian flying boats on Jakarta on October 18, 1943 ended with new damage for the Tsukuba. Because of this, the third major raid into the Indian Ocean planned for the fall of 1943 had to be cancelled. In addition, cruiser gun barrels, which had not been replaced since 1941, began to show clear signs increased wear.

In early 1944, the 1st Division was in a slightly better position than the rest of the Japanese battle fleet. Based in Jakarta, she, at least, did not experience an acute shortage of fuel supplied from Indonesian fields. On February 8, Tsukuba was recalled to the mother country for repairs and upgrades.

The Ibuki cruiser, left alone, conducted several raids into the Indian Ocean, but due to a lack of funds and poor organization of the operation, the actions of this ship were almost inconclusive: there are strong doubts that the allies even noticed them at all. Since the Imperial Japanese Navy could no longer provide light aircraft carriers to support raiding operations, heavy armored cruisers only risked going beyond the range of coastal aviation at night, which severely limited their autonomy. Returning from one of these semi-senseless raids, the Ibuki was attacked by the Belgian submarine Narcissus off the coast of Java, and only by pure chance escaped death.

In May 1944, the Tsukuba, returning from the mother country, was used to provide fire support for Operation Ichi-Go in mainland China. With its guns, the cruiser supported the offensive of the Japanese troops on Fuzhou: at the same time, it was attacked by the Chinese small submarine "Hu Long", but managed to avoid damage.

The Chinese initially claimed damage to the Furutaka-class heavy cruiser: only after the war did it become known that the attacked ship was the Tsukuba. Modern Chinese historical materials claim that the cruiser was heavily damaged and out of action for a long time, but this version is not confirmed by other sources.

S. Welberry, A Military History of the Republic of China, London, 1958.

In the spring and summer of 1944, both heavy armored cruisers operated in Indonesia, guarding convoys, transporting troops (due to a severe shortage of transport) and occasionally being involved in covering active light forces. "Ibuki" in July 1944 occasionally served as a floating mooring mast for Japanese anti-submarine airships. The fleet considered several options for their further operation, including conversion into light aircraft carriers, but in the end, the conversion of the ships was abandoned. The project of rebuilding the Tsukuba into an “anti-submarine battleship,” a specialized convoy escort ship equipped with powerful anti-aircraft artillery and a battery of 305-mm bombers for launching depth charges, did not receive support either.

In July 1944, the 1st Battlecruiser Division was again sent to Malacca in an attempt to interfere with the British convoy to Singapore. On the night of July 28, heavy armored cruisers covered failed attempt raid of eight Japanese destroyers up the Strait of Malacca. The operation was unsuccessful: the British light cruisers "Mauritis" and "Nigeria" discovered the enemy, and clearly demonstrated the advantages of British radars in a night battle. After fifteen minutes of inconclusive skirmishing, the Ibuki and Tsukuba retreated. Passing back through the strait, the Japanese cruisers were attacked by torpedo boats that left Singapore, but managed to repel the attack.

This was the last time heavy armored cruisers operated together. Shortly thereafter, an order followed to redeploy the 1st Battlecruiser Division to Brunei to reinforce Kurita's fleet. On the way, both ships were discovered and then torpedoed by the American submarine Sailfish: the less damaged Ibuki was repaired in Brunei, while the Tsukuba was sent to Japan for repairs. Before he could return, the American fleet struck at the heart of the Japanese Empire - the Philippines.

The Allied landings in Leyte Gulf led to the largest naval battle in history. Among the hundreds of ships involved were both heavy armored cruisers - although this time they were forced to operate separately from each other.

For the last and decisive battle, Toyoda mustered a truly impressive force. Under the command of Vice Admiral Ozawa was the entire powerful 1st division of squadron aircraft carriers, including the Taiho, Juikaku, AmagiII" and huge aircraft carrier Sinano and four other light aircraft carriers made up the 2nd division. All the remaining flying forces of the Japanese were concentrated on their decks. Imperial Navy, including Ozawa's latest trump card: one hundred and fifteen of the latest A7M Reppu carrier-based fighters. The fleet was saving these new machines for the last battle, however, their effectiveness was limited by the lack of experienced pilots.

