Qualla: Japanese Cruiser Takasago

Japanese Cruiser Takasago: Introduction

Sat, 14 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Photo credit Public domain. The mine that sank Takasago was laid by a man who would later command an army, lose a civil war, and be executed by firing squad. In December 1904, Aleksandr Kolchak was a young Russian minesweeper captain at Port Arthur, planting mines in the approaches to the besieged fortress. One of those mines found its mark on the night of 13 December, triggering a magazine explosion aboard the Japanese protected cruiser Takasago that killed 273 officers and crew. Kolchak received the Order of St. Anna for the action. Fifteen years later, he would be shot on a frozen riverbank in Irkutsk as the last leader of the White Russian movement.

Image: Public domain

Japanese Cruiser Takasago: An Elswick Cruiser for Japan

Sat, 14 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Photo credit Public domain. Takasago was built by Armstrong Whitworth at their famous Elswick shipyard in northern England, laid down in April 1896 as a private venture before being sold to Japan in July. She was a typical product of the Elswick works -- the same yard that exported warships to navies from A...

Image: Public domain

Japanese Cruiser Takasago: A Grand Tour of Empires

Sat, 14 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Photo credit Brassey. The Naval Annual. Portsmouth - 1902, Public domain. Before war found her, Takasago served as a traveling advertisement for the Anglo-Japanese Alliance. In 1902, she participated in a naval review at Spithead and then embarked on a remarkable world tour with the armored cruiser Asama. The two Japanese warships visited Singapore, Co...

Image: Brassey. The Naval Annual. Portsmouth - 1902 | Public domain

Japanese Cruiser Takasago: Flagship at Port Arthur

Sat, 14 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Photo credit Unknown author, Public domain. When the Russo-Japanese War opened with a surprise attack on the Russian fleet at Port Arthur in February 1904, Takasago was there, serving as flagship for Admiral Dewa Shigeto. She participated in the bombardment the morning after Japanese destroyers had struck the first blow, a...

Image: Unknown author | Public domain

Japanese Cruiser Takasago: Mine and Blizzard

Sat, 14 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Photo credit Японский Военный Флот. Альбом. СПб - 1904, Public domain. After returning to Japan for overhaul in October, Takasago sailed back to the war zone in December. On the night of 13 December 1904, she was returning from a reconnaissance mission that had provided cover for a squadron of destroyers when she struck a mine 37 nautical miles sout...

Image: Японский Военный Флот. Альбом. СПб - 1904 | Public domain