20 October 1896: Newcastle upon Tyne, Elswick, England. Laid down at Sir W.
G. Armstrong, Whitworth & Co., Ltd's shipyard as the "Elswick" class armored
cruiser No. 3 for the Empire of Japan.
18 October 1897: Named
ASAMA and
provisionally attached to Yokosuka Naval District.
1 December 1897: Captain (later Rear Admiral) Shimazaki Yoshitada
(2)(former CO of YOSHINO) is appointed the Chief Equipping/Transfer Officer and
travels to Great Britain.
22 March 1898: Launched.
24 June 1898: Captain Shimazaki is appointed the CO.
10 Februry 1899: Tyne estuary. In sea trials, the 9,885-ton ASAMA makes
22.1 knots and achieves 18,278 ihp.
18 March 1899: Completed. Rated a first-class cruiser and attached
to Yokosuka Naval District.
19 March 1899: Departs Newcastle for Japan.
1 April 1899: Arrives at Malta; departs on the 4th.
17 May 1899: Arrives at Yokosuka.
17 June 1899: Captain (later Vice Admiral) Mukaiyama Shinkichi
(5)(former CO of AKITSUSHIMA) is appointed the CO.
30 April 1900: 3rd Imperial Naval Review: Kobe. The Meiji Emperor
aboard ASAMA conducts his annual review of the fleet. 49 vessels participate in
the review.
20 May 1900: Captain (later Rear Admiral) Hosoya Sukeuji (5)(former
CO of CHITOSE) is appointed the CO.
22 August 1900: Departs Yokosuka for Taku at the Hai River Estuary,
China, to support the Eight-Nation Alliance's troops during the Boxer
Rebellion.
30 August 1900: Arrives at Taku, replacing the protected cruiser
YOSHINO.
12 December 1900: Departs Taku for Japan in company of the protected
cruiser TAKASAGO, making a stop at Chefoo (13-23 December).
26 December 1900: Arrives at Sasebo.
13 March 1901: Captain (later Vice Admiral) Nakao Yu (5)(former CO of
CHITOSE) is appointed the CO.
10 June 1902: Arrives at Plymouth as the flagship of the CinC of the
Standing Fleet, Rear Admiral (later Fleet Admiral) Ijuin Goro (5).
16 August 1902: British Coronation Naval Review: Spithead, Great
Britain. ASAMA participates in the Coronation Review for King Edward VII.
28 November 1902: Returns to Yokosuka.
12 January 1903: Captain (later Vice Admiral) Teragaki Izo (6)(former
CO of CHITOSE) is appointed the CO.
7 July 1903: Captain (later Admiral) Yashiro Rokuro (8)(former CO of
IZUMI) is appointed the CO.
8 February 1904: The outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War.
9 February 1904: Chemulpo Bay, Korea (modern Incheon): ASAMA
supports Rear Admiral (later Admiral) Uryu Sotokichi's (USNA '81) Fourth
Squadron with cruisers NANIWA (F), AKASHI, CHIYODA, NIITAKA and TAKACHIHO,
eight torpedo boats and three troop transports during the landing at Chemulpo,
the main port for the Korean capital of Seoul. Participates in the sinking of
the Russian cruiser VARYAG and the old gunboat KORIETZ.
10 August 1904: The Battle of the Yellow Sea: Yellow Sea, off
Shandong (Shantung) Peninsula, China. ASAMA is assigned to Vice Admiral
(later Admiral) Dewa Shigeto's Third Squadron, but arrives belatedly after a
delayed coaling.
31 January 1905: Intercepts the 3,172-ton Hungarian steamer SIAM,
operated by the Orient Hungarian Maritime Transport Company, en route from
Cardiff to Vladivostok. SIAM is declared a war prize and later renamed ERIMO
MARU.
27-28 May 1905: The Battle of Tsushima: ASAMA participates in the
battle operating with Rear Admiral (later Fleet Admiral) Shimamura Hayao's
(7) Second Battle Squadron. Takes 12-14 hits (three 12-in, two 9-in and 7-9
smaller caliber) and drops of ot the battle line temporarily. Eleven sailors
are KIA and 13 wounded.