Toyoda made the main bet on the guns of his battleships. Under the command of Vice Admiral Kurita was the most powerful formation, which included the huge super battleships Yamato, Musashi and the fast battleships Nagato and Mutsu, as well as the pocket battleship Ibuki. Four old slow-moving battleships (Fuso, Yamashiro, Ise and Hiuga) under the command of Vice Admiral Nishimura were assigned to the role of decoy ...

Military Publishing. "War in the Pacific Ocean and the defeat of imperialist Japan", Moscow, 1988.

October 23, "Ibuki", following along with the formation of Kurita from Brunei, was torpedoed by the American submarine USS "Darter" in the passage of Palawan. The explosion led to the flooding of the cruiser's engine room and aft ammunition magazines. There was no point in continuing the crippled ship, and Kurita ordered the Ibuki to be returned to Brunei.

The cruiser Tsukuba, which covered the deployment of Ozawa's aircraft carrier forces, suffered less damage. Maneuvering together with the battlecruisers Haruna and Kongo, he repulsed the attacks of American aircraft on the aircraft carriers Taiho, Shinano and Amagi, which made up the 1st aircraft carrier formation, with anti-aircraft fire. During the battle, the ship received two hits from 250-kg air bombs, as a result of which its speed dropped to 22 knots, but nevertheless, it kept its course and managed to return to base. On the way home, the Tsukuba took over the crew from the sinking Shinano, which had been turned into a burning ruin by Halsey's aircraft.

The damaged Ibuki was somehow repaired in Brunei, after which it returned to its former base in Jakarta. After the Americans liberated the Philippines, the Japanese ships remaining in Southeast Asia no longer had a single chance to return to the mother country. On November 2, all Japanese naval forces in the south were consolidated into the 1st Southeast Fleet: the Ibuki became the flagship of this pitiful remnant of the former power of Japan. In December, it was used to evacuate troops from the island garrisons, which could no longer be defended. Then, the increasing risk of air raids forced the cruiser to move to the safer Banjarmasin.

When, in January 1945, the British Navy launched Operation Unicorn, coming with all its might for the freedom of Singapore, the 1st South East Fleet left Jakarta for the last time, attempting to strike at the British forces landing on the Malacca Peninsula. On January 5, during a night crossing of the Karimata Strait, the Ibuki, escorted by the destroyer Kamikaze, was discovered and then attacked off Keppulaan Ling by a detachment of British destroyers supported by the battlecruiser Tiger. Caught by surprise, without effective fire control radars, the Japanese heavy armored cruiser was in a completely hopeless situation: although the team managed to get the wrecked ship out of the fire, the Ibuki soon lost speed and was finished off by planes from aircraft carriers in the morning.

The cruiser Tsukuba, which had retreated to the metropolis, was assigned to the 1st division of battleships of the 2nd fleet on January 1st. On April 4, 1945, during the almost meaningless departure of the remnants of the Japanese fleet to support the besieged Okinawa, the cruiser was damaged by an American ASM-N-2 “Bat” glide bomb. While returning to Japan, he was attacked by an American submarine but managed to escape damage. In May, the ship made a successful transition to Aomori to strengthen the defense of Honshu: at the same time, the Tsukuba was blown up by two mines, and its speed subsequently did not exceed 23 knots. American aircraft bombed the ship several times, but thanks to skillful camouflage, the cruiser escaped heavy damage.

By early August 1945, the heavy armored cruiser Tsukuba was one of the last three serviceable Japanese heavy ships, along with the battleship Nagato and the battlecruiser Haruna. On August 14, after the entry of the Soviet Union into the war, the ship moved (in tow from a coal-fired minesweeper to save fuel) to Hakodate. The Japanese command planned to use the ship to support a kamikaze attack on Soviet ships near the Kuriles, but in connection with the news of the surrender of Japan, the exit to the sea did not take place.

After the war, Tsukuba was among other Japanese ships requisitioned by the Americans. From November 1945 to December 1946, she stood in the "peace store" in Alaska, along with the rest of the ships of the Japanese fleet. In 1947, the Japanese "pocket" battleship was transferred to Holland for reparations: under the name "Commander de Ruyter" she served in the fleet until 1959, and as a training ship until 1971.

Whale. “Dragon Flower” is one of eight small M-class (“Malyutka”) rail transport boats sold to China by the Soviet government in 1937-1939.

