Tuesday 23 December 2014

The Japanese Combined Fleet

Japan started the Russo Japanese war as a definite underdog. Expected by all western nations and attached observers to be soundly whooped by the numerically superior Imperial Russian forces amply backed up by an economy that could replace the losses of an aggressive war, Japan by comparison had almost bankrupted itself in order to provide its navy with 6 Battleships and 6 Armoured Cruisers. Rear Admiral Togo Heihachiro knew that the way he fought the war had to be in such a way as to conserve his naval assets.

Japans European ally, Great Britain routinely called Japan in the press of the day Gallant Little Japan!

Japan had such a paucity of resources that they were still forced to use the armoured cruisers that had fought (and won) the Sino-Japanese naval war of 1895, albeit in the Fifth reserve naval division.

What the Japanese under the Emperor Meiji lacked in resources they more than made up for in professionalism, aggressive modus operandi and the state of repair that the naval vessels were kept in.

In the final analysis it was these elements that dealt such a crushing blow to the European superpower; Imperial Russia!

The Japanese First Squadron



First Division: OBB Mikasa, OBB Asahi, OBB Fuji,
OBB Yashima, OBB Shikishima, OBB Hatsuse


OBB Asahi


OBB Fuji


OBB Mikasa


OBB Shikishima


OBB Tatsuta


Third Division: OCR Chitose, OCR Takasago,
OCR Kasagi, OCR Yoshino


OCR Chitose


OCR Kasagi


OCR Takasago


OCR Yoshino


1st Destroyer Division:
ODD Shirakumo, ODD Asashiwo,
ODD Kasumi, Akatsuki


2nd Destroyer Division:
ODD Ikazuchi, ODD Oboro,
ODD Inadzuma, ODD Akebono


3rd Destroyer Division:
ODD Usugumo, ODD Shinonome
ODD Sazanami


14th Torpedo-Boat Division
TB Chiyoda, TB Hayabusa
TB Manadzuru,TB Kasasagi


1st Torpedo-Boat Division
TB67, TB68,TB69, TB70

The Japanese Second Squadron


Second Division
CR Idzumo, CR Adzuma, CR Asama
CR Yakumo,CR Tokiwa, CR Iwate, CS Chihaya


CR Adzuma


CR Asama


CS Chihaya


CR Idzumo


CR Yakumo


Fourth Division
OCR Naniwa, OCR Akashi,
OCR Takachiho,OCR Niitaka


OCR Akashi


OCR Naniwa


OCR Tsushima


4th Destroyer Division
ODD Hayatori, ODD Asagiri,
ODD Harusame, ODD Murasame


5th Destroyer Division
ODD Murakumo, ODD Shiranui,
ODD Yugiri, ODD Kagero


9th Torpedo-Boat Division
TB Aotaka, TB Hato,
TB Kari, TB Tsubame


20th Torpedo-Boat Division
TB62, TB63, TB64, TB65

The Japanese Third Squadron


Fifth Division
OBB Chin Yen, OCR Ikutsushima,
OCR Hashidate, OCR Matsushima


OBB Chin Yen


OCR Hashidate


OCR Matsushima


Sixth Division
OCR Idzumi (ex Chilean OCR Esmerelda)
OCR Suma, OCR Akitsushima, OCR CR Chiyoda


OCR Akitsushima


CRChiyoda


OCR Idzuma (Ex Chilean OCR Esmerelda)


Seventh Division
OBB Fuso, SC Kaimon, 
OCR Saiyen (ex Chinese OCR Chi Yuan)


OBB Fuso


SC Kaimon


OCR Saiyen (Ex Chinese OCR Chi Yuan)


Gunboat Division
OBB Heiyen (Ex Chinese OBB Ping Yuen)
OCR Tsukushi, PG Banjo, PG Chokai,
PG Atago, PG Maya, PG Uji


Another Gunboat Division Shot


PG Banjo


OBB Heiyen (Ex Chinese OBB Ping Yuen)


PG Maya


CS Miyako


OCR Tsukushi


PG Uji


10th Torpedo-Boat Division


11th Torpedo-Boat Division


16th Torpedo-Boat Division

The 1905 Additions to the Combined Fleet


All of the line of battle vessels that were added to the fleet


OCR Niitaka


CR Nisshin & CR Kasuga


OCR Otawa


CS Yaeyama

2 comments:

  1. superb work, any tips on basing?

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    Replies
    1. Hey Neil,
      Thanks for the compliment. I'm a fan of your work as well. Superb stuff!

      The basing for my Russo Japanese War stuff is actually really simple. Simply a wooden base with tile grout on. I leave the tile grout to set for 5 minutes and then stipple the surface with an old toothbrush (or new if that's your fancy).

      Once that's done to the distressed level that I'm happy with I push the vessel in down and forwards to create the Bow Wake.

      The painting is a matter of personal choice. I decided on a more blue oceanic look as opposed to green on account of so many of the naval engagements happening so close to shore and the water having a bluer tint (thats an assumption rather than hard research). A greener hue may have been more appropriate BUT I love the choppy ocean look of sea bases so I spared no expense on the spume and made sure there was more of it painted around the vessel itself... and then of course the final touch was a gloss varnish on the sea and a matt varnish on the ships!

      Hope that helps!

      :D

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