War in the Pacific: Imperial Council Thread

Admiral Takao had graduated from the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy in 1906, too late to have participated in the great naval victories over Russia during the "first great war of the 20th century", the Russo-Japanese War. However, in recognition of his academic performance, he was assigned to the staff of the war's great hero, the Admiral that western writers had termed, "the Nelson of the East", Admiral Tōgō Heihachirō. Admiral Togo liked the intelligent young officer and often engaged him in casual conversations, Takao reminded him of himself when he was a younger man. Admiral Togo himself was known as somewhat of an intellectual, having a solid education in naval science. Togo had studied naval science for seven years in England as an apprentice officer, from 1871 to 1878, together with sixteen other Japanese students. In 1872 he served as a cadet on HMS Worcester. In 1875 he circumnavigated the globe as an ordinary seaman aboard the training-ship Hampshire as part of his training at the Thames Nautical Training College. He graduated in 1878, 2nd in his class. He studied mathematics, then attended the Royal Naval Academy and the Royal Naval College. When Japan ordered several modern warships from English shipyards, Togo was assigned to supervise the construction of the ironclad warship Fuso being built at Samunda Brothers Shipyards. In 1878, Lieutenant Togo returned to Japan aboard the Kongo class, armored, sail-steam corvette Hiei. It would be 27 years later, when now Admiral Togo, led the Japanese Fleet in its great victory over the Russian Fleet at the Battle of Tsushima Straights on 27 and 28th May, 1905. Sir George Sydenham Clarke, of Britain's Committee of Imperial Defense, wrote in 1906 that, "The battle of Tsu-shima is by far the greatest and the most important naval event since Trafalgar". It was the first defeat of a Western Power by an Asian nation. Togo's leadership had gained him world renown and catapulted Japan into the club of the world's great naval powers.


Main Building, Imperial Japanese Naval Academy, Etajima.

Takao Waizu, upon graduation from the Japanese Naval Academy in 1906 was assigned to the old Fuso, now reclassified as a coastal defense ship due to her advanced age. Takao served aboard her until she was decommissioned in April, 1908. His superiors had noted his intelligence and he was sent to England to study at the School of Naval Architecture and Marine engineering, Royal Naval College. He completed the course 2nd in his class and when the battle-cruiser Kongo, the last major warship to be built outside of Japan, was being built he was assigned to supervise its construction. The Kongo was laid down in January 1911 at Barrow-in-Furness by Vickers Shipbuilding Company. When she commissioned in 1913 and returned to Japan, Takao was not aboard her. Now a Lieutenant, J.G., (Kaigun Chui) he was assigned as a naval observer to the British Fleet and diligently studied British operational practices. This is where he was when war with Austria-Hungary broke out in July 1914. A month later after Japan was approached by Britain with an urgent request for aid, Japan herself declared war on Germany. Takao and Togo remained close and corresponded regularly, the young naval officer writing his famous mentor with his experiences in the Great European war. From 1914 to 1924, now Fleet Admiral Tōgō was put in charge of the education of Crown Prince Hirohito. Togo would often read Takao's letters to the young prince and thus the future Emperor came to know a man he'd never met. Hirohito's favorite letter was the one where Takao told of his experiences at the Battle of Jutland. The letter was written in such a descriptive manner that the future Emperor could feel the decks swaying under his feet, hear the thunder of the naval guns and the shouts of the sailors. He made Togo read it to him often and if he closed his eyes he could swear he could smell the cordite in the air. Lieutenant Takao had been assigned as an observer and gunnery officer on Rear Admiral David Beatty's battle-cruiser HMS Lion. In December 1915 he was on Lion when she opposed Admiral Hipper's raid on Scarborough. He took part in the naval action in January 1915 at Dogger Bank. He faced the German's again on the last day of May 1916 when the Lion led Beatty's battle-cruiser fleet in another confrontation with Admiral Hipper in the opening engagement of the Battle of Jutland. Takao performed well but was wounded severely in the action and was hospitalized upon their return to port.

In December 1916, Britain again requested Japanese assistance. Japan responded by sending cruisers and destroyers to Cape Town and to the Mediterranean. In February 1917, the newly promoted Kaigun Daii Takao, was still in a great deal of pain from his wounds, but had recovered sufficiently that he was able to convince the physicians to release him from the hospital by concealing his pain. He wished to return to battle at sea, but was ordered home to Japan. He hid his suffering and reported himself fit for duty shortly before the Second Special Naval Squadron under Rear Admiral Sato Kozo left Singapore for Malta, on 11 March 1917. Takao would not sail with them. The Admiral Sato's squadron would arrive in Malta on 16 April, 1917 and immediately begin protecting Allied troop convoys from attack by German submarines. In April 1917 Britain requested additional destroyers be sent to the Mediterranean, and Japan agreed to send her their new Momo class. Takao was assigned to command one of them, the Yanagi. As soon as he assumed command he began preparing the ship and crew for deployment to the Malta. Takao readied himself, once more, to join the fight in the worlds first global war. His fluency in English and experience working with the Royal Navy would make him quite valuable and he would prove adept in helping coordinate the Japanese and British naval squadrons. On 25 June the Yanagi as part of the 15th Destroyer Flotilla left Japan and would serve in the Mediterranean from August through the end of the war. The Armored Cruiser Izumo, commanded by Kaigun Chūsa Rikanaga, served as the flagship of the flotilla and Rikanaga served as the flotilla commander. Commander Rikanaga would come to rely heavily upon the talented young officer. On 11 November 1918 the war ended, the Central Powers were defeated. In December 1918, Rikanaga took the Izumo along with the destroyers Hinoki and Yanagi to Scapa Flow to guard the interned German High Seas Fleet, and to take possession of seven German U-boats that were to be transferred to Japan as war reparations.


