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

Armour
Per, p. 169:

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

Per, p. 70: 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.
 * bulkheads: up to 9"
 * decks: 2.75" (note possbile variance from above)

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: 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.
 * 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;

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

Take a look at these sources on composition:  and, 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)

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)

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