H.I.J.M.S. Fuso
Specifications

 Ships in class* (2)
  • Fuso
  • Yamashiro


    • Dimensions:
  • Disp: 41,932 tons full load
  • LOA: 698'-0"
  • Beam: 100'-5"


    •  Performance:
  • SHP: 112,000 (4 shafts)
  • Boilers: N/A
  • Turbines: N/A
  • Top Speed Trials: 30.5 knots


    •  Armor:
  • Sides: N/A
  • Deck: N/A


    •  Armament:
  • Main: 8 - 14"" in triple mounts
  • Sec: 18 - 3.9" in twin mounts
  • Light AAW: 42 - 25mm in triple mounts
  • Torpedo: -


    •  Aircraft:
  • Total: 3
  • Scout: 3


    •  Operation History:
     The war for these two ships was spent bombarding shore targets and engaging in the few surface battles that took place during the Pacific conflict. The most memorable battle the Fuso and Yamashiro were engaged in was the Second Naval Battle of Guadalcanal (November 14th, 1942). During the First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal (November 13th, 1942) the Japanese lost the battleship Kirishima to a completely inferior USN force. The Japanese had moved the Fuso and Yamashiro into Rabaul half a day too late to participate in the first battle, but they were there for the second. In the close quarters combat of that night several ships were damaged and some sunk. The Japanese lost the Hiei and the Yamashiro was seriously damaged, but the Americans got worse than they gave in this fight. Out numbered again the Battleship South Dakota was sunk and the battleship Washington was damaged and left dead in the water. More importantly, all the four destroyers were sunked, leaving the Washington completely unprotected. As the IJN force withdrew the heavy cruisers Tako and Atago were ordered to round Savo island to finish off the Washington with 24" long lance torpedoes. The Washington was sunk. The complete destruction of the USN force still caused the IJN to fail at their mission to bombard Henderson Field. The American sailors who lost their lives that night had accomplished the job that was expected of them.

    The Fuso and Yamashiro were both sunk in the Battle of Surigao Strait (October 24-25, 1944).

     Special Notes:
     By 1938 the IJN began to realise that their four oldest battlewagons would not be fit to fight a battle with the ships rolling out of the yards of the USN. The Fuso, Yamashiro, Ise and Hyuga were heavily gunned, but poorly protected for attack from enemy battleships and the new threat of aircraft. It was decided to remove the two center turrets on all four ships (the turrets were slated to be used for the Aki class ships) and machinery, armor and additional AAW were to be installed. When the ships emerged from their modernization they were more lightly armed (8 - 14" guns instead of the designed 12 - 14" guns), but their deck and torpedo protection doubled around the ships vitals, speed was increased from 24 knots on a good day to 31 knots and the AAW were augmented considerably.
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