Battleship Mikasa and Battle of Tsushima (Ships of the world, Kaijinsha)

"Battleship Mikasa and Battle of Tsushima", published on 17th, May, 2022.

This magazine-like book contains many photos, drawings, and articles about the Mikasa and Battle of Tsushima.

 

Hasegawa announced new 1/700 kit of the Mikasa.

Hasegawa announced new 1/700 kit of the Mikasa.

http://www.hasegawa-model.co.jp/2016shs/

http://www.amiami.jp/top/detail/review?scode=TOY-SCL2-58150&page=

The sale is due on July, 2016.

New kit of the Mikasa has been announced.

The kit was put on the sale already, but .... unfortunately, it seems to contain terrible errors.  I am sorry to see it. (26, May, 2016)

***** The sale of the kit was postponed to February, 2016. *****

New kit of the Mikasa (scale 1/200) was announced from WAVE corporation.

http://www.hobby-wave.com/LINE_UP/kit/etc/mikasa/index.html


You can see several CG images of the model from reseller web-page.

http://www.1999.co.jp/10343455

http://www.1999.co.jp/image/10343455/10/0

There are several points which are different from my research, but these images are of halfway of the development.

I am waiting for image of the product, and its sale.  The sale is due on the end of December, 2015.

Symmetry and asymmetry (Positions of gun ports, ash shoots, entrances on upper deck, midship).

[Midship, port side of the Memorial ship Mikasa]

This image shows port side, upper deck, midship of the Mikasa.  

You can see one small anchor, four gun ports for 12 pounder gun, one ash shoot, and one entrance.

There are same things on her starboard side, but positions of the gun ports are different.

[Comparison between port side and starboard side*,

 the image of port side is rotated 180 degrees for comparison. ]

The ash shoots and the entrances are respectively on symmetrical positions about the center line of the ship.

However, outlines of gun ports #7, #9, #11, #13 (starboard side) are shifted ahead of outlines of gun port #8, #10, #12, #14 (port side), respectively, although these guns seem to be on symmetrical positions about the center line. 

[Midship of the Mikasa]

Positions of gun ports, ash shoots, and entrances in the drawing are based on measured values by me onboard the Mikasa.

----

* You may notice that positions of the davits astern are not on on symmetrical positions. That's right, but the difference may be seen too much due to difference between shooting angles of the photographs.

Pictures of the Memorial ship Mikasa.

For your information. Recent pictures.

Yuzuru Hiraga Digital Archive reopened.

This Archive had closed due to security problem in May, 2014.
But, on 10th Oct., 2014, it reopened.

New URL is below.

 http://gazo.dl.itc.u-tokyo.ac.jp/hiraga2/

That's good news.

Several pictures (For Your Information)

For Your Information.

This picture was taken on 17th July, 1904. About 50 men of members of the Diet and correspondents visited the Mikasa and the Asahi.

Aft 12-inch guns of the Mikasa, at Portsmouth. (Postcard)

12-inch guns of the Asahi.  (Shashin-Gahou)

12-inch guns of the Shikishima. ("ARTILLERY AND EXPLOSIVES" Plate XXXI.)

A Happy New Year! (Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu)

Mikasa , 1st, Jan., 2014

A happy new year! 

The memorial ship Mikasa is open.

Positions of 47mm 2.5pdr quick firing guns on aft bridge deck at Battle of Tsushima.

According to one photograph of the Mikasa*1, it is probable that positions of 47mm 2.5pdr quick firing guns on aft bridge deck were ;

[Plan of aft bridge. showing positions of 47mm 2.5pdr QF guns on Feb., 2nd, 1905. ]

I can not reprint the photo, so I will show them with a sketch.

[Part of the photo. looking forward ]

*1 : Library of Yamato museum material# PG049770 (taken on Feb., 2nd, 1905).
      or
      The magazine "世界の艦船 ( SHIPS OF THE WORLD) , April, 1969, No.140"

COALING HATCH on boat deck

[Upper deck, midship , port, under boat deck. ]

(1) Coaling hatch on boat deck

(2) Upper deck , midship. The plate on the deck seems to be a protection from bags of coal falling through the coaling hatch(1) .

