© 2009-2021 Bob Hackett and Sander Kingsepp
Revision 4
1 September 1898:
Stettin, Germany (modern Szczecin in Poland). Laid down as
an armored cruiser at the Aktien-Gesellschaft Vulcan Shipyard (order No. 240).
23 March 1899:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Togo Masamichi (4)(former
CO of the protected cruiser SAIEN/ex-JIYUAN) is appointed the Chief
Equipping/Transfer Officer.
8 July 1899:
Launched and named YAKUMO.
25 December 1899:
Captain Togo is appointed the CO of YAKUMO.
20 June 1900:
Completed.
22 June 1900:
Departs Stettin for Yokosuka.
30 August 1900:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
1 November 1900:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Tomioka Sadayasu
(5)(former Sailor Corps instructor) is appointed the CO.
6 July 1901:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Yasuhara Kinji (5)(former CO
of NANIWA) is appointed the CO.
25 June 1903:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Matsumoto Arinobu
(7)(former principal of the Naval Gunnery School) is appointed the CO.
1904-1905: Russo-Japanese War:
Assigned to the Second Squadron, Second
Fleet.
10 August 1904:
Participates in the Battle of the Yellow Sea. The
Russian First Pacific Squadron sails out of Port Arthur to engage Admiral (later
Fleet Admiral, Marquis) Togo Heihachiro's fleet blockading the port. The Russian
squadron consists of six battleships, four protected cruisers and 14 destroyers.
Admiral Togo's fleet consists of four battleships, two armored cruisers, eight
protected cruisers, 18 destroyers, and 30 torpedo boats. The battle that ensues
between the Japanese and Russian forces ends in a draw, but the Russian fleet
never again attempts to break out into the open sea.
October 1904:
Russian Admiral Zinovi P. Rozhestvenski's Baltic fleet
departs on an eight-month journey to the Far East. Rear Admiral Nikolai
Nebogatov's Third Pacific Squadron joins Rozhestvenski's fleet in May 1905.
27 May 1905:
The Combined Fleet under Admiral Togo sorties from
Chinhae, Korea to engage the Russians.
27-28 May 1905: The Battle of Tsushima:
YAKUMO is flagship of the
Third Fleet. In a running gun battle off Okinoshima, Admiral Togo Heihachiro's
fleet of battleships, cruisers and smaller ships battle Rozhestvenski's fleet.
YAKUMO and armored cruiser IWATE seriously damage Russian Captain Vladimir
Miklukha's battleship ADMIRAL USHAKOV.
28 May 1905:
YAKUMO and armored cruiser AZUMA again intercept ADMIRAL
USHAKOV. She is hit by six 203-mm and nine 152-mm shells. At 1810, USHAKOV is
scuttled to avoid falling into Japanese hands.
July 1905:
YAKUMO participates in the capture and occupation of
Sakhalin Island.
2 November 1905:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Saito Koshi (7)(former
Third Fleet staff officer) is appointed the CO.
7 April 1906:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Sendo Taketeru (10)(former
CO of KASUGA) is appointed the CO.
1 July 1907:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Tonami Kurakichi (11)(former
CO of TAKACHIHO) is appointed the CO.
28 August 1908:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Nishiyama Sanechika
(8)(former CO of HASHIDATE) is appointed the CO.
10 December 1908:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Hideshima Shichisaburo
(13)(former CO of MANSHU/ex-MANCHURIA) is appointed the CO.
4 March 1909:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Nakano Naoe (15)(former CO
of AKITSUSHIMA) is appointed the CO.
1 April-22 May 1909:
Captain Nakano is temporarily assigned to
Yokosuka Naval Arsenal.
1 December 1909:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Imai Kanetane
(13)(former CO of HASHIDATE) is appointed the CO.
31 January 1911:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Eguchi Rinroku
(12)(former CO of SATSUMA) is appointed the CO of YAKUMO with additional duties
at Yokosuka Navy Yard.
2 September 1911:
Captain Eguchi is appointed the CO of SAGAMI
(ex-PERESVET) as additional duty.
23 May 1911:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Mori Yoshiomi (14)(former CO
of TONE) is appointed the CO.
25 October 1911:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Hara Seigo (13)(current
CO of NANIWA) is appointed the CO of YAKUMO as additional duty.