Light anti-submarine airships of the “Y” series, with a volume of about 11,000 cubic meters. About three dozen such vehicles were built in 1942-1943 for anti-submarine patrols and protection of convoys to the metropolis.

In addition to the Ibuki, the fleet included the heavy cruisers Haguro and Myoko, the light cruiser Kitakami, and several destroyers.

HMS "Tiger", a battlecruiser of the First World War. According to the London Agreement of 1931, she was transferred to the category of training ships. With the beginning of the Second World War, it was restored to its former quality in 1939-1941. Decommissioned in 1947.

The attack was launched on the 18th of August on the personal initiative of General Fusaki. Since by this time it was already known about the acceptance of the terms of surrender, the general managed to use only about 28 aircraft instead of the 120 planned. Fighters from Soviet aircraft carriers managed to intercept most attackers, but the Soviet fleet nevertheless suffered losses: one destroyer and one transport ship were sunk by kamikaze strikes, and another patrol ship, two landing craft, a bulk carrier and an armed transport ship were damaged.

Peace Vault is a slang term for warehouses of captured weapons and military equipment created after the demilitarization of Japan and Germany in 1945.

- one of the most powerful ships of its class at the moment.

In terms of the totality of characteristics, it is not inferior, and in some parameters even surpasses competitors at the 10th level. Having amazing speed for such a massive ship, combined with incredibly accurate 203 mm guns, which perform well even when firing up to 19 km, we can confidently repulse absolutely any enemy flagship.

Let's start with the formalities

Project Development heavy cruisers type Ibuki was launched at the end of 1937 and as a whole represented a qualitatively new modernization of the Mogami project. Most of the drawings, in fact, were borrowed from the latter. The end of the design phase fell on November 1941. Construction began in mid-spring 1942. Construction works moved very quickly and, by the time Ibuki was converted into an aircraft carrier, the hull was almost ready to be launched. The riveting system was very reliable and increased the overall strength and reliability of the armor. In November, the hull was towed for complete refitting into an aircraft carrier. The power plant almost completely repeated, both in terms of layout and in terms of power Mogami. That is, there was also 152,000 horsepower.

As stated earlier, strong point the cruiser had armor protection. 101 mm of armor covered the entire engine room. In addition, the armor was at a slight angle, greatly increasing the actual thickness. Art cellars covered 140 mm of armor. Further, the protection gradually decreased down to the bottom of the hull. However, the main gun turrets did not have reliable protection, which was typical for Japanese cruisers.

The guns were supposed to be standard - 203 mm, type 3, number 2. Anti-aircraft weapons consisted of long-range universal 128 mm guns. For close fire, 25 mm machine guns and 13.2 mm machine guns were used. Of the torpedo armament, Type 93 oxygen torpedoes were used for 4 torpedo tubes (2 per side). The total ammunition load of torpedoes could range from 16 to 24 units.

In the game, we are at level 9 in the development branch and, as a result, we actively get to dozens, which are not particularly dangerous enemies for us. But let's start with artillery. Here we have 5 towers of two 203 mm guns with the following arrangement: three - on the bow and 2 - in the stern.

It has already become traditional for Japanese cruisers that, being strictly facing the enemy, we cannot shoot from three towers at once, since the second one is at the same height as the first one, therefore it closes us access to volley fire. In this case, we need to tighten the hull, by 20-30 degrees, and only in this case can all bow weapons fire freely.

The rear ones also cannot boast of convenience, although they are located floor by floor. As a result, in order to conduct an effective firefight with all 10 guns, we need to turn the side very much, which is fraught with you know what. The disadvantages include not very fast reloading - 14 seconds, and the base speed of the gun's turn - 36 seconds. The latter stat is accelerated by the Expert Guidance perk.

The shortcomings listed above are not so critical in practice. With proper skill and developed tactics, their effect is practically not felt.

Let's move on to the choice of shells

After the recent patch 0.3.1, we received excellent high-explosive shells, which will allow us to compete with the same-level shells on an equal footing and destroy weaker battleships without any problems. With a maximum firing range of 19.5 km and excellent ballistics, keeping the same Yamato will not be difficult. Shells, even at the maximum distance, lay down heaps and have a flat trajectory. This allows you to play a real sniper, burning battleships and cruisers.

If we do not let the same Des Moines closer than 13-15 km and use our high speed complete with guns, then it becomes meat for us. Armor-piercing shells bounce off us very well. And you can dodge well from slow-flying land mines.

