Japanese Imperial Navy Armored Cruiser HIJMS Ikoma Postcard Captain Y Shoji 1908 for Sale

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Japanese Imperial Navy Armored Cruiser HIJMS Ikoma Postcard Captain Y Shoji 1908 For Sale

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Japanese Imperial Navy Armored Cruiser HIJMS Ikoma Postcard Captain Y Shoji 1908:
$42.24

This Japanese Imperial Navy Armored Cruiser HIJMS Ikoma and it Captain, Y. Shoji Postcard features a color lithograph with ink and metallic pigment. The postcard is a commemoration of the commissioning of the armored cruiser in March 1908. The postcard is an original and has not been posted. It is a standard size (5.5 x 3.5 in) and was manufactured in Japan between 1908.The postcard is perfect for collectors of militaria, historical figures, and nautical themes. It is a great addition to any collection and a unique piece of history. The embossed design and undivided back add to the postcard's authenticity. This postcard is a must-have for anyone who appreciates art, transportation, and technology.
Early History & Connection to The Great White Fleet:
HIJMS Ikoma: Comprehensive Service History
Construction and Early Years:-**Class and Naming**: HIJMS Ikoma was part of the Tsukuba class of armored cruisers in the Imperial Japanese Navy, named after Mount Ikoma, located on the border of Osaka and Nara prefectures.- **Launch and Commissioning**: Launched on 9 April 1906 and commissioned on 24 March 1908 at Kure Naval Arsenal.
Early Significant Role:
- **October 1908**: Shortly after her commissioning, Ikoma played a significant role in escorting the United States Navy's Great White Fleet through Japanese waters during its historic global visit. - **Event Details**: Ikoma was among three Japanese cruisers that greeted the fleet south of the entry to Yokohama. As they approached the port entrance, three additional vessels, painted black and bearing "Welcome" letters, joined the procession. - **Reception**: The Great White Fleet arrived at pre-planned anchorages opposite the 16 ships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, each ship cheering as their American counterparts passed. - **Pairing**: Ikoma anchored in Yokohama was specifically paired with its American counterpart, the Battleship USS Ohio (BB-12), closely matched in speed, armor, and weaponry.
Circumnavigation and Reclassification:
- **1910**: Ikoma voyaged to Argentina to attend the nation’s independence centennial celebrations. From Buenos Aires, she continued across the Atlantic Ocean to London, England, and other European ports. She returned to Japan via the Indian Ocean, completing a circumnavigation of the globe.- **1912**: Ikoma was reclassified as a battlecruiser.
World War I Service:
- **September 1914**: Ikoma participated in the blockade of the German port of Qingdao, China, during the siege of Qingdao, part of Japan's contribution to the Allied war effort under the Anglo-Japanese Alliance.- **Post-Qingdao**: After the fall of Qingdao, Ikoma joined the search for the German East Asia Squadron in the South Pacific, ending with the squadron's destruction at the Battle of the Falklands in December 1914.- **1 November 1914 - 17 January 1915**: Ikoma was based in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Townsville, Australia, protecting British colonies and shipping from German commerce raiders.
Later Years and Fleet Reviews:- **4 December 1915**: Ikoma participated in a fleet review off Yokohama attended by Emperor Taishō, with 124 ships.- **25 October 1916**: Another fleet review off Yokohama.- **1916-1917**: Ikoma remained in Japanese home waters.
Decommissioning and Scrapping:
- **1922**: Ikoma fell victim to the Washington Naval Agreement and was scrapped at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Nagasaki shipyards.- **20 September 1923**: She was removed from the navy list.
A similar postcard is located in the Leonard A. Lauder Collection, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, (Accession March 2002).