Japanese cruiser Chikuma (1911)
Background. The "Chikuma"-class protected cruisers were built as part of the 1907 Naval Expansion Program, based on lessons learned during the Russo-Japanese War. "Chikuma" was laid down at Sasebo Naval Arsenal in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan on 1 April 1909, launched on 1 April 1911 and entered service on 17 May 1912. Design. The basic design of the "Chikuma"-class cruisers was modeled after the Royal Navy with some modifications and was also largely influenced by the design of the cruiser The silhouette of the "Chikuma" class was readily distinguishable due to its four tall smokestacks. "Chikuma  had a hull with an overall length of and width of , with a normal displacement of 5040 tons and draft of . Chikuma" was propelled by two Curtis steam turbine engines (produced by Kawasaki, with a total capacity of , which drove two screws. The engine had 16 Kampon boilers. These newly developed engines gave the ship an incredible (for the time) speed in trials, but problems with material strength in the gears of the new engines created a maintenance nightmare, and "Chikuma" could seldom live up to her potential. The ship was armed with eight 15 cm/45 41st Year Type guns , one each fore and aft, and three mounted in sponsons on each side of the hull. Ships of the "Chikuma"-class were unusual in having the same weapons for its side armament as for its main battery. These guns were supplemented by four QF 12-pounder 12 cwt naval guns and two 7.7 mm Lewis Guns. In addition, she carried three torpedo launchers with torpedoes. After 1919, two 8 cm/40 3rd Year Type naval gun were added for anti-aircraft defense abeam of the fourth funnel, replacing three of the 12-pounders. Service record. "Chikuma" participated in World War I, as  part of Japan's contribution to the Allied war effort under the Anglo-Japanese Alliance. She was in the Japanese squadron which gave chase to the German East Asia Squadron led by Admiral Graf Maximilian von Spee in 1914. The Imperial Japanese Navy also dispatched the cruisers , "Chikuma" and to the Indian Ocean to deal with the threat posed to shipping by the German cruiser . From December 1914 to January 1915, "Chikuma" and "Yahagi" were assigned to patrols off the coast of northern Queensland, Australia and on 26 March 1917, the British Admiralty further requested the deployment of "Chikuma" and  Hirado to Australia and New Zealand to protect shipping against German commerce raiding operations. After World War I, "Chikuma" was assigned to patrols of the China coast from 1921 to 1924. After 1924, she was deemed too obsolete to be of any further combat use, and was primarily used as a moored training ship at Yokosuka Naval District after having been officially transferred to the reserves. "Chikuma" was officially stricken from the navy list on 1 April 1931. Her hulk was designated "Hai Kan No. 3" and expended as a target in 1935.