View source for Japanese battleship Satsuma

{{Short description|Imperial Japanese Navy's Satsuma-class battleship}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=Colorized Satsuma.jpg
|Ship caption=Picture of ''Satsuma''
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=[[Empire of Japan|Japan]]
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Empire of Japan|naval}}
|Ship name=''Satsuma''
|Ship namesake=[[Satsuma Province]]
|Ship ordered=1904
|Ship builder=[[Yokosuka Naval Arsenal]], Japan
|Ship laid down= 15 May 1905
|Ship launched= 15 November 1906
|Ship commissioned= 25 March 1910
|Ship decommissioned=1922
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship struck=20 September 1923
|Ship fate=Sunk as target, 7 September 1924
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class={{sclass|Satsuma|battleship|0}} [[semi-dreadnought]] [[battleship]]
|Ship displacement= {{convert|19372-19700|LT|t|lk=on|0}}
|Ship length={{convert|482|ft|m|abbr=on|1}}
|Ship beam={{convert|83|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on|1}}
|Ship draft={{convert|27|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on|1}}
|Ship power=*20 Miyabara [[water-tube boiler]]s
*{{convert|17300|ihp|lk=on|abbr=on}}
|Ship propulsion=2 shafts; 2 [[Marine steam engine#Triple or multiple expansion|triple-expansion steam engines]]
|Ship speed={{convert|18.25|kn|lk=in|1}}
|Ship range={{convert|9100|nmi|lk=in|abbr=on}} at {{convert|10|kn}}
|Ship complement=800–940
|Ship armament=* 2 × twin [[EOC 12 inch /45 naval gun|{{convert|12|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} guns]]
* 6 × twin [[Vickers 10 inch /45 naval gun|{{convert|10|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} guns]]
* 12 × single [[QF 4.7 inch Gun Mk I–IV|{{cvt|4.7|in|-1}} guns]]
* 8 × single [[QF 12 pounder 12 cwt naval gun|12 pdr ({{cvt|3|in|0}}) guns]]
* 5 × {{cvt|18|in|mm|0}} [[torpedo]] tubes 
|Ship armor=*[[Belt armor|Waterline belt]]: {{convert|4|-|9|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
*[[Deck (ship)|Deck]]: {{convert|2|-|3|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
*[[Gun turret]]s: {{convert|7|-|9|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
*[[Conning tower]]: {{convert|6|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
*[[Casemate]]s: {{convert|6|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
|Ship notes=
}}
|}

{{nihongo|'''''Satsuma'''''|薩摩||}} was a [[semi-dreadnought]] [[battleship]] built for the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]] (IJN) in the first decade of the 20th century. [[Lead ship]] of her [[Satsuma-class battleship|class]], she was the first battleship built in Japan. She was named for [[Satsuma Province]], now a part of [[Kagoshima prefecture]]. The ship saw no combat during [[World War I]], although she led a [[squadron (naval)|squadron]] that occupied several German colonies in the [[Pacific Ocean]] in 1914. ''Satsuma'' was disarmed and sunk as a target in 1922–1924 in accordance with the terms of the [[Washington Naval Treaty]] of 1922.

==Background==
The ''Satsuma'' class was ordered in late 1904 under the 1904 War Naval Supplementary Program during the [[Russo-Japanese War]].<ref>Itani, Lengerer & Rehm-Takahara, p. 53</ref> Unlike the previous {{sclass|Katori|battleship|0}} [[pre-dreadnought battleship]]s, they were the first battleships ordered from Japanese shipyards, although ''Satsuma'' used many imported components.<ref name=e9>Evans & Peattie, p. 159</ref> They were originally designed with a dozen {{convert|12|in|adj=on|0}} guns, but had to be redesigned because of a shortage of guns in Japan<ref name=g8/> and to reduce costs.<ref name=e9/>

==Design and description==
[[File:SatsumaDrawing.jpg|thumb|left|Line drawing of the battleship ''Satsuma'' from Brassey's Naval Annual 1912]]
The ship had an [[length overall|overall length]] of {{convert|482|ft|m|1}}, a [[Beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|83|ft|6|in|m|1}}, and a normal [[Draft (hull)|draft]] of {{convert|27|ft|6|in|m|1}}. She displaced {{convert|19372|LT|t|lk=on}} at normal load. The crew ranged from 800 to 940 officers and enlisted men.<ref name=j7>Jentschura, Jung & Mickel, p. 23</ref>

''Satsuma'' was powered by a pair of [[Marine steam engine#Triple or multiple expansion|vertical triple-expansion steam engines]], each driving one propeller, using steam generated by 20 Miyabara [[water-tube boiler]]s using a mixture of coal and [[fuel oil]]. The engines were rated at a total of {{convert|17300|ihp|lk=on}} and designed to reach a top speed of {{convert|18.25|kn|lk=in|1}}. During the ship's [[sea trial]]s she reached {{convert|18.95|kn|1}} from {{convert|18507|ihp|abbr=on}}.<ref name=j7/> ''Satsuma'' carried enough coal and oil to give her a range of {{convert|9100|nmi|lk=in}} at a speed of {{convert|10|kn}}.<ref name=p5>Preston, p. 195</ref>

