Battleships: Past & Present #5; HIJMS Mikasa Quiz

Answer: Vickers in Great Britain

Following the Sino-Japanese Conflict of 1894-1895, Japan was woefully unprepared for modern naval war. Russia, who brokered the end of that conflict, had pressured Japan into territorial concessions that generated an animosity that would eventually boil over into an all out war between Russia and Japan. As a result, Japan ordered six battleships and six armored cruisers from shipyards all over the world, including the Mikasa from Vickers in Great Britain.

Answer: Pre-Dreadnought Battleship

Battleship Mikasa is classified historically as a pre-dreadnought battleship and is indeed the only battleship example of that era still in existence. HMS Dreadnought was designed and launched in 1905 and revolutionized battleships forever with her "all big gun" design and massive armor protection. Battleship Mikasa still had a graduated gun plan and only moderate armor.

Answer: Yokosuka, Japan; sitting in concrete

Battleship Mikasa was severely damaged during WWII by American bombers and was essentially a wreck. The Russians wanted her destroyed but she was saved and completely refurbished and placed permanently in concrete in Yokosuka Harbor Japan in 1961.

Answer: Admiral Togo at the Battle of Tsushima

During the Russo-Japanese War in 1905, Battleship Mikasa was the flagship of the victorious Admiral Togo where, at the Battle of Tsushima, the Japanese fleet defeated the Russian Fleet and virtually destroyed it. This famous battle basically ended the Russo-Japanese war and ended Russia's history as a major naval power till the Cold War era. All the other battles mentioned were WWII battles.

Answer: The Crossing the "T"of the Russians

Admiral Togo crossed the Russian's "T" in a classic move that allowed most of the Japanese main battery guns to be trained on the Russian's battle line when few of the Russian's could be. The result was a stunning Japanese victory that ended the war and catapulted Japan into the role of major naval power that lasted through WWII.

Answer: She caught fire, blew up, and sank

In September of 1905, the Battleship Mikasa caught fire in the harbor in Sasebo, Japan and after the fire spread to the magazine, she exploded and sank with the loss of over 300 lives. She was re-floated a year later, and even though she was already obsolete, was rebuilt and reentered service classified as a coastal battleship.

Answer: False

After the 1921 Washington Naval Treaty, the signatories were allowed to put one battleship on display rather than destroy it. Japan put the Battleship Mikasa on display in Yokosuka Harbor in 1925 after refitting, where she stayed till virtually destroyed by USAAF bombs during WWII. She was completely rebuilt and re-displayed permanently there in 1961.

Answer: HMS Victory and USS Constitution

I can't believe "they" left out the USS Texas and I don't even know who "they" are, but that is what the tourist brochure at Battleship Mikasa says, so it has to be true. Right? Mikasa, Victory, and Constitution! Who'd a thunk it? So, by the power vested in me, by myself, I hereby state that Battleship Mikasa is one of the Twelve Great Battleship Museum/Memorials in the World! That is because there are 12!

Answer: Admiral Chester Nimitz

Although there is a good possibility that all the others did indeed approve of the project, partly because the Russians did not, Admiral Chester Nimitz was a direct and enthusiastic supporter of the Battleship Mikasa Restoration Project. He even participated directly in raising funds for the restoration.

Answer: (4) 12" Guns in two turrets

Although battleships of the era varied greatly in their armament, few were more powerful than Mikasa with her (4) 12" main guns in two turrets, with (14) 6" and (20) 3" guns in her secondary batteries. Many had as few as two main guns and none larger that the 12" of the Mikasa.

I hope you enjoyed the Battleship Mikasa and the last non American battleship in the series. Next is the USS Arizona.