23 October 1905: 5th Imperial Naval Review Yokohama. The Meiji
Emperor aboard ASAMA conducts his annual review of the fleet. 166 vessels
participate in the review.
12 December 1905: Captain (later Vice Admiral) Koizumi Kotaro
(8)(former CoS of Takeshiki Guard District) is appointed the CO.
18 November 1906: 6th Imperial Naval Review: Kobe. The Meiji
Emperor aboard ASAMA conducts his annual review of the fleet. 123 vessels
participate in the review.
22 November 1906: Captain (later Rear Admiral) Miyaji Sadatoki
(9)(former CO of NIITAKA) is appointed the CO.
28 September 1907: Captain (later Admiral) Nomaguchi Kaneo (13)(former
CO of MATSUSHIMA) is appointed the CO.
10 December 1906: Captain (later Admiral) Ito Otojiro (13)(former
Naval Affairs Bureau staff officer) is appointed the CO.
15 May 1908: Captain (later Rear Admiral) Yamasumi Tarozo
(11)(former section chief of the Navy Ministry's Hydrographic Division) is
appointed the CO.
18 November 1908: 6th Imperial Naval Review: Kobe. The Meiji Emperor
conducts his annual review of the fleet. 123 vessels participate in the review
including ASAMA.
10 December 1908: Captain (later Vice Admiral) Tanaka Morihide
(13)(former CO of ITSUKUSHIMA) is appointed the CO.
22 May 1909: Captain Yamamoto Takejiro (13)(former CO of
TOYOHASHI/ex-FLINTSHIRE) is appointed the CO.
9 April 1910: Captain Tanaka Morihide (13)(former CO of SUO/ex-POBEDA)
is appointed the CO (his second tour as the CO of ASAMA).
12 April 1911: Captain Tanaka is assigned to Kure Navy Yard as
additional duty.
23 May 1911: Captain (later Rear Admiral) Matsuoka Shuzo (14)(former
CO of IWATE) is appointed the CO.
25 October 1911: Captain Isobe Ken (14)(former CO of CHITOSE) is
appointed the CO.
24 May 1913: Captain (later Rear Admiral) Hiraga Tokutaro (18)(former
CO of TSUSHIMA) is appointed the CO.
4 August 1914: World War 1 begins.
23 August 1914: Captain (later Vice Admiral) Yoshioka Hansaku
(18)(former CO of HASHIDATE) is appointed the CO.
14 September 1914: Assigned to First Southern Expeditionary Squadron
tasked with intercepting Vice Admiral Maximilian von Spee's German East Asia
Squadron.
19 September 1914: Departs Yokosuka to support a landing on Jaluit
Atoll, Marshall Islands.
26 September 1914: Arrives at Eniwetok Atoll, Marshalls.
6 October 1914: Supports the second landing on Jaluit.
19 October 1914: Reassigned to Captain (later Vice Admiral)
Moriyama Keizaburo's American Expeditionary Squadron (flagship IZUMO).
22 November 1914: Magdalena Bay, Baja California Peninsula, off the
central west coast of Saint-Bartolome, Mexico. ASAMA and HIZEN rendezvous with
IZUMO.
11 December 1914: The American Expeditionary Squadron heads north
to search Mexican and U.S. waters.
28 January 1915: ASAMA arrives off Mazatlan El Faro lighthouse, then
heads north to coal in Magdalena Bay from the British collier LENA.
31 January 1915: Magdalena Bay, Baja California. While navigating the
entrance to Magdalena Bay, ASAMA runs aground an uncharted reef. Her hull is
torn open; the boiler rooms are completely and the engine room partially flooded.
12 February 1915: IZUMO arrives to render assistance to ASAMA.
18 March 1915: Cruiser CHITOSE and the supply ship KONAN MARU arrive
at Magdalena Bay to render assistance.
