SUMA.
The Suma was launched at Yokosuka on March 9, 1895. Unlike the Akitsushima and other ships which had preceded her, she is of entirely Japanese design and workmanship, and nothing more Western than an odd “stand-by man” or two assisted in her construction. Practically, she is the first Japanese-built ship. Particulars of her are:—
| Displacement | 2700 tons. |
| Material of hull | Steel. |
| Length | 305 ft. |
| Beam | 41 ft. |
| Draught | 16⅓ ft. |
| Armament | Two 6-in. Q.F. 45 cals. |
| Six 4.7-in. Q.F. 45 cals. | |
| Twelve 3-pdr. Q.F. | |
| Four Nordenfelts. | |
| Two torpedo tubes. | |
| Horse-power (forced) | 8500. |
| Boilers | Cylindrical. |
| Number of boilers | Eight. |
| Screws | Two. |
| Type of engines | Vertical triple expansion. |
| Where made | Yokosuka. |
| Trial speed (forced draught) | 20 knots. |
| Coal (normal) | 200 tons. |
| ” (maximum capacity) | 600 tons. |
| Nominal radius at that | 11,000 miles. |
Protection is afforded by a steel deck 2 ins. on the slopes and 1 in. on the flat.
The Akashi, launched two years later, is a sister, without fighting-tops and more built-up amidships.
The Yashima was launched at Elswick on February 28, 1896; the Fuji at the Thames Ironworks on March 31st in the same year. Mr. G. C. Mackrow, of the Thames Ironworks, was the designer.
The following are particulars:—