Armor-piercing, by the way, has become more difficult to use, since you already need to monitor the angle at which the enemy cruiser or destroyer is moving towards us. If the board with the engine room is turned perpendicular to us, feel free to shoot the AP and knock out multiple strongholds. Armor Piercing is extremely effective against Tier 7 Cruisers or just close range enemies that don't try or can't defend against you.

In general, Ibuki guns are extremely comfortable to use.

Booking

After recent changes, our charm, with good rotation, almost completely ignores armor-piercing firing from cruisers or destroyers, which, of course, cannot be said about battleships. But with them the situation is different.

Land mines, of course, are extremely unpleasant for us because of their ability to cause fires and, which is sometimes more critical, to knock out torpedo tubes and towers. And so Ibuki tanks well, holds the blow.

torpedoes

From torpedoes we have standard 610 mm. However, no longer Type 90, but Type 90 Long Lands. Range - 20 km. Compared to stock, we have 3,500 more damage, and speed has increased by 5 knots. This cannot but rejoice.

Cooldown without perks and modules - 2 minutes. It is difficult to complain about this, since we have 2 vehicles with 4 torpedoes on each side. That's about 80,000 damage. With close contact, we turn into an adequate version of Kitakami. And yes, a little advice: if a close skirmish is inevitable, think ahead about using all the torpedoes and first of all shoot back from a side that is blind to your artillery.

air defense

Air defense protection in comparison with the Baltic, to put it mildly, will leave much to be desired. Very mildly.

There are not many universal guns and their damage is small. The main part of anti-aircraft power begins to work from 3.1 km, where a huge number of single and triple 25 mm machine guns and everything else that fires synchronously with them are located.

Our main trump card, as always, remains barrage fire. We, as when playing battleships, must react in advance to the high activity of aviation in our sector.

Skills and modules

At level 9, we have a wide variety of skills to learn and modules to install. Let's start with the first one. Here is a standard selection from the cruising set:

• Basic fire training.
• Fundamentals of the struggle for survivability.
• Increased readiness.
• Expert Guidance.
• Barrage.
• Enhanced fire training.
• In view of the fact that top cruisers receive repairs, the perk to enhance this ability begins to work even better.

Let's move on to the modules:

• Towers of the main caliber.
• Fire control system.
• And the third slot is the most interesting for us, because here we can choose to enhance one of our combat capabilities. Air defense and PMK go through the forest right away. The acceleration of the rollback of torpedoes is behind them, similarly. Remains range and reload. Reloading, in turn, greatly ruins the turning speed of already not fast towers, providing 2-something seconds of a head start. questionable module.
  We choose to increase the range and get a de facto and de jure cruiser with the highest range. And coupled with excellent ballistics and fire density ... You can continue the course of my thoughts yourself.
• We give the fourth slot for damage control systems.
• Fifth - under the steering wheels.
• The final one is for the detection system, which goes well with the third module.

Eventually

What can be said here? Ibuki is one of the strongest cruisers in the game. The firing range, coupled with powerful guns and extremely high speed stroke (base - 35 knots), which can be increased with the help of a flag up to 37, give us just an explosive mixture.

In the last issue, we talked about the latest representatives of armored cruisers, which for 20 years have been one of the most important and revered ships in the fleets of all major maritime powers. A class that seemed to develop quite naturally and successfully, but which completely and forever disappeared from the plans of shipbuilders within just two to three years.

However, at the same time, the same fate befell a more important class of ships, which formed the basis of the combat power of the then fleets - battleships. And the “gravedigger” in both cases is called the same person, the most famous naval figure in England and the then First Lord of the Admiralty, Sir John Fisher (friends and acquaintances often called him simply Jack).

