| Incomplete Imperial Japanese Navy battleship Tosa towed out of Nagasaki, bound for Kure, to comply with the 1920 Washington Naval Treaty. Work on the Imperial Japanese Navy’s battleship Tosa was halted on February 5, 1922, 1 day before Japan signed the Washington Naval Treaty. Under the terms of the treaty, construction of Tosa and Kaga was formally canceled on 5 May 1922. Kaga was converted to an aircraft carrier. On August 1, 1922, Tosa was moved to Kure, still incomplete. 50,000 people turned out to watch as the battleship was towed out of the harbor by 5 tugboats. Note the conning tower outfitted as a bridge, as there was no other suitable location; compared with those of similar ships, it was much smaller, as it contained only 2 levels and bridge wings. Also note the exhaust pipe resembling an extremely small funnel was fitted, so heat could be supplied within the ship. Tosa remained in Kure until mid-1924. Beginning in June 1924, Tosa was used for testing explosives and torpedoes. Gunfire from 16 inch (406 millimeter) below the waterline resulted in damage that influenced future Japanese warship design. For the rest of the year, Tosa’s hulk was used for practice by the Hiroshima Gunnery School. Tosa’s hulk was ordered to be scuttled on January 14, 1925. Mines were detonated in her double bottom on February 8, but she failed to sink. A detail went aboard and opened her sea cocks at 0125 Hours Tokyo time the next day; she sank stern 1st by 0700 Hours. | |
| Image Filename | wwii2237.jpg |
| Image Size | 406.07 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2736 x 1257 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | Imperial Japanese Navy |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | August 1, 1922 |
| Location | |
| City | Nagasaki |
| State or Province | Nagasaki |
| Country | Japan |
| Archive | Kure Maritime Science Museum |
| Record Number | |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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