The ship was completed with four 45-[[caliber (artillery)|caliber]] [[EOC 12 inch/45 naval gun|12-inch 41st Year Type guns]] in two gun turrets, one each fore and aft of the [[superstructure]].<ref name=j7/> They fired {{convert|850|lb|kg|adj=on|0}}<ref>Friedman, pp. 272</ref> [[Armor-piercing shot and shell|armor-piercing]] (AP) shells to a maximum range of {{convert|22000|m|yd|abbr=on|order=flip}}.<ref>Itani, Lengerer & Rehm-Takahara, p. 67</ref> The [[secondary armament|intermediate armament]] consisted of six twin-gun turrets equipped with 45-caliber [[Vickers 10 inch /45 naval gun|Type 41 10-inch (254&nbsp;mm) guns]], three turrets on each side of the superstructure.<ref name=p5/> Her heavy intermediate armament is why the ship is considered a semi-dreadnought.<ref name=j7/>

''Satsuma'' was equipped with a dozen 40-caliber [[quick-firing gun|quick-firing (QF)]] [[QF 4.7 inch Gun Mk I–IV|4.7-inch (120&nbsp;mm) 41st Year Type guns]], mounted in [[casemate]]s in the sides of the hull.<ref name=p5/> The ship was also equipped with four 40-caliber [[QF 12 pounder 12 cwt naval gun|QF 12-pounder ({{convert|3|in|0|adj=on}}) 12-cwt guns]]<ref group=Note>"Cwt" is the abbreviation for [[hundredweight]], 12 cwt referring to the weight of the gun.</ref> and four 28-caliber [[8 cm/40 3rd Year Type naval gun|QF 12-pounder guns]].<ref name=j7/> In addition, she was fitted with five submerged {{convert|18|in|adj=on|0}} [[torpedo tube]]s, two on each [[Broadside (naval)|broadside]] and one in the stern.<ref name=p5/>

The [[waterline]] [[armor belt|main belt]] of the ''Satsuma''-class vessels consisted of [[Krupp cemented armor]] that had a maximum thickness of {{convert|9|in|mm|0}} [[amidships]]. It tapered to a thickness of {{convert|4|in|mm|0}} inches at the ends of the ship.<ref name=g8/> A {{convert|6|in|0|adj=on}} [[strake]] of armor protected the casemates.<ref name=j7/> The barbettes for the main guns were {{convert|7|-|9.5|in}} thick. The armor of ''Satsuma''{{'}}s main gun turrets had a maximum thickness of nine inches. The [[Deck (ship)|deck]] armor was {{convert|2|-|3|in|mm|0}} thick and the [[conning tower]] was protected by six inches of armor.<ref name=g8>Gardiner & Gray, p. 238</ref>

==Construction and career==
''Satsuma'', named for [[Satsuma Province]],<ref>Silverstone, p. 336</ref> was [[Keel laying|laid down]] at [[Yokosuka Naval Arsenal]] on 15 May 1905.<ref name=g8/> She was [[Ship naming and launching|launched]] on 15 November 1906 with [[Emperor Meiji]], the [[Minister of the Navy of Japan|Navy Minister]], and other high officials on hand for the ceremony,<ref name=nyt>{{cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1906/11/16/101806601.pdf|title=Mikado Attends Launching|date=16 November 1905|work=New York Times|access-date=11 June 2013}}</ref><ref>Schencking, pp. 117–18</ref> and completed on 25 March 1910.<ref name=j7/> At the time of her launching, ''Satsuma'' had the largest displacement of any battleship in the world.<ref name=nyt/>

On 5 August 1911, the ship suffered an explosion in one of her 12-inch guns when it failed to fire during gunnery practice. After some time passed, the [[Breech-loading weapon|breech]] was opened and ignited the propellant; the resulting fire killed 16 crewmen and several officers.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article105327501?searchTerm=battleship%20satsuma&searchLimits=l-decade=191|title=Gun Accident|date=7 August 1911|work=Daily Herald (Adelaide, South Australia)|page=5|access-date=13 July 2013}}</ref>

She was lightly damaged by a [[typhoon]] on 22 September 1912.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86063760/1912-10-02/ed-1/seq-1/#date1=1910&index=0&rows=20&words=battleship+Satsuma&searchType=basic&sequence=0&state=&date2=1919&proxtext=battleship%2Bsatsuma&y=17&x=11&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1|title=Many Lives Are Lost: Great Damage Wrought in Japan by Terrific Storm|date=2 October 1912|work=The Manning Times|access-date=13 July 2013}}</ref> ''Satsuma'' was assigned to the 1st Battleship Squadron when World War I began in August 1914.<ref name=p5/> She served as [[Rear Admiral]] [[Tatsuo Matsumura (admiral)|Tatsuo Matsumura]]'s flagship in the [[Second South Seas Squadron]] as it seized the German possessions of the [[Caroline Islands|Caroline]] and the [[Palau Islands]] in October 1914.<ref>Peattie, pp. 42–43</ref>