1 December 1911-22 May 1912:
Captain Hara is attached to Yokosuka
Naval District for administrative purposes.
22 May 1912:
Captain Hara Seigo is again appointed the CO.
13 July 1912:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Funakoshi Kajishiro
(16)(former CO of IWATE) is appointed the CO.
13 November 1912:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Chisaka Tomojiro
(14)(former CO of IKOMA) is appointed the CO.
12 February 1913:
Captain Chisaka is appointed the CO of KATORI as
additional duty.
1 April 1913:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Arakawa Chugo (15)(former
ComDesDiv 17) is appointed the CO.
7 April 1914:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Shimodaira Eitaro
(17)(former CO of CHIKUMA) is appointed the CO.
23 August 1914:
Japan declares war on Germany.
October 1914:
The Imperial Japanese Navy sends YAKUMO and armored
cruiser TOKIWA to the eastern coast of the Bay of Bengal to reinforce CHIKUMA
and Russian cruiser ZHEMCHUG in the hunt for commerce-raiding German light
cruiser EMDEN.
October-November 1914:
YAKUMO participates in the in the blockade and
siege of the German colony of Tsingtao (now Qingdao).
1 December 1914:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Shiraishi Naosuke
(17)(former CO of SUMA) is appointed the CO.
19 May 1915:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Kuwashima Shozo (20)(former
ComDesDiv 16) is appointed the CO.
13 December 1915:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Yoshida Takeshi
(18)(former chief of the Shipbuilding Section at Maizuru Navy Yard) is appointed
the CO.
1 August 1916:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Saito Shichigoro
(20)(former chief of the Personnel Bureau's 1st and 2nd sections at Navy
Ministry) is appointed the CO.
5 April 1917:
YAKUMO and TOKIWA depart Yokosuka for North America,
Hawaii and the South Seas islands on a training cruise with the cadets of the
44th class of Etajima.
17 August 1917:
Returns to Yokosuka.
1 December 1917:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Tosu Tamaki (25)(former
First Fleet staff officer) is appointed the CO.
17 December 1917-25 September 1918:
Captain Tosu is assigned as CoS,
1st Special Task Force, as additinal duty.
18 October 1918:
Captain (later Admiral) Nomura Kichisaburo
(26)(former naval attaché to the United States) is appointed the CO.
10 November 1918:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Imaizumi Tetsutaro
(25)(former ComSubDiv 13) is appointed the CO.
25 November 1918:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Omi Heishiro
(23)(former CO of KATORI/CHIKUMA) is appointed CO.
5 August 1919:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Usagawa Tomoyoshi
(26)(former CO of KATORI) is appointed the CO.
1 May 1920:
Captain Niino Tsukasa (22)(former CO of MIKASA) is
appointed the CO.
20 August 1921:
YAKUMO departs Yokosuka with IZUMO for the Panama
Canal and the European continent with the cadets of the 49th class.
1 April 1921:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Kanesaka Takashi
(27)(former CO of NOJIMA) is appointed the CO.
1 September 1921:
Rerated as a first class coast defense ship.
25 September 1921:
YAKUMO is in the Training Squadron with IZUMO (F).
15 October 1921:
Passes through the Panama Canal.
4 April 1922:
Arrives back at Yokosuka.
15 April 1922:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Kawai Taizo (27)(former CO
of KURAMA) is appointed the CO.
1 September 1922:
Captain Kawai is appointed the CO of FUJI as
additional duty.
1 December 1922:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Ugawa Wataru (28)(former
instructor at Etajima Naval Academy) is appointed the CO.
27 November 1923:
YAKUMO and armored cruisers ASAMA and IWATE depart
Yokosuka for Southeast Asia and Australia on a training cruise with the 51st
class.
5 April 1924:
Returns to Yokosuka.
15 April 1924:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Kanoe Saburo (30)(former
CO of HIRADO) is appointed the CO.
10 November 1924:
YAKUMO departs Yokosuka with ASAMA and IZUMO for
west coast of North America with the cadets of the 52nd class.
4 April 1925:
Returns to Yokosuka.
15 April 1925:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Kondo Naokata (30)(current
CO of HARUNA) is appointed the CO of YAKUMO as additional duty.
10 July 1925:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Ishikawa Kiyoshi
(30)(former CO of IWATE) is appointed the CO of HARUNA and YAKUMO as additional
duty.
