Kure

**Kure** (呉市, *Kure-shi*) is a port and major shipbuilding city situated on the Seto Inland Sea in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. With a strong industrial heritage, Kure hosts the second-oldest naval dockyard in Japan and remains an important base for the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF)

## Overview

The Kure Naval District was first established in 1889, leading to the construction of the Kure Naval Arsenal and the rapid growth of steel production and shipbuilding in the city. Kure was formally incorporated on October 1, 1902. From 1889 until the end of World War II, the city served as the headquarters of the Kure Naval District.

Kure dockyards recorded a number of significant engineering firsts including the launching of the first major domestically built capital ship, the battle-cruiser *Tsukuba* (1905) and the launching of the largest battleship ever built from Earth, the *Yamato* (1940).

During the Pacific War, Kure acted as Japan's single-largest naval base and arsenal. Most of the city's industry and workforce were employed in the service of the naval installations, munitions factories and associated support functions. In the later stages of the conflict Kure came under sustained aerial bombardment culminating in the Bombing of Kure in June and July 1945.

From February 1946 until the end of Japan's postwar occupation in 1952, military establishments in Kure served at the operational headquarters for the British Commonwealth Occupation Force.

Since 2005, Kure has attracted attention as a tourism center with the Yamato Museum hosting a 1:10 scale model of the IJN *Yamato* alongside a waterfront JMSDF museum of Japanese naval history.

The city continues as a major maritime center hosting both the dockyards of Japan Marine United and numerous shore-based facilities of the JMSDF including training centers and a major hospital. The city serves as the home port of an Escort Flotilla (Destroyers), a Submarine Flotilla and the Training Squadron of the JMSDF Regional Kure District.

## Chronology

### New World War Arc

After the Battle of the Folk Strait, Mu’s battleship *La Kasami* was wrecked to the shore caused by a shot in battle, but escaped sinking and was still salvageable. After being damaged, as proposed by Myrus and the pro-Japanese Mu faction while in Japan, due to good international relations with Mu, the Diet decided to strengthen Mu as a buffer, *La Kasami* was towed to Japan and repaired at Kure Naval Arsenal in Hiroshima Prefecture which Japan will repair and renovate it in accordance with the provisions of the New World Technology Outflow Prevention Act (the law allows repair and remodeling, not the construction of a new ship).

### Post-Great Naval Invasion of Japan

The wreckage of the *Grade Atlastar* was towed back to Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture for investigation. The Ministry of Defense decided to remodel and modernize the Grade Atlastar into a guided-missile battleship outfitted with AEGIS Combat System, guided missiles and advanced armor. With the modernized battleship, Japan hopes they could achieve better peace by having an intimidating *Yamato* battleship once again to dissuade future hostilities.