19 March 1915: IZUMO is relieved by TOKIWA.
24 March 1915: Repair vessel KANTO (ex-MANCHURIA) arrives from
Yokosuka.
8 May 1915: ASAMA is refloated at high tide and departs for San Diego,
CA, escorted by CHITOSE and KANTO.
21 June 1915: Undergoes emergency repairs in San Diego, CA.
18 December 1915: Arrives at Yokosuka and undergoes further repairs.
15 July 1916: Captain (later Rear Admiral) Shiraishi Naosuke
(17)(former CO of TOKIWA) is appointed the CO.
1 December 1916: Captain (later Vice Admiral) Uchida Kosaburo
(22)(former CO of YAHAGI) is appointed the CO.
March 1917: Repairs are completed.
2 March 1918: ASAMA and IWATE depart Yokosuka for the West Coast of
North America on a training cruise with the 45th class.
6 July 1918: Returns to Yokosuka.
17 July 1918: Captain (later Rear Admiral) Furukawa Hiroshi
(22)(former CO of OKINOSHIMA/ex-GENERAL-ADMIRAL APRAKSIN) is appointed the CO.
1 March 1919: AZUMA and TOKIWA depart Yokosuka for South Asia and
Australia on a training cruise with the 46th class.
27 March 1919: Captain (later Rear Admiral) Aoki Tohei (27)(formerly
attached to Yokosuka Naval District) is appointed the CO.
14 July 1919: Captain (later Rear Admiral) Imaizumi Tetsutaro
(25)(former CO of KANTO) is appointed the CO.
26 July 1919: Returns to Yokosuka.
20 November 1919: Captain (later Vice Admiral) Oyamada Shigezo
(27)(former CO of TSURUGISAKI) is appointed the CO.
24 November 1919: AZUMA and TOKIWA depart Yokosuka for Southeast Asia,
Suez and the Mediterranean on a training cruise with the 47th class.
20 May 1920: Returns to Yokosuka.
21 August 1920: ASAMA and IWATE depart Yokosuka for South America and
the South Seas islands on a training cruise with the 48th class.
2 April 1921: Returns to Yokosuka.
1 September 1921: Re-rated a First Class Coastal Defense Ship.
20 November 1921: Captain (later Rear Admiral) Shiraishi Nobunari
(28)(former CO of CHIKUMA) is appointed the CO.
26 June 1922: ASAMA, IWATE, IZUMO and the Training Squadron depart
Yokosuka with the 50th class of Etajima bound for Honolulu, Los Angeles, the
Panama Canal, Rio de Janeiro (to attend a naval review commemorating the 100th
anniversary of Brazil's independence), Buenos Aires, Argentina, Capetown and
Durban, S Africa. Lays over at Colombo, Ceylon, Singapore and Hong Kong.
8 February 1923: Returns to Yokosuka.
1 March 1923: Captain (later Vice Admiral) Yonemura Sueki
(29)(former Naval Academy instructor) is appointed the CO.
7 November 1923: ASAMA, IWATE and YAKUMO depart Yokosuka for
Southeast Asia and Australia on a training cruise with the 51st class.
5 April 1924: Arrives back at Yokosuka.
15 April 1924: Captain (later Rear Admiral) Hitsuda Kesaichi
(29)(former CO of HARUNA) is appointed the CO.
10 November 1924: ASAMA, IZUMO and YAKUMO depart Yokosuka for the
west coast of North America with the cadets of the 52nd class.
4 April 1925: Returns to Yokosuka.
20 April 1925: Captain Imagawa Magane (31)(former CO of KUMA) is
appointed the CO of ASAMA and oiler NOMA (until 1 August) as additional duty.
15 October-20 November 1925: Captain Imagawa is appointed the CO
of HIRADO as additional duty.
15 June 1926: Captain Kashima Tsugitaro (31)(former CO of Kure
Defense Unit) is appointed the CO.
30 June 1926: ASAMA, IZUMO and YAKUMO depart Yokosuka the
Mediterranean with the cadets of the 54th class.