1 December 1925:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Uemura Shigeo
(31)(former chief of the Personnel Bureau's 2nd and 3rd sections at Navy
Ministry) is appointed the CO.
30 June 1926:
YAKUMO departs Yokosuka with ASAMA and IZUMO for the
Mediterranean with the cadets of the 54th class.
17 January 1927:
Returns to Yokosuka.
1 February 1927:
Captain Miyabe Mitsutoshi (31)(former CO of Maizuru
Guard Unit) is appointed the CO.
15 September 1927:
Captain Shizume Shizuka (32)(former instructor at
Naval Torpedo School) is appointed the CO.
15 November 1927:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Iwaihara Fuchina
(36)(former XO of YUBARI) is appointed the CO.
1 December 1927:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Idemitsu Manbei
(33)(former chief of the Personnel Bureau's 1st section at Navy Ministry) is
appointed the CO.
23 April 1928:
YAKUMO departs Yokosuka with IZUMO for Southeast Asia
and Australia with the cadets of the 56th class.
3 October 1928:
Returns to Yokosuka.
1 February 1929:
Captain (Rear Admiral, posthumously) Ishikawa
Tetsushiro (33)(current CO of NISSHIN) is appinted the CO of YAKUMO as
additional duty.
1 May 1929:
Captain Yamamoto Matsushi (33)(former CO of IZUMO) is
appointed the CO.
30 November 1929:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Tajiri Toshiro
(33)(former CO of KINU) is appointed the CO of FURUTAKA and YAKUMO as additional
duty.
18 November 1930:
YAKUMO departs Yokosuka with IZUMO and the Training
Squadron with the cadets of the 58nd class for visits to Tsingtao and Shanghai.
1 August 1930:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Sato Saburo (34)(member of
the Japanese delegation at the London Naval Conference) is appointed the CO.
30 December 1930:
Arrives at Sasebo.
5 March 1931:
Departs Sasebo with IZUMO, carrying the cadets of the
58th class, visiting Mako (Makung), Keelung, Hong Kong, the Suez Canal, Port
Said, Naples and Marseilles.
16 August 1931:
Returns to Sasebo.
15 October 1931:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Niimi Masaichi
(36)(former CO of OI) is appointed the CO.
6 March 1933:
YAKUMO and IWATE depart Yokosuka on a training cruise
with the 60th class for the West coast of North and Central America.
28 March 1933:
YAKUMO and IWATE arrive at Seattle, later visiting
Tacoma (1 April), Vancouver (5 April), San Francisco (11 April), Los Angeles (19
April), Acapulco (30 April), Balboa (13 May), Manzanilla (27 May) and Honolulu
(13 June).
7 July 1933:
YAKUMO and IWATE arrive at Truk.
11 July 1933:
YAKUMO and IWATE arrive at Saipan.
26 July 1933:
Return to Yokosuka.
15 November 1933:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Soejima Daisuke
(38)(former CO of TAMA) is appointed the CO.
20 February 1934:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Sugiyama Rokuzo
(38)(former CO of AOBA) is appointed the CO.
20 February 1935:
Departs Yokosuka with the Training Squadron,
visiting various countries on the Pacific coast with the 62nd class.
22 July 1935:
Returns to Yokosuka.
11 September 1935:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Chiba Keizo
(38)(former CO of the ad hoc Tsingtao Guard Unit) is appointed the CO.
15 November 1935:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Nakamura Toshihisa
(39)(former chief of the NGS 2nd Bureau 4th Section) is appointed CO.
9 June 1936:
YAKUMO and IWATE depart Yokosuka for the East Coast of
North America on a training cruise with the 63rd class.
6 November 1936:
En route from Saipan to Truk, YAKUMO suffers an
accidental gas explosion in the forward shell magazine that kills four sailors.
The magazine and the forward food locker are flooded to put out the fires.
Repairs are conducted underway.
20 November 1936:
Returns to Yokosuka after completing a voyage of
23,272 miles.
1 December 1936:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Ugaki Matome (40)(former
Combined Fleet staff officer) is appointed the CO.
7 June 1937:
YAKUMO and IWATE depart Yokosuka for Suez and the
Mediterranean Sea on a training cruise with the 64th class.
19 October 1937:
YAKUMO and IWATE return to Yokosuka.
