PLAN OF FUJI AND YASHIMA.
These ships are, as has been before noted, improved Royal Sovereigns. As designed, they would have differed from these ships only in that, being some 1500 tons smaller, they are able to carry less weight in the way of coal, etc. Their big guns, 12 in. against 13.5 in., are lighter, but against this must be put the fact that they carry heavy shields to them. Further, the introduction of Harvey steel in the place of compound armour greatly increased the value of their armour without adding to its weight. Regarded in the light of present-day developments, they are defective in protection to the secondary armament nearly as much as the Royal Sovereigns were before reconstruction. A comparison of the two ships, Fuji and Royal Sovereign, is of interest.
| Fuji. | Royal Sovereign. | |
| Guns | 4 A (12-in.). | 4 A (13.5-in.). |
| 10 D (6-in. Q.F.). | 10 D (6-in. Q.F.). | |
| Steel armour deck on slopes | 2½ ins. | 3 ins. |
| Belt (water-line) | 18-16 ins. | 18-8 ins. |
| Length of belt | 226 ft. | 250 ft. |
| Lower deck | 4 ins. | 4 ins. |
| Barbettes | 14 ins. | 17 ins. |
| Barbette guns | Inclined thick shields. | No protection. |
| Bulkheads | 14 ins. | 16 ins. |
| Casemates (main deck), | 6 ins. | 6 ins. |
| thickness in front | ||
| Casemate backs | 2 ins. | 2 ins. |
| Coal carried normally | 700. | 900. |
| Capacity | 1100. | 1450. |
The difference in armour value, caused by the introduction of Harvey process in time to allow of its adoption on the Fuji, is very marked. Since then, of course, Harvey has given place to Harvey nickel, and this in its turn to Krupp process armour, of which 9 ins. would nearly equal 17 ins. of Royal Sovereign armour. But their fine 12-in. guns, as powerful still as any afloat, keep the Fuji class still in the ranks of good fighting ships.
FUJI.
PLAN OF SHIKISHIMA.