''Satsuma'' rejoined the 1st Battleship Squadron in 1915, was refitted at [[Sasebo Naval Arsenal]] in 1916 and served with the 1st Squadron for the rest of the war.<ref name=p5/> Sometime during the war, she was fitted with two 12-pounders on high-angle mounts to serve as [[anti-aircraft gun]]s.<ref name=g8/>

The ship was disarmed at Yokosuka Naval Arsenal in 1922 to comply with the provisions of the Washington Naval Treaty, stricken from the [[Navy List]] on 20 September 1923 and converted into a target ship. ''Satsuma'' was sunk by the battleships {{ship|Japanese battleship|Mutsu||2}} and {{ship|Japanese battleship|Nagato||2}} off the southern tip of the [[Bōsō Peninsula]], near the mouth of [[Tokyo Bay]] on 7 September 1924.<ref name=j7/>

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=Note}}

==Footnotes==
{{reflist|2}}

==References==
* {{cite book  | last1 = Evans  | first1 = David| first2 = Mark R. |last2=Peattie  | year = 1997  | title = Kaigun: Strategy, Tactics, and Technology in the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1887–1941  | publisher =Naval Institute Press  | location =Annapolis, Maryland  | isbn = 0-87021-192-7|name-list-style=amp}}
*{{cite book|last=Friedman|first=Norman|title=Naval Weapons of World War One|publisher=Seaforth|location=Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK|year=2011|isbn=978-1-84832-100-7}}
* {{cite book |editor1-last=Gardiner |editor1-first=Robert |editor2-last=Gray |editor2-first=Randal |title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921 |year=1985 |location=Annapolis, Maryland|publisher=Naval Institute Press |isbn=0-87021-907-3 |name-list-style=amp}}
*{{cite book|title=Warship 1992|editor=Gardiner, Robert|publisher=Conway Maritime Press|location=London|year=1992|isbn=0-85177-603-5|last1=Itani|first1=Jiro|last2=Lengerer|first2=Hans|last3=Rehm-Takahara|first3=Tomoko|chapter=Japan's Proto-Battlecruisers: The Tsukuba and Kurama Classes|name-list-style=amp}}
*{{cite book| last1 = Jentschura| first1 = Hansgeorg| first2 = Dieter |last2=Jung|first3=Peter |last3=Mickel| year = 1977| title = Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869–1945| publisher = United States Naval Institute| location = Annapolis, Maryland| isbn = 0-87021-893-X|name-list-style=amp}}
*{{cite book |last1=Lengerer |first1=Hans |last2=Ahlberg |first2=Lars |title=Capital Ships of the Imperial Japanese Navy 1868–1945: Ironclads, Battleships and Battle Cruisers: An Outline History of Their Design, Construction and Operations|volume=I: Armourclad ''Fusō'' to ''Kongō'' Class Battle Cruisers |date=2019 |publisher=Despot Infinitus |location=Zagreb, Croatia |isbn=978-953-8218-26-2|name-list-style=amp}}
*{{cite book|last=Peattie|first=Mark R.|title=Nan'yo: The Rise and Fall of the Japanese in Micronesia 1885–1945|series=Pacific Island Monograph Series|volume=4|year=1988|publisher= University of Hawaii Press|location=Honolulu, Hawaii|isbn=0-82481480-0}}
*{{cite book|last=Preston|first=Antony|title=Battleships of World War I: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Battleships of All Nations 1914–1918|publisher=Galahad Books|location=New York|year=1972|isbn=0-88365-300-1}}
*{{cite book|last=Schencking|first=J. Charles|title=Making Waves: Politics, Propaganda, and the Emergence of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1868–1922|year=2005|publisher=Stanford University Press|location=Stanford, California|isbn=0-8047-4977-9}}
*{{cite book|last=Silverstone|first=Paul H.|title=Directory of the World's Capital Ships|year=1984|publisher=Hippocrene Books|location=New York|isbn=0-88254-979-0}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Satsuma (ship, 1910)}}
*[https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1906/11/16/101806601.pdf New York Times article on launch]

{{Satsuma class battleship}}
{{1924 shipwrecks}}
{{good article}}
{{coord missing|Pacific Ocean}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Satsuma}}
[[Category:Satsuma-class battleships]]
[[Category:Ships built by Yokosuka Naval Arsenal]]
[[Category:1906 ships]]
[[Category:World War I battleships of Japan]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks in the Pacific Ocean]]
[[Category:Ships sunk as targets]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1924]]