Drawing (1) and (2) are from "PLANS OF SHIPS OF THE IMPERIAL JAPANESE NAVY - HISTORY OF SHIPBUILDING IN SHOWA ERA"(published in 1975) . It was only one of commerce in fine size in Japan. Unfortunately, the drawing is not clear. But recently EAGLEMOSS distributed clear drawings.

So I can see almost characters on the drawings now. 

About ventilators(2)

Hello Mr.DariusP,
Sorry, I'm late.

Yes, your red line is correct.

But returning to vents... From all the drawings at JACAR I think that closes to to the reality are drawings of this vent (what vent is it BTW?):

The drawing shows damage of the rear port vent of the engine room, after the Battle of Tsushima.
JACAR ref.  C05110130600 - 100th image also shows damage of rear starboard vent.

Mikasa's rear starboard vent of engine room, after the Battle of Tsushima.

In one of Russian publications there are some photos of Mikasa at Sasebo undergoing repairs after Tsushima. Those photos are high resolution close-ups and are probably one of the best sources of information about Mikasa's in 1905 that I have seen so far: download/file.php?id=60072&mode=viewDo you, by any chance, know where they got those photos from?

I don't know real source of the Russian book, but these photos can be seen in several magazines or books published in Japan. For example, the top photo of the Russian book is in magazine "世界の艦船 写真集 日本軍艦史 1.明治編 増刊( SHIPS OF THE WORLD, photograph collection, History of Japanese warships of the Meiji era )  extra number July, 1976, No.229" and some other books, and other photos are in "海軍艦艇史1 戦艦・巡洋艦 ( JAPANESE NAVAL VESSELS ILLUSTRATED, 1869-1945)" published in 1980,  or "写真日本海軍全艦艇史 Fukui Shizuo Collection" (ISBN 4584170541)  published in 1994.

The magazine "SHIPS OF THE WORLD", extra number July, 1976, No.229

 JAPANESE NAVAL VESSELS ILLUSTRATED, 1869-1945, Vol.1 Battleships & Battle Cruisers.

As to "Fukui Shizuo Collection" (ISBN 4584170541), please refer to link below;

http://www.amazon.co.jp/写真日本海軍全艦艇史-福井静夫/dp/4584170541/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370053149&sr=8-1&keywords=4584170541

Yamato Museum (http://www.yamato-museum.com/en/) possesses now a good many original photos of them except the top photo in the Russian book.

Strange investigation about HIJMS Mikasa

In Japan, several persons have claimed strange opinions about the Russo‐Japanese War and HIJMS Mikasa. But these do not seem to have made headway in Japan.

  As to model of the Mikasa, more than 3 years ago, one Japanese introduced a model of the Mikasa. It was given out that the model was the most accurate scale model of the Mikasa of 1905, and its price was more than 1,000,000 Yen.

  However, it was merely assembled Hasegawa's kit with partly new, and mostly wrong remodeling based on "his own investigation."

  Many errors in his claims were pointed out. After that, he changed his claims, saying "I have been already aware of them", and now, he seems to have introduced a new kit of the Mikasa, based on "his own new investigation", reviling at other makers' kits and models of the Mikasa.

  I can not judge whether his new kit is accurate or not, because he never shows clear images of the kit nor its completed sample. -- even now (July,2016)  --

 As a result, I cannot go along with his ideas.

About ventilators

Hello Mr.DariusP,

Hello Mr. Yasaka, I hope that your holidays were enjoyable

Thank you!  I enjoyed the holidays with my friends. (^o^)

And the more I look the more uncertain I have become... I can't read Japanese but drawings 2 and 3 appear to be of the same (or identical) ventilator's right and left sides but is drawing 1 also of the same vent? Even if scaled up, dimensions of the first drawing still do not conform to those of 2 and 3!

The drawing 1,2, and 3 are of the identical ventilator.
The captions in Japanese are ;

Fig. 14.  Warship Mikasa's port-forward ventilator of Engine room, which was damaged at the Battle of Yellow Sea, 10th, August.

