American Vessel right outside enemy Manila harbor!

WernherVonTrapp · 02-13-11, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diablo2

Just left Pearl, its aug 42 and a haruna maru sales past me flying british colors... So just going to ask is this normal?

Some of the merchant ships used by Japan were actually of pre-war design and built in British or American shipyards. It was not uncommon before the war, for Japan to purchase ships from other countries (who also happened to use them). Did you know that the Kongo Battleship was actually designed and built in Britain? Though it was later modified in Japanese ship yards. You'll also come across Hog Island Freighters bearing Japanese flags, though this could be as much from commandeering as it is from purchasing.

TorpX · 02-13-11, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WernherVonTrapp

It was not uncommon before the war, for Japan to purchase ships from other countries (who also happened to use them). Did you know that the Kongo Battleship was actually designed and built in Britain? Though it was later modified in Japanese ship yards.

Didn't know about the Kongo. Was it built for the Japanese, or was it a decomissioned British ship?

WernherVonTrapp · 02-13-11, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TorpX

Didn't know about the Kongo. Was it built for the Japanese, or was it a decomissioned British ship?

I believe it was built strictly for the Japanese Navy. I think the IJN began modifying it's design almost immediately upon receipt. IMHO, the Japanese had the finest navy afloat at the outbreak of war.

Hylander_1314 · 02-13-11, 06:57 PM

They were definitely well trained! Things would have been worse in the Pacific, had the Japanese made more efforts for the survivability of their experienced sailors and aircrew.

Arael · 02-13-11, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TorpX

Didn't know about the Kongo. Was it built for the Japanese, or was it a decomissioned British ship?

The Kongo was a pre World War 1 era battlecruiser specifically designed for and purchased by the Japanese Navy to provide a starting point for their new dreadnought navy. The Kongo was the last foreign built ship commissioned into the Imperial Japanese Navy, as its sister ships the Hiei, Haruna, and Kirishima were built in Japan. The design was the first 14" gunned ship ever made, and the design was considered so successful that the British Navy ordered an improved version that became the battlecruiser Tiger.

TorpX · 02-13-11, 10:42 PM

This is all very interesting. Now I'm tempted to find a good read about the IJN surface fleet.

Dread Knot · 02-14-11, 08:56 AM

The Kongos were the only battleships in the Japanese Navy fast enough to effectively escort fast carriers. In many respects the most useful of Japanese battleships as even the mighty Yamatos were a bit too slow and too much of a fuel hog to commit to the Solomons. However, they were rather lightly armored even after their modernization, and this proved fatal in the Solomons campaign, where Hiei was crippled by heavy cruiser fire and Kirishima succumbed to a devastating volley of radar-directed 16-inch shells from the more modern BB Washington.

Hiei was acknowledged to be the Emperor's favorite warship.

02-13-11, 06:57 PM	#4
Hylander_1314 Sea Lord Join Date: May 2006 Location: 5 Miles Inland West Of Lake Huron Posts: 1,936 Downloads: 139 Uploads: 0	They were definitely well trained! Things would have been worse in the Pacific, had the Japanese made more efforts for the survivability of their experienced sailors and aircrew. __________________ A legislative act contrary to the Constitution is not law. -John Marshall Chief Justice of the Supreme Court ---------------------

02-13-11, 10:42 PM	#6
TorpX Silent Hunter Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 3,975 Downloads: 153 Uploads: 11	This is all very interesting. Now I'm tempted to find a good read about the IJN surface fleet.

02-14-11, 08:56 AM	#7
Dread Knot Ace of the Deep Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,288 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	The Kongos were the only battleships in the Japanese Navy fast enough to effectively escort fast carriers. In many respects the most useful of Japanese battleships as even the mighty Yamatos were a bit too slow and too much of a fuel hog to commit to the Solomons. However, they were rather lightly armored even after their modernization, and this proved fatal in the Solomons campaign, where Hiei was crippled by heavy cruiser fire and Kirishima succumbed to a devastating volley of radar-directed 16-inch shells from the more modern BB Washington. Hiei was acknowledged to be the Emperor's favorite warship.