Why is it "called" and not is? The fact is that Fisher's authorship in relation to both great projects, the Dreadnought and the first battlecruiser, is, in any case, not entirely reliable. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the idea of ​​a large battleship armed with a large number of large-caliber guns of the same caliber has wandered in different minds of specialists from different countries - it is enough to recall the most famous of them, the Italian V. Cuniberti. Even more curious is Fisher's role in the emergence of the "armored cruiser killer". Initially, after becoming First Lord of the Admiralty at the end of 1904, Sir John was an ardent admirer of medium calibers. Particularly preferred seemed to him and his associates 234-mm guns with new bolts. All loading operations in them could be carried out manually (although the 172-kg projectile seemed heavy even when “rolling” from tray to tray), and during the exercises it was possible to achieve a fantastic rate of fire: five to six or more rounds per minute. It turned out that such a gun could "deliver" to the enemy the same weight of metal as the main weapon of battleships - a 12-inch gun. Even if not an even larger caliber gun. But then it seemed that twelve-inch guns were not suitable for cruisers, while the smaller in weight and caliber rapid firers were quite suitable as their main weapon.

From such considerations, a project was drawn up for the proposed development of "defenses"; initially the main task, in fact, consisted in the most convenient arrangement of the maximum number of 234-graph papers. To develop the concept of a battleship-dreadnought and a new armored cruiser, a special committee was created from the most capable officers of the fleet and designers, naturally, under the leadership of the “chief”, Jack Fisher. Various variants and combinations of two-gun turrets were studied. It cannot be said that they looked elegant, but the difficulties in placing five or six or even seven towers were quite objective. It is clear that not all guns could participate in the side salvo.

Meanwhile with Far East reports began to come in about the battles of the Russo-Japanese war and its important features, such as a sharp increase in combat distances (so, in any case, it seemed to observers), the participation of Japanese armored cruisers in general battles. And, perhaps, most importantly: about the most important role of the large, 12-inch caliber, which inflicted the greatest damage to armored warships.

And then one (or several at once, the opinions of historians differ) from the members of the Fisher committee came up with the idea to still try to cut the Gordian knot tied by a heap of 234-mm towers, and try to introduce 12-inch as the main caliber for the "armored cruiser ". Fischer himself initially perceived such proposals as a "betrayal" of his ideas about the rapid fire that crushes everything with a shower of fire. It took some time for Sir Jack to get the hang of it. possible benefits armored caliber on a cruiser. But, imbued, he became the most ardent supporter of the "dreadnought cruiser". Up to the point that he declared: “There is no such task for a battleship that a squadron cruiser could not perform” (as what became battlecruisers was originally called). And so much so that in the eyes of outsiders he became his "only father."

I must say that in any case, the role of D. Fisher in the emergence of a new class of cruisers has become very significant. The fact is that the idea of ​​​​the battlecruiser was not only to hoist 12-inch monsters into the old hull. Almost more important was the next jump in speed, associated, in turn, with the introduction of turbines, the transfer of boilers to oil heating and an increase in the size of the hull (primarily its length) and seaworthiness. And here, Sir John's positions were "correct" from the very beginning.

How important for the appearance of the battlecruiser was precisely the combination of all factors, is clearly seen from the history further development Japanese armored cruisers. The Russo-Japanese War was still in full swing when, in June 1904, a decision was made to make up for the loss of the battleships Hatsuse and Yashima on Russian mines near Port Arthur with a couple of new units. It was decided in advance that they would be high-speed armored cruisers. However, the command of the United Fleet and the Naval Staff was so impressed by the accuracy with which the Russian battleships covered their ships with 12-inch guns from a distance of 8 miles that they insisted on arming the new cruisers with 305-mm guns. Japanese shipbuilders by that time did not yet have enough experience to develop their own project from scratch. Moreover, the situation was critical: there was a war, and the ships were required as soon as possible. Therefore, the designers took the simplest path: they used as a basis very good (for their time) hulls designed by F. Watts "aces", increasing them in size so that they could accommodate two 12-inch towers instead of 8-inch ones. So the Tsukuba and Ikoma were born, with which the Land of the Rising Sun claims to be the first creator of battlecruisers.

However, these claims are not well founded. Indeed, although for the first time large-caliber guns appeared on the cruiser as the main caliber (such exotics as E. Bertin's "Matsushima" can be ignored), the rest of the Tsukuba remained a traditional armored cruiser. Firstly, in addition to 12-inch guns, he also had guns of two calibers, and in a very, very solid amount: twelve 152-mm and 120-mm barrels each. Secondly, these guns were traditionally located in side casemates and deck installations, with eight 6-inch guns in the lower ones located too close to the surface of the water. Thirdly, they already had far from progressive steam engines, which allowed them to reach speeds of only slightly more than 20 knots. (Recall that the "Dreadnought" could give 21 knots, and it would be unnecessary to say how the meeting with him of such a "cruiser" could end.) Fourthly, the "newbies" had a reservation that exactly repeated the protection of "Asama" and his relatives, although here it is worth noting that this protection for its time remained at an acceptable level - such a significant "reserve" was made on its predecessors.

