User talk:Climie.ca/Sandbox/Fuso-class

Armour

Per Lyon, Hugh; Moore, John E (1978). The Encyclopedia of the World's Warships. London: Salamander Books. ISBN 051722478X., p. 169:

side
- belt: 6-8" (152–203 mm)
- ends: 3" (76mm)
deck
- upper: 1.5" (38mm)
- lower: .75" (19mm) in 1912; increased to .75–4.75" (19-120mm) in 1929–31 reconstruction
main turrets: 3–9" (76-229mm) in 1912; increased to 6–9" (153–229mm) in 1929-31 reconstruction
barbettes: 10" (254mm); increased to 11" (280mm) in 1929-31 reconstruction
casemates: 6" (152mm)

Deck, magazine and turret armour were improved during 1929 refit.

Per Ireland, Bernard (1996). Jane's Battleships of the 20th Century. London: HarperCollins. ISBN 0-00-470997-7., p. 70:

bulkheads: up to 9"
decks: 2.75" (note possbile variance from above)

The 8" main belt was 12" deep, extending from "A" to "Y" barbettes. 6" upper belt extended up to forecastle deck; closed by bulkheads fore and aft to form central citadel.

Weight of armour was increased from 6,500 t to over 10,000 t in refits.

From Jane's Fighting Ships of World War I, originally published 1919 by Jane's Publishing Company; facsimile republished 1990 by Studio Editions, London, ISBN 1 85170 378 0, p. 165:

armour is stated to be Krupp (!);
6" upper belt (battery) extends from "A" turret to "X" turret;
8" main belt extends from aft end of "B" barbette to aft of "X" barbette;
6" side armout extends fore of 8" belt to fore end of "A" barbette and to fore end of "Y" barbettes; barbettes have heavier armour;
3-4" end armour to 40' of bow and 33' from stern
10" on conning tower;
9" on turrets
2.5" deck

From Jane's Fighting Ships of World War II, originally published 1946–47 by Jane's Publishing Company; facsimile republished 1989 by Bracken Books, London, ISBN 1 85170 194 X, p. 185:

armour is Krupp;
main belt is 12'5" deep and 8" thick; extends from foremost to aftmost barbettes;
diagonal bulkheads of 5–6" forward and 6–8" aft close main belt;
upper belt is 6" thick, is between barbettes 1 and 3; extends up to forecastle deck;
bulkheads of 6–9" fore and 6" aft close upper belt;
additional 3" belt behind main belt, 2'6" deep;
barbettes are 10";
deck armour is stated to be 2.75" main, but during reconstruction 4" was added to decks, raising displacement by 3,000 tons;

It appears that vertical armour did not change during reconstructions; it's a little hard to determine as the broadside elevation drawing in 1919 edition is stated to be incorrect.

Bernard Ireland and Jane's agree, no surprise, as Ireland is based on Jane's.

Take a look at these sources on composition: [1] and [2], and search in each for Kongo. If you Google the author's name you will find a lot of information and also his qualifications. I'm not sure how to reconcile his statements with Jane's (that armour was Krupp).

Regards, Kablammo (talk) 21:24, 12 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Whitley

I have Whitley's Battleships of World War IIm which covers the ships; I should be able to add refs from it soon. —Ed (talk • majestic titan) 05:51, 12 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Fuso TROM

Skulski, P. 12

11 March 1912 - Keel laid in dry dock at the Kure Kaigun Kosho (naval yard)
28 March 1914 - Launched
8 November 1915 - Commissioned and registered at Kure Naval District
13 December 1915 - Attached to 1st Squadron of 1st Fleet
9 April 1917 - Departs from Sasebo Naval Base for operations off the coast of China
29 April 1917 - returns to Kure Naval Base
27 February 1918 - Departs from Makou and cruises in Chinese waters
3 March 1918 - returns to Kure Naval Base
1 December 1918 - goes into reserve
1 August 1919 - Attached to 1st Squadron of 1st Fleet
29 August 1920 - Departs from Tateyama for guard duty off coast of USSR
7 September 1920 - returns to Otaru
1 December 1921 - goes into reserve
9-22 September 1923 - Assists in rescue operation following Great Kanto Earthquake
30 March 1925 - Departs Sasebo and operations around Qinhuangdao off China
30 March 1926 - Departs from Nakajou Bay and operates around Amoy off China
5 April 1926 - Returns to Makou
20 April 1926 - Departs from Jilong and cruises around Quindao off China
26 April 1926 - returns to Terashima Channel
1 December 1926 - goes into First Reserve
1 December 1927 - Attached to 1st Squadron of 1st Fleet
29 March 1928 - Departs from Ariake-Bay and operates around Zhoushan Quindao off China
2 April 1928 - Returns to Jilong
12 April 1930 - Main modernization starts at Yokosuka Naval Yard; bulges are fitted to the hull and the machinery is replaced
26 December 1932 - Arrives at Kure Naval Base for second phase of modernization: twin 12.7cm HA guns, 13.2mm machine guns, shell-room equipment
12 May 1933 - Completion, leaves Kure Naval Base for sea trials
15 November 1933 - Attached to 1st Squadron of First Fleet
16 September 1934 - Enters dry dock at Kure Naval Base for second phase of main modernization; enlargement of stern starts
March 1935 - Second phase completed

Skulski, p. 13

Lots of operating off the Chinese coast
26 February 1937 - Start of second modernization at Kure Naval Base: twin 25mm mounts, stern reinforced, 10m rangefinder fitted on top of tower bridge
31 March 1938 - Second modernization complete, departs Kure Naval Base
22 March 1939 - Departs Kagoshima and operatesin northern Chinese waters
15 December 1939 - second phase of second modernization starts: replacement of aircraft equipment to sttern deck, AA defence platform on top of tower bridge
10 April 1941 - attached to 2nd Squadron of 1st Fleet
8 December 1941 - war starts, departs Hashirajima as part of support TF
13 December 1941 - returns to Hashirajima
21 February 1942 - Arrives at Kure for exchange of gun barrels, departs 25 February
18 April 1942 - Sails from Hashirajima to counterattack Doolittle Raid
29 May 1942 - sails as part of distant cover force during battle of midway
16 June 1942 - returns to Yokosuka
15 November 1942 - transferred to Military Academy for use as Training Ship
18 July 1943 - enters drydock at Kure; Type 21 Radar, twin and single 25mm machine gun mountings fitted
18 August 1943 - sails from Inland Sea for Truk Naval Base
23 August 1943 - arrives at Truk for training
17 October 1943 - Departs from Truk and prepares toa ttack US task force in Battle of Marshall Islands
19 October 1943 - Arrives in Borneo
23 October 1943 - Departs Borneo and sails to Truk Naval Base

Skulski, p. 14

26 October 1943 - Arrives at Truk
1 February 1944 - Departs from Truk with other capital ships to avoid US air raid
4 February 1944 - Arrives at Palau
16 February 1944 - Departs from Palau with other capital ships to avoid US air raid
21 February 1944 - Arrives at Lingga Harbour for training