 1.  Looking forward (in word-for-word translation, "Looking from aft part")
 2.  Looking to port. ( "Looking from starboard")
 3.  Looking to starboard.  ( "Looking from port")

***
So, we have to check not only these drawings, but other photos, official drawings (if they exist), etc. 

About ventilators of Mikasa

Mr. DariusP wrote;

It is amazing that those are drawings of the same vent, damaged in the same battle! My initial vote would go to drawing no.2 (JACAR, Ref. C05110130600) since it's a technical drawing and records damage in some detail. Second one is more of a sketch than a drawing, records much less damage and could have been done from memory without looking at the actual vent.

Thank you Mr. DariusP. I think that your opinions are reasonable. But, in several cases, such drawings contain errors.  For example, one sketch of vent of fore boiler room seems to be diverted to sketch of vent of middle boiler room, although actually they have different shapes. 

sketch of vent of fore boiler room. this shape is almost correct.

( JACAR Ref: C05110130600, 102nd image)

sketch of vent of middle boiler room. this shape is similar to above, but incorrect.

( JACAR Ref: C09050839400, 9th image)

From photo of Museum Mikasa in around 1926. The vent of fore boiler room is bended, but the vent of middle boiler room is straight.  Note: This image is flipped horizontal for comparison with the sketches.

So, there is a possibility that the drawing no.2 is made from a copy of drawing of aft vent of the engine room, which might differ from fore one.

Mr. DariusP wrote;

On an accurate plan view of Mikasa one should be able to measure this sideways shift of the vent's cowl and resolve the question.

Yes, I will continue search the plan. I'm sorry, but my response may be late. My 4-days-straight holidays are over. 

Hatch#7, and forward ventilators of engine room

Mr. DariusP wrote;

As for the hatch #7... Location right under ship's boat might not have been a best place for it and, if so, I wouldn't be surprised if it was moved at the first opportunity.

Thank you.  I have not thought of it.

As to the ventilators, there are 2 sketches below. Both sketches are records of damage to the same ventilator at the Battle of Yellow Sea, but different in (1) lower part of the ventilator, (2) part of bend , and (3) handle.

From "戦時機関部記事" (wartime record of engine section)

JACAR Ref. C09050661000, 58th and 59th image

From "極秘 明治３７．８年海戦史" ((Top secret) history of naval battles of Meiji 37,8)

JACAR, Ref. C05110130600, 62nd image

Engine hatch and its casing

Hello Mr. DariusP,

Mr. Yasaka - I was asking about "General Arrangement - Sectional Elevation" drawings of Mikasa because I'm interested in your corrections to Mikasa's engine room hatch:  Where did you get your information about that from?

That came from drawing  "General Arrangement - Sectional Elevation" drawing,  "General Arrangement - plan of boat deck, shelter deck, etc." drawing and postcard of Mikasa.

Elevation

Plan

By the way, hatch#7 might be sifted starboard in her career. But I can not find when it was. 

A : Hatch#7(probably original, but sealed with a steel plate with rivets) , B : Large opening (sealed with a steel plate with welding ), C : Curved beam for B.

Present Museum Mikasa. Around B & C.

Another problem is shape of forward ventilators of the engine room. There are two different sketches of them.

About Mikasa's Devastation

Hello Mr. DariusP,

BTW I have read on one of Japanese sites that it was USSR and not USA which insisted most strongly on Mikasa's destruction. Have you heard anything about that?

I think it is accepted widely in Japan.
Please refer official "MEMORIAL SHIP MIKASA" site by Mikasa Preservation Society. It describes the Mikasa's devastation briefly in English.

http://www.kinenkan-mikasa.or.jp/en/devastation_after_ww2.html

But, if I discuss the matter closely, I have to get some books such as "ウィロビー回顧録" ( reminiscences of Charles Andrew Willoughby ). 

Inboard view drawing of Mikasa (3) and situation of Mikasa's historical documents

Hello Mr. DariusP,

If the 1926 drawings were copied from builders drawings (with later changes added) we will probably never know.

