was the lead ship in the Shikishima-class of pre-dreadnought battleships in the Imperial Japanese Navy, and one of the six battleships (Fuji, Yashima, Hatsuse, Shikishima, Asahi, and Mikasa) that formed the main Japanese battle line in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905.

History

Following the 1894-1895 Sino-Japanese War, and the forced return of the Liaotung Peninsula to China under Russian pressure, Japan began to build up its military strength in preparation for further confrontations. In particular, Japan embarked on a ten-year naval expansion program, with the construction of six battleships and six armored cruisers at its core.Shikishima was ordered to Thames Iron Works, England in 1897. She was designed by Phillip Watts and was basically an improved version of the British Navy's Majestic-class.

Shikishima arrived at Kure on 1900-04-17. She served in the Russo-Japanese War, was damaged in the bombardment of Port Arthur, fighting at the Battle of the Yellow Sea, and taking 10 hits at the Battle of Tsushima.

After the Russo-Japanese War ended, Shikishima was based out of Sasebo and used to patrol the waters of the East China Sea. She suffered damage from an explosion on 1916-07-24 and again on 1917-08-16. Rendered obsolete by the development of the Dreadnought class battleships. Shikishima later served in Japanese home waters during World War I. In 1920 Shikishima was used as a support vessel, to cover the landings of Japanese troops in Russia during Japan's Siberian Intervention.

Refitted in 1921, Shikishima was de-rated to First-class Coastal defence ship and relegated to training duties the same year. Disarmed under the provisions of the Washington Naval Treaty, she was used as a training school for submarine crews after 1923. She was then briefly designated as a transport, and then officially stricken from the navy list in 1926, but remained moored at Sasebo as a damage control hulk, floating barracks ship, and training center.

Shikishima was still afloat after the Pacific War, somehow escaping American air attacks, but had not moved under her own power for over two decades. She was broken up for scrap in 1948 at the Sasebo Naval Arsenal.

References

• Jane, Fred T. The Imperial Japanese Navy. Thacker, Spink & Co (1904) ASIN: B00085LCZ4

External links

• Materials of the Imperial Japanese Navy
• Global Security site