Japanese seaplane carrier Wakamiya

Wakamiya (Japanese: 若宮丸, later 若宮艦) was a seaplane carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy and the first Japanese aircraft carrier. She was converted from a transport ship into a seaplane carrier and commissioned in August 1914. She was equipped with four Japanese-built French Maurice Farman seaplanes (powered by Renault 70 hp (52 kW) engines). In September 1914, she conducted the world's first naval-launched air raids.

For other ships with the same name, see Japanese ship Wakamiya.

History
NameLethington
Owner
  • 1901: William R. Rea
  • 1905: Nippon Yusen Shipping
Port of registry
BuilderRobert Duncan and company, Port Glasgow
Launched21 September 1900
CompletedOctober 1901
Noteschartered by Russia during Russo-Japanese War; Captured by Japan on 12 January 1905
FateScrapped
Japan
NameWakamiya
Acquired1913
Commissioned17 August 1914
Renamed
  • Takasaki Maru on 14 February 1905
  • Wakamiya Maru on 1 September 1905
  • Wakamiya on 1 June 1915
Reclassified
  • Miscellaneous ship on 14 February 1905
  • Rented to NYK Line on 22 March 1907
  • Returned to IJN and reclassified transport ship on 9 March 1912
  • 2nd class coast defence ship on 1 June 1915
  • Aircraft carrier on 1 April 1920
Stricken1 April 1931
FateSold to Eizo Aoki on 26 November 1931, scrapped in 1932
General characteristics
TypeSeaplane carrier
Displacement7,720 long tons (7,844 t)
Length111.25 m (365 ft 0 in)
Beam14.6 m (47 ft 11 in)
Draught5.8 m (19 ft 0 in)
PropulsionVTE engines, 3 boilers, 1 shaft, 1,590 ihp (1,190 kW)
Speed10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Complement234
Armament
  • 2 × 3.1 in (79 mm)/40 DP guns
  • 2 × 47 mm AA guns
Aircraft carried4 × Farman MF.11 seaplanes
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