1 December 1937:
Captain (later Vice Admiral, Marquis) Daigo Tadashige
(40)(former CO of IWATE) is appointed the CO of TAKAO and YAKUMO as additional
duty.
25 January 1938:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Maeda Minoru (41)(former
chief of the NGS 3rd Bureau 7th Section) is appointed the CO.
6 April 1938:
YAKUMO and IWATE depart Yokosuka for Southeast Asia on a
training cruise with the 65th class.
29 June 1938:
Returns to Yokosuka.
1 July-20 August 1938:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Abe Kasuke
(39)(current CO of YAMASHIRO) is appointed the CO of YAKUMO as additional duty.
20 August 1938:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Kondo Yasuichiro
(42)(former ADC to Minister of the Navy) is appointed the CO.
16 November 1938:
YAKUMO and IWATE depart Yokosuka for Southeast Asia
on a training cruise with the 66rd class.
30 January 1939:
Returns to Yokosuka.
1 February 1939:
Captain (Vice Admiral, posthumously) Goto Aritomo
(38)(current CO of MUTSU) is appointed the CO of YAKUMO as additional duty.
15 May 1939:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Yamazaki Shigeaki
(41)(former Imperial HQ staff officer) is appointed the CO.
4 October 1939:
YAKUMO and IWATE depart Yokosuka for Hawaii and the
Mandate Islands on a training cruise with the 67rd class.
20 November 1939:
Returns to Yokosuka.
23 December 1939:
The Training Squadron (YAKUMO and IWATE) is
deactivated.
27 December 1939:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Ogata Tsutomu
(42)(former CO of SAGA) is appointed the CO.
9 July 1940:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Prince Kuni Asaakira
(49)(formerly assigned to Yokosuka Naval District) is appointed the CO.
1 November 1940:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Yamanori Kamenosuke
(45)(former CO of YAEYAMA) is appointed the CO.
20 January 1941-2 January 1942:
Designated the flagship of Kure Guard
Squadron.
1942-1945:
YAKUMO remains within the Inland Sea throughout the war.
She is assigned to training duties and not used in combat operations.
5 May 1942:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Kobe Yuji (45)(former
instructor at Naval Torpedo School) is appointed the CO.
1 July 1942:
Rerated as a first class cruiser.
14 July 1942:
Captain Kato Buntaro (43)(former chief of Ominato Port
Director's office) is appointed the CO.
5 September 1943:
YAKUMO is reassigned to the First Fleet, Combined
Fleet.
1 December 1943:
Attached to Kure Naval District.
5 August 1944:
Captain Sasaki Kiyoji (40)(former CO of ASHIZURI) is
appointed the CO.
30 January 1945:
Captain Teraoka Masao (46)(former CO of SUZUYA) is
appointed the CO.
Spring 1945:
Main caliber guns are landed and replaced by four 12.7-cm
in two twin mounts and additional 25-mm AA guns.
14 May 1945:
Captain (Reserve) Sato Keizo (38)(fromer CO of KAIJO
MARU) is appointed the CO.
15 September 1945:
Captain Miyata Eizo (49)(former Naval Navigation
School instructor) is appointed the CO.
1 October 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.
28 October 1945:
Captain Sawamura Seiji (49)(former CO of the Hirao
Special Attack Squadron) is appointed the CO.
1 December 1945:
Assigned to the Allied Repatriation Service as a
special transportation ship.
7 December 1945:
Begins demobilization transport of Japanese
repatriates from Taiwan and the Chinese mainland.
June 1945:
Completes assignment with the Allied Repatriation Service
during which she transports 9,010 repatriates.
26 June 1946:
Captain Sawamura is relieved.
20 July 1946:
Maizuru. Arrives at Hitachi Shipbuilding &
Engineering shipyard for scrapping.
1 April 1947:
Scrapping is completed. Her main anchor is displayed at
Maizuru. Some German furniture and fittings from her CO's cabin are transferred
to training vessel ATADA (ex-YAT SEN/YI XIAN), later returned to China.
Authors' Note:
Thanks go Fontessa-san of Japan for identifying additional
COs. Special thanks go to Tullys Port at CombinedFleet.com forum reader Hornet10
for adding details about YAKUMO's 1933 training cruise.
- Bob Hackett and Sander Kingsepp.
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