1 December 1926: Captain (later Vice Admiral) Fujiyoshi Akira
(31)(former Naval Academy instructor) is appointed the CO.
17 January 1927: Returns to Yokosuka.
30 June 1927: ASAMA and IWATE depart Yokosuka for Australia on a
training cruise with the 55th class.
19 July 1927: Arrives at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
22 July 1927: Departs Pearl Harbor.
6 August 1927: Arrives at Los Angeles.
25 September 1927: ASAMA and IWATE arrive at Boston, MA.
26 September 1927: Depart Boston for New York.
26 December 1927: Returns to Yokosuka.
28 December 1927: Captain Furukawa Ryoichi (31)(former chief of
the submarine construction section at Kure Navy Yard) is appointed the CO.
10 March 1928: Captain Tsuru Nobuto (33)(current CO of ASAHI) is
appointed the CO of ASAMA as additional duty.
21 May 1928: Captain Shimomura Keisaburo (33)(former CO of NARUTO)
is appinted the CO.
10 December 1928: Captain (later Vice Admiral) Hibino Masaharu
(34)(former CO of OI) is appointed the CO.
1 July 1929: ASAMA and IWATE depart Yokosuka for the Mediterranean
Sea on a training cruise with the 57th class.
24 December 1929: Captain Nakajima Naokuma (34)(former ComDesDiv 23)
is appointed the CO.
27 December 1929: Returns to Yokosuka.
15 November 1930: Captain Harada Bunichi (35)(former ComSubDiv 9)
is appointed the CO.
1 February 1931: Captain (later Rear Admiral) Kasuya Soichi
(35)(former CO of OI) is appointed the CO.
1 December 1932: Captain (later Vice Admiral) Ota Taiji (37)(former
CO of OI) is appointed the CO.
1 March 1932: ASAMA and IWATE depart Yokosuka for the West Coasts of
North and Central Americas on a training cruise with the 59th class.
14 July 1932: Returns to Yokosuka.
15 February 1934: ASAMA and IWATE depart Yokosuka for the Southeast
Asia and Australia on a training cruise with the 61st class.
26 July 1934: Returns to Yokosuka.
20 August 1934: Captain (later Vice Admiral) Okawachi Denshichi
(37)(former Naval Gunnery School instructor) is appointed the CO.
1 August 1935: Captain Wakagi Genji (36)(former CO of TOKIWA) is
appointed the CO.
14 October 1935: Kurushima Strait, Hiroshima Bay. Early in the morning
when returning to Kure after an air defense exercise Osaka Bay, ASAMA runs
aground a reef near Shiraishi lighthouse on the south tip of Kurahashi Island as
a result of a navigation error. Her hull and keel receive serious damage. She is
refloated after a crane ship removes her turrets and guns.
19 October 1935: Arrives at Kure.
15 November 1935: Captain Kobashi Yoshisuke (37)(former CO of ABUKUMA)
is appointed the CO.
1 December 1936: Captain Hashimoto Aiji (39)(former CO of
KARASAKI/ex-EKATERINOSLAV) is appointed the CO.
1937: Kure. ASAMA is converted to a training ship for midshipmen.
Reattached to Kure Naval District as a training vessel.
1 July 1942: Removed from the Navy List. Designated as training
vessel, attached to Kure Naval District. The main and secondary guns are landed.
Two 8-cm/3-in 3rd Year Type AA guns are installed abreast the bridge. Several
25-mm Type 96 AA guns are likewise added.
5 August 1942: Redesignated as training vessel at Etajima Naval
Academy.
1944: Towed to Mutsure Jima island in Moji Bight and used as barracks
ship.
15 August 1945: Japan is defeated by the Allied Powers.
30 November 1945: Removed from the Navy List again. Towed to the
Hitachi Zosen Corporation's Innoshima shipyard.
15 August 1946-25 March 1947: Scrapped at Innoshima shipyard.
Author's Notes: [1] Thanks go to J-air reader Richard for posting the 1927
Leslie Jones photos of Iwate and Asama at Boston.
- Bob Hackett
26 December 1927:
