Asahi

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Asahi was built in the United Kingdom and closely resembled contemporary British battleships. Very similar to the preceding Shikishima, she was ordered in 1896 as part of Japan's fleet expansion following the war with China. Upon her launch, she was the heaviest battleship yet built on the Clyde. Her delivery in 1900 was delayed when the vessel ran aground as she left for Japan. Stores and ammunition were removed, the ship pulled clear, and after an inspection in drydock she proceeded to Japan. She was very active in the Russo-Japanese War, blockading Port Arthor, participation in the Battle of the Yellow Sea where she took 1 hit, striking a mine in October 1904, and fighting at the Battle of Tsushima where she took 9 hits.

In 1914 she became a gunnery training ship, and in 1917 she was re-armed, with Japanese guns replacing her original British guns. Reclassified as a 'first class coast defense ship' in 1921, she served as a combatant until 1923. At that time the vessels was taken in hand for conversion into a submarine depot ship, with her guns removed, one funnel removed, and 4 new Kanpon boilers installed. Her displacement dropped to 11,441 tons, and her speed was limited to 12 knots.

Asahi lived a second life as a submarine tender, providing repair services, supplies, and crew accomodations, until 1938, when the old vessel was again taken in hand for conversion. Heavy lifting frames were installed on either side amidships, along with machine shops and repair facilities. She began her third career as a repair vessel in late 1928, and served the fleet until early in WWII. On May 25, 1942, Asahi was torpedoed by the US submarine Salmon 100 miles southwest of Cape Paderan in the South China Sea, and sank with an unknown number of casualties.

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