was one of four principal naval shipyards owned and operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy.
History
The Kure Naval District was established at Kure, Hiroshima in 1889, as the second of the naval districts responsible for the defense of the Japanese home islands. Along with the establishment of the navy base, a ship repair facility was also constructed, initially by moving the equipment from the Onohama shipyards near Kobe. Construction was supervised by the French engineer Louis-Émile Bertin. The first warship constructed at Kure, Miyako, was launched in 1897. The "Kure Shipyards" were officially renamed the "Kure Naval Arsenal" in 1903.
Kure developed into one of the largest shipbuilding facilities in the Empire of Japan, capable of working with the largest vessels. The Arsenal included a major steel works (built with British assistance), and also facilities for producing naval artillery and projectiles. The battleships Yamato and Nagato were designed and constructed at Kure.
The facilities of the Kure Naval Arsenal were repeatedly bombed by the United States Navy and United States Army Air Forces during the Pacific War, and over 70% of its buildings and equipment was destroyed.
After the surrender of Japan in 1945, the Kure Naval Arsenal was turned over to civilian hands.
Current facilities The extensive dry dock, ship building, repair and engineering facilities are now owned and operated by Japan Marine United, one of Japan's largest merchant marine and naval shipbuilders.
Examples of ships built at Kure Naval Arsenal Battleships Yamato, Yamato-class battleship (1941) Nagato, Nagato-class battleship (1920) Settsu, Kawachi-class battleship (1912)
Battlecruiser/Armoured Cruiser
Akagi, Amagi-class battlecruiser/Akagi-class aircraft carrier (1925) Ibuki, Ibuki-class battlecruiser (1909) Tsukuba, Tsukuba-class battlecruiser (1907)
Aircraft Carriers
Katsuragi, Unryū-class aircraft carrier (1945) Fleet carrier Sōryū (1937) Un'yō, Taiyō-class escort carrier (1942)
Cruisers Atago, heavy cruiser (1932) Nachi, heavy cruiser (1928) Light cruiser Ōyodo (1943)
Destroyers Ariake, Fubuki, Arare, Harusame-class Destroyers (1905)
Submarines I-400-class submarine I-201-class submarine
Seaplane Tenders Chitose, Chitose-class seaplane tender (1936) Chiyoda, Chitose-class seaplane tender (1937)
Naval Weapons designed at Kure Naval Gun 40(46) cm/45 Type 94 naval gun, main armament of the Yamato-class battleship 10 cm/65 Type 98 naval gun, main armament of the Akizuki-class destroyer and Secondary armament of light cruiser Ōyodo and aircraft carrier Taihō
See also
Bombing of Kure (July 1945)
References