(IJN ASAMA on completion)


Completed just before the turn of the 20th century as an armored cruisers, ASAMA and TOKIWA both saw frontline service in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905.

In 1918, ASAMA served as a training ship for the Etajima Naval Academy's cadets. In 1921, she was rerated a coast defense vessel. In 1937, after suffering severe damage in a grounding, ASAMA wais converted to a training ship for midshipmen. She survived the war as a stationary barracks ship and was scrapped in 1946-47.

In 1917, TOKIWA served as a training ship for the Etajima Naval Academy. In 1921, she was rerated a coast defense vessel. In 1924, she completed conversion to a minelayer able to sow more than 500 mines. In the Pacific War, she served in the Fourth Fleet at Truk and later in home waters. In August 1945, the old ship was destroyed at Ominato by aircraft of Task Force 38 and was scrapped in 1946.



Vessel Builder Dimensions Displacement Machinery Speed Armament Crew
ASAMA Armstrong, Whitworth & Co., England 442' x 67.5' x 24' 9,240-tons full. 2-shafts, reciprocating VTE, 1,900 i.h.p, 18 knots 4 x 6-inch/40 cal, 1 x 3-inch/40 cal, 2 x 40-mm, 35 x 25 mm AA, 80 DCs 726
TOKIWA
Armstrong, Whitworth & Co., England 442' x 67.5' x 24' 9,240-tons full. 2-shafts, reciprocating VTE, 1,800 i.h.p, 12 knots 4 x 6-inch/40 cal, 1 x 3-inch/40 cal, 2 x 40-mm, 35 x 25 mm AA, 500+ mines, DCs 726