One can continue to observe and list the signs indicating that the Japanese were never able to step over the threshold on the path leading to the revolutionary “Fischer ships”. This is especially noticeable on the next pair of "semi-linear semi-cruisers", "Kurama" and "Ibuki". Kurama was laid down just after the end of the Russo-Japanese War, but the changes in the project came down to replacing the casemate six-inch guns with eight 203-mm guns located in four towers in the same way as on the Russian Rurik-2. At the same time, 120-millimeters from the middle of the hull had to make room, and they were scattered in casemates all over the board. The speed remained the same - 20.5 knots. Remembering the well-known anecdote of Soviet times about how a worker from a factory sewing machines in vain he tried to assemble it at home from stolen parts - all the time for some reason a machine gun turned out, we can say that no matter how the Japanese tried to build a real armored cruiser, they still got the same second-class battleship. Relatively fast and relatively powerful, but still second-class and still exactly an armadillo.

The belated attempt to introduce a turbine plant on its “hybrid” did not help either. Although the second unit, the Ibuki, received a pair of direct-drive turbines, this only increased speed to 21.5 knots - too short for the time it entered service. It should be noted that the Japanese tried to build the Ibuki as quickly as possible: they managed to launch it just six months after the official laying and put it into operation at the end of 1909, a year earlier than their less progressive sister ship. But "Kurama" received, albeit external, but "dreadnought" difference: tripod masts English pattern, on the mars of which fire control posts were located. It is curious that during the tests, he was only slightly slower than his turbine brother, but his 21 knots in 1911 looked, to put it mildly, not a cruising indicator.

As a result, all four, immediately upon entry into service, were among the ship-paying outsiders, which affected their rather short and inactive service. "Tsukuba" died from an explosion of cellars in its own port in January 1917, and the rest went for scrap in 1924, and the most striking episode of their activity was the participation of "Ibuki" in the hunt for Admiral Spee's squadron in 1914.

Let us return, however, to the real "revolution" that was taking place in the meantime in the British Admiralty. The decision to install 305-mm guns on future cruisers was finally made, and their number was also determined - eight barrels in two-gun turrets. Now all that was left was to put it into practice. The views of that time did not allow to apply the obvious solution with towers located in pairs one above the other at the ends. It was believed that the gases from the firing of elevated guns would have a detrimental effect on the personnel of the lower installations. (The simplest experiment, which proved that there was no danger, was carried out after the laying of the "invincibles".) As a result, they settled on a rhombic arrangement: two towers at the ends, two more - on the side in the middle. But what worked well for smaller installations created almost insurmountable difficulties in the case of large 12-inch towers with their voluminous barbettes and cellars. The solution was to move the middle installations in different directions, getting an echelon arrangement instead of a "rhombus". But it was not possible to spread them much, because most of the length was occupied by powerful turbines, steam for which was provided by 31 boilers located in three stokers. As a result, the medium turrets could shoot at the "foreign" side only in a very narrow sector - about 30 degrees. But even here, in practice, it turned out that just with this arrangement, the gases from the “rear” tower really blind and deafen the front personnel. And it turned out, as luck would have it, in the very combat situation of the Falkland battle.

121. Line cruiser "Invincible" (England, 1908)

Built by Armstrong in Elswick. Displacement 17,200 tons, maximum length 172.8 m, width 22.1 m, draft 8.0 m. Four-shaft steam turbine power 41,000 hp, speed 25.5 knots. Armament: eight 305/45 mm, sixteen 102/45 mm rapid-fire cannons, five 457 mm torpedo tubes. Reservation: belt 152 - 102 mm, deck 19 - 64 mm (on bevels 19 mm), towers 178 - 76 mm, barbettes 178 - 51 mm, conning tower 254 - 152 mm. In 1908 - 1909, 3 units were built: "Invincible", "Inflexible" and "Indomitable". Invincible was killed in the battle of Jutland in May 1916, the other two were excluded from the lists and scrapped in 1922.

