Ex-IJN Armored Cruiser in Service as a Minelayer

(IJN IZUMO on Shanghai's Bund by Takeshi Yuki scanned from "Color Paintings of Japanese Warships")

Completed at the turn of the 20th century as an armored cruiser, TOKIWA saw frontline service in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. In 1917, she served as a training ship for the Etajima Naval Academy's cadets.

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.



Vessel Builder Dimensions Displacement Machinery Speed Armament Crew
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