DD Hinoki circa 1923

The three ships sailed back to Malta with the seven U-boats in March of 1919. Kaigun Chūsa Rikanaga and the Izumo then continued on, making ports of call in Genoa, Naples and Marseilles before returning to Japan in July 1919.
Takao Waizu, still suffering from the after effects of his wounds and worn down by his hard service in the Mediterranean, was at his own request, relieved of command of the Yanagi and returned to Japan aboard the Armored cruiser Nisshin, along with eight destroyers and the ex-German U-boats.

Sir?....Sir?.....the voice was faint and far away.......

 

Captain Noka approached the Admiral standing at the top of the steps, under the archway. He noticed that the Admiral had a blank stare and appeared to be staring at something very far away. "Sir", Noka said gently, no response. "Sir", he said again, this time slightly louder. This time Admiral Takao responded, his eyes regained focus and his mind returned to the present. "Yes Captain?" "Sir!", Noka snapped to attention and saluted, "the Cadet Battalion is formed and ready." Takao, returned the salute, smiled slightly at his protégé, and said, "Very well Captain." "You will be overall commander, you will detach 9th and 10th Companies to stand guard here and secure the Academy. They are the youngest cadets and I wish to spare them from harm if at all possible." Noka noticed that the Admiral suddenly looked weary. Takao's eyes now staring past Noka and looking over the youngsters standing in formation before him. "Noka," he continued, "you will be the overall force commander, you will take personal charge of 1st, 2nd and 3rd companies and they will be given the most important objectives." "Ensign Masutaro Yahara will take command 4th company and they will be charged with providing the boat crews and transporting the battalion to the docks in Hiroshima." "Once they have transported the cadets, they will stand by and guard the boats and docks until the rest of the battalion completes their missions and return." The older man looked down at the ground and paused for a moment, then he suddenly looked up, staring Noka squarely in the eyes. This time the weariness was gone and his eyes had become hard. "You will assign an officer instructor to each of the other companies, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th. Each will have one of these lists with the conspirators to be arrested" he said, handing Noka several lists. "The use of deadly force is authorized, but I wish them to be taken alive, if possible". He continued, "Once each conspirator has been arrested a detail will be detached and assigned to escort them back to the docks." "When as many as possible have been apprehended, they will be returned to the Academy where they will be held until we receive word on how they will be handled." He handed Noka another list, "These are your objectives, all are of military importance and our ability to seize and hold them until the plot is crushed, may decide whether our government survives or falls." "You will take and hold these objectives at all costs, until such a time as you receive word from me that you are relieved." Takao placed his hand on the younger mans shoulder and said, gently, "do you understand." Noka shook his head in the affirmative and said, "Yes sir. It will be done." Takao straightened, came to attention and commanded, "Captain Noka, take your post, take charge of the battalion and standby to execute your orders." Noka came to attention, saluted, and replied "Yes Sir!" Takao returned the salute and watched Noka return to his position in front of the battalion. Noka came to attention and screamed, "Cuhdett Bahtallion, Ahhhtention!" A thousand pairs of heels slapped together in unison.........
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Move the rest out later.

Forty to Fifty foot walls of water pounded the bridge that night. Use the people on deck as a scale at about 6'. The bridge was high (I reckon 40' above surface at least), we used to go all the way up the top mast underway to get air. I was on the bridge for the mid-watch after hanging on to my rack in fitful sleep from 9-12 PM. The mess decks were closed at 6 PM after a huge swell sent sailors, mystery meat and bug juice into the port bulkhead, with considerable force. We were trying to get out of the Straits of Taiwan after running all day so the sea was compressed between the mainland and Taiwan like a supercharger. About 3 am one of the frames, number 86, I believe, running through the MM and BT quarters cracked. She was a tough girl and saved the crew of 1,100 that night, good old Bethlehem Steel . It was a weird feeling not knowing if we were going to make it. USN retired her in 1979. View attachment 16529 Singapore 1975

 

Great story Rick! Unfortunately the Japanese vessel is mis-identified. Here's a picture of the actual Cruiser Izumo.



She served in the Japanese Navy from 1900 until sunk in 1945, by US aircraft.

The Japanese ship in the picture you provided is the Fubuki class destroyer Shinonome.