122. Line cruiser "Von der Tann" (Germany, 1911)

It was built by Blom und Voss in Hamburg. Displacement 19,060 tons, maximum length 171.7 m, width 26.6 m, draft 8.12 m. Four-shaft steam turbine power 43,600 hp, speed 24.75 knots. Armament: eight 280/45 mm, ten 150/45 mm and sixteen 88/45 mm rapid-fire cannons, four 450 mm torpedo tubes. Reservations: belt 250 - 80 mm, deck 25 - 80 mm (on bevels 50 mm), towers 230 - 60 mm, barbettes 230 - 30 mm, battery 150 mm, conning tower 250 mm. Scuttled at Scapa Flow in June 1919

123. Armored cruiser "Ibuki" (Japan, 1909)

Built at the shipyard in Kura. Displacement 15,590 tons, maximum length 147.83 m, width 22.98 m, draft 7.97 m. Power of twin-shaft steam turbine engine plant 24,000 hp, speed 22.5 knots. Armament: four 305/45 mm, eight 203/45 mm, fourteen 120/50 mm, four 76/40 mm guns, three 457 mm torpedo tubes. Reservation: belt 178 - 102 mm, deck - 51 mm and 76 mm on the side bevels, towers and barbets of the main caliber 178 - 127 mm, medium-caliber towers 152 mm, battery deck 127 mm, wheelhouses: front - 203 mm, aft - 152 mm. Two units were built: "Ibuki" and "Kurama". At the beginning of the First World War, they participated in the search for the Spee squadron and the protection of convoys en route from Australia to Suez. Both ships were disarmed after the Washington Conference and scrapped in 1924-1925.

The location of the artillery was not the only "hole" in the project. Much more significant was the complete preservation of protection at the level of predecessors - “warriers” and “defenses”. 152-mm side armor and thin deck bevels behind it remained the only cover for mechanisms and cellars from enemy shells. Meanwhile, it would be naive to expect that potential adversaries, primarily Germany, which was intensively chasing England, would not, in turn, start building ships with a single large-caliber artillery. And against 11- or 12-inch guns, the new cruisers would be just as defenseless as the old ones. When meeting with dreadnoughts, they fell into the role of soldiers in tunics going to machine guns.

Fisher and his associates understood this well, and therefore accompanied the birth of their pets with various reservations. Unlike the Japanese "semi-armored ships", the new ships, which soon received the designation "battlecruisers", were supposed to be mainly engaged in reconnaissance and destruction of enemy forward forces of a similar purpose. True, it was stipulated that they could engage in battle with enemy battleships, but only "for a short time and at a great distance." It was believed that speed would serve them as additional protection. Indeed, the 25-knot move seemed to guarantee a good margin in order to quickly get out of the danger zone. But life does not always confirm theoretical constructions. Moreover, the potential adversary was by no means dozing.

True, the Germans missed the first response to the British battlecruisers. Thoroughly disoriented by Fisher and his team's penchant for 234-mm rapid-fire guns, they laid down the Blucher during the construction of the "invincibles" - almost as fast, protected even better than the "British", but armed "in the old way", 210-mm guns. It is clear that in the event of a personal meeting, the 12-inch British would have a decisive advantage over him. Germany was somewhat saved by the lack of funds and building capacity, as well as a certain caution. By answering one "Blucher" to the British troika, they saved money and time for another, more correct answer.

Laid down in 1908, Von der Tann was the first real German battlecruiser. It differed from Fisher's ships in a much greater balance. At the same speed, the artillery was slightly inferior in caliber (280 mm instead of 305), but the turrets themselves, in principle located according to the same rhombic-echelon pattern, were placed much wider, as a result of which 8 barrels could actually be fired on board. In addition, in contrast to the "British", on which for the sake of 12-inch guns they completely sacrificed medium caliber, leaving unprotected 102-mm guns to repel destroyers, randomly distributed between superstructures, "Von der Tann" had a full-fledged battery of a dozen 150 -graph paper, not counting a dozen and a half 88-mm anti-mine guns. At the same time, the battery had a solid cover 150 mm thick - the same as the life parts of the Invincible! In general, in accordance with the German traditions already established by that time, the protection looked very solid - for a cruiser. The main armor belt had a thickness of 250 mm in the middle, however, only a very narrow strip. But the rest of its parts noticeably exceeded the thickness of the armor plates of its future opponents.