I agree your opinion. We do not have accurate historical documents.

In 1945,  almost all drawings of IJN vessels were discarded or scattered and lost, and most of Mikasa's structures (wheelhouse, chart house, funnels, casing, ventilators, skylights, hatches, etc.) were destroyed in 1948.

Therefore, when Mikasa was restored in 1961,  persons in charge of the restoration were suffered for lack of Mikasa's documents, and limitation of budget. 

Consequently, present Mikasa's appearance is different from her past.

Hasegawa's kits of Mikasa were designed partly based on present Mikasa, so parts of midship were different from her past, too. 

As to appearance of the midship, I think the model below is best among her models exhibited.

Please refer also article "Large Model of HIJMS Mikasa "

Inboard view drawing of Mikasa (2)

I checked photographs of the drawing displayed at Museum Mikasa again.
Fune no kagaku kan (Museum of Maritime Science) and MES Tokki Co., Ltd. have furnished the drawing.
MES Tokki is a subsidiary company of MES(Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.).

[ Part of drawing displayed at Museum Mikasa. ] 

* * * * *
As you know, JACAR has put several other drawings of Mikasa on view via web.

[ Plan of main deck of Mikasa (subjoined pages by me)]

( JACAR http://www.jacar.go.jp/index.html ; Ref# : C04015499200 )

Ref#  C04015499100 contains plan of middle deck of Mikasa.

This drawing was made about 1926 for preservation of Mikasa, but perhaps it was copied from drawing at completion of Mikasa.

Original drawings (main deck & middle deck) can be viewed at NIDS "The National Institute for Defense Studies".

Inboard view drawing of Mikasa

Hello Mr. DariusP,

Now, could you please tell me if inboard view drawings of Mikasa from a period up to September 1905 do exist?

Does "inboard view drawing" mean drawing like below?

[ Drawing of Mikasa ( displayed in 船の科学館 (Fune no kagaku kan (Museum of Maritime Science )) ) ]

This drawing was reproduced from 「日本海軍艦艇図面集（昭和造船史別冊）」: "PLANS OF SHIPS OF THE IMPERIAL JAPANESE NAVY - HISTORY OF SHIPBUILDING IN SHOWA ERA"(published in 1975).  Probably it is only one of commerce in fine size in Japan. Unfortunately, the original drawing is not clear.

---


Fune no kagaku kan (Museum of Maritime Science) has other clear drawings of Mikasa ;


 (1)  "ELEVATION of UPPER WORKS and TORPEDO NET DEFENCE" (not inboard view)

 (2)  "PLATING PLAN - PLATFORM DECK AFT -"

 (3)   "PLATING PLAN - PLATFORM DECK FORWARD -"
  

[ PLATING PLAN - PLATFORM DECK FORWARD ] 

 (4)  "GENERAL ARRANGEMENT - SECTIONAL ELEVATION -"

 (5)  "GENERAL ARRANGEMENT of STEAM STEERING GEAR "

 (6) "POSITION of SEA CHEST &C ON SHIP'S BOTTOM" 

 (7) "INTERCOSTAL STRINGER above MIDDLE DK"

 (8) "ENGINE ROOM CENTRE LINE W.T. BULKHEAD"

(1) and (4) are reprinted in "連合艦隊1905" (published in August, 2011), in small size. You can see contents of the book in  Amazon.co.jp, but the drawings can not be seen there.
  http://www.amazon.co.jp/連合艦隊1905-国難救う日本海海戦圧勝/dp/4863204728


The parts of drawings are also printed in "BATTLESHIP MIKASA" (booklet by Fune no kagaku kan (Museum of Maritime Science )).

Moreover, the copy of (4) seems to be displayed in Museum Mikasa at Yokosuka.

---

Yamato Museum (Kure Maritime Museum) has another drawing of Mikasa;

 " GENERAL ARRANGEMENT - PLATFORM DECK -"

All these drawing seem to be made up to 1904 ( or completion of Mikasa, maybe) .

About other drawings of Mikasa, I will post another article later.