The British hurried with the response move, and, in turn, made a mistake, and thoroughly. Started by construction in the next year, 1909, Indefetigable, in fact, was not much different from the first three Ibles. It was only possible to eliminate the defect with the installation of medium towers too close: as on the Von der Tann, 8 guns could now fire on board. But in all other respects, the changes were reduced to a minimum. The most fraught for the fate of the ship was the repetition of the obviously insufficient booking of the first-born.

And the good thing would be limited to only a single failure. In the end, time did not wait, and it was preferable for the "mistress of the seas" to get, if not the best unit of a new type, but quickly. But attracted by the advertising of super cruisers, the British dominions, Australia and New Zealand, were inflamed with a desire to get the latest "toys". And they even raised money for this from their own, then rather meager resources. The Admiralty should have waited a little: on the way was new project a much more powerful ship, but impatience took over. And 3 years later, the empire received a couple more battlecruisers - replicas of the Indefetigable, by that time already obsolete once and for all.

The reason was partly the British themselves. In an attempt to disorientate their most likely enemy, Germany, they overstated the performance of their battlecruisers. So, the "invincibles" allegedly could run at 27 knots, and the trinity of their "half-sisters" - even a knot faster, and, moreover, had about an inch thicker armor. "Desa" was completely successful, so much so that finally the real data became public only 50 years later, when all six battlecruisers of the first generation had been at the bottom for three decades or more or turned into steel and rolled products.

But the effect of such deception turned out to be negative. The next response of the Germans turned out to be devastating - both for specific "ibbles" and for the Fischer concept as a whole. The Moltke and Goeben, then the Seidlitz and the already armed 12-inch Derflinger and Lutzow cruisers remained only in name. They were typical high-speed battleships, slightly less protected than the battleship "Germans", but in terms of armor they were not inferior to the main ships of the Grand Fleet. Of course, in combination with a high speed, reaching 27-28 knots, this required sacrifices: We managed to carve out a little on some weakening of the artillery, but the main compensation was ... an increase in size. The new generation battlecruisers simply became larger than their battlecruisers. The British went the same way, building in response the famous "cats" (which would be more loyal to call the "royal family", because a couple of feline representatives - "Lyon" and "Tiger" - accounted for, also "Queen Mary" and " Princess Royal). Their size has already come close to 30 thousand tons. And he did not become the limit. The baton was picked up by Russia, which planned the construction of four huge Izmails armed with twelve 356-mm guns. They have frankly surpassed many battleships also in terms of armament, they had a design speed of 27 knots with protection, even somewhat enhanced compared to the Sevastopol dreadnought.

Cruiser-battleships were already quite clearly intended for linear combat as part of large squadrons, albeit in the role of forward detachments or the "fast wing of the fleet", but clearly not for traditional cruising operations - raiding and reconnaissance. And thus they became very valuable combat units, which were taken into account when calculating the comparative power of the main forces. The initial considerations that it would be better for the “invincibles” not to get involved in a linear battle turned out to be forgotten. And retribution followed - at Jutland. "Von der Tann" with a successful salvo sent to the bottom of its full peer, by the way, almost the same in size, "Indefetigable". Other German battlecruisers dealt with the Invincible and even the more protected and larger Queen Mary. Although all the "British" died as a result of the explosion of ammunition, the very fact that the German shells managed to get to him is evidence of the lack of protection, especially armor. On the contrary, their opponents held out the entire battle against vastly superior forces. Even the weakest Von der Tann withstood the monstrous 381-mm shells that weighed almost a ton.

After Jutland, the development of battlecruisers followed a completely logical path. Now even the English admirals did not want to risk their lives, their own and their sailors on "cardboard" ships. The designers frantically tried to strengthen the armor of the typical Fisher giants Repulse and Rinaun, which, with a displacement of about 30 thousand tons, were initially covered by a “fig leaf” of 152-mm plates. An even more serious revision was made to the design of the next-generation battlecruiser Hood, which, as a result, entered service only in 1920 and for a long time became the largest artillery warship in the world. After the First World War, new ships of this class were no longer built, although the Washington agreement on the limitation of naval armaments, according to which Japanese, British and American high-speed giants went under the knife, largely contributed to this. And ten years later, all the newest battleships already had a speed close to the maximum speed of their "cruising" predecessors, completely merging with them into one class.